Relationships among plasma dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate and cortisol levels, symptoms of dissociation, and objective performance in humans exposed to acute stress.

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.

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