The correlation between schizophrenia duration and the serum concentration of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate

Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) is an important neurosteroid that has numerous functions in the central nervous system. It may be involved in the pathophysiological processes in schizophrenia. We investigated the serum DHEAS levels in 182 schizophrenic patients and related it to the duration of the schizophrenia. We found that schizophrenic patients have lower serum DHEAS concentrations as compared to healthy subjects. We also found sex-related differences in the serum DHEAS concentrations. Men have higher DHEAS levels compared to women in both the healthy and schizophrenic groups. We found a correlation between the illness duration and a decrease in the serum DHEAS concentrations in schizophrenic patients. The decrease in the serum DHEAS concentrations in schizophrenic patients theoretically may contribute to a dopaminergic and glutamatergic imbalance that leads the development of psychotic symptoms and cognitive dysfunction.