| Title | Effects of mirtazapine on dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate and cortisol plasma concentrations in depressed patients. | | Author(s) | Schüle C, Baghai TC, Eser D, Schwarz M, Bondy B, Rupprecht R | | Institution | Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ludwig-Maximilian-University, Nussbaumstrasse 7, 80336 Munich, Germany. | | Source | J Psychiatr Res 2008 Aug 13. | | Abstract | BACKGROUND: Among the neuroactive steroids, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) is at least in part produced in the adrenal gland and is therefore under the control of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA)-system. In the present study, the impact of mirtazapine on DHEA-S and cortisol (COR) levels was investigated in relation to clinical response in depressed patients.
METHODS: A total of 23 inpatients suffering from a major depressive episode (DSM-IV criteria) underwent 5-week treatment with mirtazapine (45mg/day). Plasma samples were taken weekly at 0800h and quantified for COR and DHEA-S levels.
RESULTS: Mirtazapine significantly reduced both COR and DHEA-S concentrations, but had no impact on the COR/DHEA-S ratio. The percentage decrease of DHEA-S, but not that of COR was significantly and positively correlated with the percentage reduction in the sum score of the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale at week 5, suggesting a relationship between DHEA-S reduction and clinical efficacy of mirtazapine. There was a significant positive correlation between the decline in COR and DHEA-S levels.
CONCLUSIONS: Apparently, the decrease in COR and DHEA-S concentrations conjointly reflects an attenuating impact of mirtazapine on HPA axis activity, thereby decreasing the adrenal secretion of COR and DHEA-S. | | Language | ENG | | Pub Type(s) | JOURNAL ARTICLE
| | PubMed ID | 18706658 |
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