부산대학교 도서관

To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2005.07.003 Byline: Neil Laufer (a)(b), Rachel Maayan (a)(b), Haggai Hermesh (b)(c), Sofi Marom (c), Royi Gilad (a), Rael Strous (d), Abraham Weizman (a)(c)(e) Keywords: Dehydroepiandosterone (DHEA); Dehydroepiandosterone-sulphate (DHEA-S); Cortisol; Social phobia; Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor; Neurosteroids Abstract: Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its sulfate ester (DHEA-S), neurosteroids synthesized in the brain, are weak gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) A receptor allosteric antagonists that may be involved in anxiety disorders. In the present study we measured the levels of DHEA, DHEA-S, pregnenolone and cortisol in platelets of untreated patients (n =26) diagnosed with social phobia (SP) compared with sex- and age-matched healthy controls (n =21). No significant differences in neurosteroids were observed in the platelets of untreated SP patients compared with healthy controls. The findings may reflect an absence of involvement of the GABA.sub.A modulators DHEA, DHEA-S and pregnenolone in SP. Author Affiliation: (a) Laboratory of Biological Psychiatry, Felsenstein Medical Research Center, Beilinson Campus, Petah Tiqva, Israel (b) Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel (c) Adult Outpatient Department, Geha Psychiatric Hospital, Beilinson Campus, Petah Tiqva, Israel (d) Beer Yaakov Mental Health Centre, Beer Yaakov, Israel (e) Research Unit, Geha Psychiatric Hospital, Beilinson Campus, P.O.B. 102 Petah Tiqva 49100, Israel Article History: Received 23 September 2004; Revised 16 May 2005; Accepted 13 July 2005