Cognitive-behavioral stress management buffers decreases in dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) and increases in the cortisol/DHEA-S ratio and reduces mood disturbance and perceived stress among HIV-seropositive men

This study examined the effects of a 10-week cognitive-behavioral stress ma nagement (CBSM) intervention on dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) lev els and the ratio of cortisol to DHEA-S (cortisol/DHEA-S), potential surrog ate adrenal markers of HIV disease progression, in relation to alterations in mood and distress. HIV-seropositive men were randomized to either a grou p-based CBSM intervention (n = 43) or to a wait-list control group (n = 24) , with both hormonal and distress measures assessed just prior to and immed iately following the 10-week period. Results showed that CBSM buffers decre ases in DHEA-S and increases in the cortisol/DHEA-S ratio. Further examinat ion also revealed that changes in the cortisol/DHEA-S ratio were significan tly and positively related to changes in total mood disturbance and perceiv ed stress over time. These findings demonstrate that a short-term CBSM inte rvention can buffer against decrements in DHEA-S and increments in the cort isol/DHEA-S ratio among symptomatic, HIV-positive men, and that alterations in the cortisol/DHEA-S ratio move in concert with changes in mood and dist ress observed during CBSM. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserv ed.