Relationships among plasma dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate and cortisol levels, symptoms of dissociation, and objective performance in humans exposed to acute stress

• Published in: Archives of general psychiatry Vol. 61; no. 8; p. 819
• Main Authors: Morgan, 3rd, Charles A, Southwick, Steve, Hazlett, Gary, Rasmusson, Ann, Hoyt, Gary, Zimolo, Zoran, Charney, Dennis
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.08.2004
• Subjects: Acute Disease; Adult; Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate - analysis; Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate - blood; Dissociative Disorders - blood; Dissociative Disorders - diagnosis; Dissociative Disorders - psychology; Humans; Hydrocortisone - analysis; Hydrocortisone - blood; Life Change Events; Male; Military Personnel - psychology; Problem Solving; Prospective Studies; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Regression Analysis; Saliva - chemistry; Stress, Psychological - blood; Stress, Psychological - psychology; Task Performance and Analysis
• ISSN: 0003-990X
• DOI: 10.1001/archpsyc.61.8.819

Recently, a growing body of research has provided evidence that dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) is involved in an organism's response to stress and that it may provide beneficial behavioral and neurotrophic effects. To investigate plasma DHEA-S and cortisol levels, psychological symptoms of dissociation, and military performance. Prospective study. Twenty-five healthy subjects enrolled in military survival school. The DHEA-S-cortisol ratios during stress were significantly higher in subjects who reported fewer symptoms of dissociation and exhibited superior military performance. These data provide prospective, empirical evidence that the DHEA-S level is increased by acute stress in healthy humans and that the DHEA-S-cortisol ratio may index the degree to which an individual is buffered against the negative effects of stress.