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Charles A. Morgan III, MD, MA; Steve Southwick, MD; Gary Hazlett, PsyD; Ann Rasmusson, MD; Gary Hoyt, PhD; Zoran Zimolo, MD; Dennis Charney, MD

Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2004;61:819-825.

Context  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.

Objective  To investigate plasma DHEA-S and cortisol levels, psychological symptoms of dissociation, and military performance.

Design  Prospective study.

Setting and Participants  Twenty-five healthy subjects enrolled in military survival school.

Results  The DHEA-S–cortisol ratios during stress were significantly higher in subjects who reported fewer symptoms of dissociation and exhibited superior military performance.

Conclusions  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.

From the National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Veterans Affairs New England Healthcare System, West Haven, Conn (Drs Morgan, Southwick, Rasmusson, and Zimolo); the Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Conn (Drs Morgan, Southwick, Rasmusson, Hoyt, and Zimolo); the Psychological Applications Directorate, John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Training Center and School, Fort Bragg, NC (Dr Hazlett); the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md (Dr Charney); and Fleet Aviation Special Operations Training Group Pacific Navy Site 2, Naval Air Station, North Island, Coronado, Calif (Dr Hoyt).

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