Cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders with respect to cognitive performance
Prolonged activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis associated with hypercortisolemia may lead to impairments of cognition in various populations. Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) can protect the hippocampus from the detrimental effects of cortisol. However, this phenomenon...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2021-05-01
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| Series: | Comprehensive Psychoneuroendocrinology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666497621000151 |
| _version_ | 1819081791295717376 |
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| author | Błażej Misiak Patryk Piotrowski Magdalena Chęć Jerzy Samochowiec |
| author_facet | Błażej Misiak Patryk Piotrowski Magdalena Chęć Jerzy Samochowiec |
| author_sort | Błażej Misiak |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Prolonged activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis associated with hypercortisolemia may lead to impairments of cognition in various populations. Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) can protect the hippocampus from the detrimental effects of cortisol. However, this phenomenon has not been widely investigated in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD). Therefore, in this study, we aimed to assess the levels of cortisol, DHEA-S and cortisol/DHEA-S ratio in patients with SSD and healthy controls with respect to cognitive performance. Participants were 85 patients with SSD and 56 healthy controls, matched for age, sex and body-mass index. Cognitive performance was examined using the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS). The levels of hormones were measured in fasting serum samples. The levels of morning cortisol were significantly higher in patients with SSD compared to healthy controls, even after co-varying for potential confounding factors. There were no significant between-group differences in the levels of DHEA-S and cortisol/DHEA-S ratio. Higher levels of cortisol and greater cortisol/DHEA-S ratio were related to significantly lower RBANS scores of delayed memory in patients with SSD, but not in healthy controls after controlling for the effects of age, sex, BMI, the number of education years, cigarette smoking status and the dosage of antipsychotics. Our findings imply that elevated cortisol levels may contribute to impairments of memory processes in patients with SSD. However, longitudinal studies are needed to confirm causal associations. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T20:06:23Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-44e53aa8124e4b3498ae1308aa84dea7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2666-4976 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T20:06:23Z |
| publishDate | 2021-05-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Comprehensive Psychoneuroendocrinology |
| spelling | doaj.art-44e53aa8124e4b3498ae1308aa84dea72022-12-21T18:51:50ZengElsevierComprehensive Psychoneuroendocrinology2666-49762021-05-016100041Cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders with respect to cognitive performanceBłażej Misiak0Patryk Piotrowski1Magdalena Chęć2Jerzy Samochowiec3Department of Psychiatry, Division of Consultation Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland; Corresponding author. Department of Psychiatry, Division of Consultation Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Wroclaw Medical University, Pasteura 10 Street, 50-367, Wroclaw, Poland.Department of Psychiatry, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, PolandDepartment of Clinical Psychology, Institute of Psychology, University of Szczecin, Szczecin, PolandDepartment of Psychiatry, Pomeranian Medical University, Szczecin, PolandProlonged activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis associated with hypercortisolemia may lead to impairments of cognition in various populations. Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) can protect the hippocampus from the detrimental effects of cortisol. However, this phenomenon has not been widely investigated in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD). Therefore, in this study, we aimed to assess the levels of cortisol, DHEA-S and cortisol/DHEA-S ratio in patients with SSD and healthy controls with respect to cognitive performance. Participants were 85 patients with SSD and 56 healthy controls, matched for age, sex and body-mass index. Cognitive performance was examined using the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS). The levels of hormones were measured in fasting serum samples. The levels of morning cortisol were significantly higher in patients with SSD compared to healthy controls, even after co-varying for potential confounding factors. There were no significant between-group differences in the levels of DHEA-S and cortisol/DHEA-S ratio. Higher levels of cortisol and greater cortisol/DHEA-S ratio were related to significantly lower RBANS scores of delayed memory in patients with SSD, but not in healthy controls after controlling for the effects of age, sex, BMI, the number of education years, cigarette smoking status and the dosage of antipsychotics. Our findings imply that elevated cortisol levels may contribute to impairments of memory processes in patients with SSD. However, longitudinal studies are needed to confirm causal associations.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666497621000151PsychosisPsychotic disorderStressGlucocorticoids |
| spellingShingle | Błażej Misiak Patryk Piotrowski Magdalena Chęć Jerzy Samochowiec Cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders with respect to cognitive performance Comprehensive Psychoneuroendocrinology Psychosis Psychotic disorder Stress Glucocorticoids |
| title | Cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders with respect to cognitive performance |
| title_full | Cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders with respect to cognitive performance |
| title_fullStr | Cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders with respect to cognitive performance |
| title_full_unstemmed | Cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders with respect to cognitive performance |
| title_short | Cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders with respect to cognitive performance |
| title_sort | cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders with respect to cognitive performance |
| topic | Psychosis Psychotic disorder Stress Glucocorticoids |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666497621000151 |
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