Elevated circulatory level of GABA(A) - antagonistic neurosteroids in patients with combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder

Background. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a multisystem neurobio logical disorder with chronic alterations in various neurochemical systems. Levels of the GABA(A)-antagonistic neurosteroids plasma dehydroepiandroste rone (DHEA) and its sulphate derivate, dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHE AS) may be relevant to depressive and anxiety disorders, including PTSD. Methods. We assessed the circulatory levels of morning plasma DHEA and DHEA S in 21 male outpatients with untreated chronic combat-related PTSD (CR-PTS D), and 18 healthy control male subjects. Results. Compared with the control subjects, the PTSD patients showed signi ficantly higher plasma DHEA and DHEAS levels. Conclusions. Chronic CR;PTSD may be associated with increased circulatory l evel of neuroactive steroids with inhibitory activity at the GABA, receptor s. Neurosteroid-induced decreased GABA-ergic tone may be relevant to the sy mptomatology and pathophysiology of chronic PTSD, as well as to the frequen t co-morbidity of PTSD with depression and anxiety disorders.