Search

Depression is a mental disorder that affects millions of people around the world. However, depressive symptoms can be seen in other psychiatric and medical conditions. Here, we investigate the effect of DHEA treatment on depressive symptoms in individuals with depression and/or other clinical conditions in which depressive symptoms are present. An electronic search was performed until October 2019, with no restrictions on language or year of publication in the following databases: Medline, EMBASE, LILACS, and Cochrane Library. Randomized controlled trials comparing DHEA versus placebo were included if the depressive symptoms were assessed. Fifteen studies with 853 female and male individuals were included in this review. To conduct the meta-analysis, data were extracted from 14 studies. In comparison with placebo, DHEA improved depressive symptoms (standardized mean difference [SMD] -0.28, 95% (CI) -0.45 to -0.11, p =.001, 12 studies, 742 individuals (375 in the experimental group and 367 in the placebo group), I2 = 24%), very low quality of evidence, 2 of 14 studies reporting this outcome were removed in a sensitivity analysis as they were strongly influencing heterogeneity between studies. No hormonal changes that indicated any risk to the participants' health were seen. Side effects observed were uncommon, mild, and transient, but commonly related to androgyny. In conclusion, DHEA was associated with a beneficial effect on depressive symptoms compared to placebo. However, these results should be viewed with caution, since the quality of evidence for this outcome was considered very low according to the GRADE criteria.

Faced with the growing interest about the action of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its benefits, as well as the negative impacts that sexual dysfunctions have on people's quality of life, this systematic review was undertaken with the objective of evaluating the effect of DHEA use on aspects of sexual function.An electronic search was conducted in the databases of PubMed, ISI Web of Science and Virtual Health Library (VHL) combining the terms 'DHEA treatment' and 'DHEA use' with terms such as 'sexual dysfunction', 'sexual frequency' and 'libido'. No limits on time and language were imposed. Clinical studies were considered eligible where individuals for any reason made use of DHEA and if they had any aspect of sexual function assessed. Preclinical studies and systematic reviews were considered ineligible.The search identified 183 references and 38 were considered eligible. DHEA improved aspects such as sexual interest, lubrication, pain, arousal, orgasm and sexual frequency. Its effect was better in populations with sexual dysfunction, especially in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women.Considering the studies currently published, DHEA is effective in improving several aspects of sexual function, but this effect did not reach all the populations studied.

RESUMO Objetivo Validação de protocolo de terapia cognitivo-comportamental breve em grupo para disfunção sexual feminina na pós-menopausa. Métodos Intervenção em grupo com mulheres (n = 14) na pós-menopausa (55 a 75 anos) com disfunção sexual, em acompanhamento ginecológico ambulatorial em um centro especializado para queixas relacionadas ao climatério. As pacientes foram divididas em grupos: o primeiro (Grupo Teste, n = 5) recebeu abordagem cognitivo-comportamental de 12 sessões. Os dois grupos (denominados igualmente Grupo Intervenção – n = 5 e n = 4) foram formados pela divisão dos sujeitos para melhor acomodação física e receberam 10 sessões, resultantes de ajuste e mensuração dos procedimentos do protocolo a partir do Grupo Teste. Foram aplicados a Escala de Índice de Funcionamento Sexual Feminino e o Questionário de Crenças Sexuais Disfuncionais antes e depois da intervenção. Resultados Houve frequente ocorrência de comportamentos/crenças de baixa autoestima, problemas com o parceiro e desinteresse ou dificuldade sexual. A disfunção sexual (problemas com o desejo e/ou lubrificação, orgasmo, satisfação e dor) e as crenças sexuais disfuncionais (conservadorismo, pecado, idade-crenças, imagem corporal, afetividade e maternidade) apresentaram melhora significativa com a aplicação do protocolo. Conclusão Considerando os aspectos particulares das mulheres com disfunção sexual na pós-menopausa, desenvolvemos um protocolo de terapia cognitivo-comportamental em grupo, com significativo potencial terapêutico. Embora não tenha sido utilizado um grupo controle e tenha sido aplicado em número reduzido de participantes, esse protocolo pode ser avaliado e utilizado em casos similares, cabendo novas pesquisas para verificar a aplicabilidade dele para disfunção sexual nesse estágio do desenvolvimento feminino. ABSTRACT Objective Validation of the protocol of brief cognitive behavioural group therapy for female sexual dysfunction on post menopause. Methods Group intervention with postmenopausal (55-75 years old) women (n = 14) with sexual dysfunction, on gynecological outpatient follow-up in a specialized center for climacteric related complaints. The patients were divided into groups: the first (Test Group, n = 5) received 12 sessions of cognitive-behavioral approach. The two groups (equally named Intervention Group – n = 5 and n = 4) were formed by the division of subjects for bettering physical accommodation and received 10 session, resulting from adjustment and measurement of the protocol procedures starting from the Test Group. The Female Sexual Function Index scale and the Sexual Dysfunctional Beliefs Questionnaire were applied before and after intervention. Results There were frequent reports of behaviors/beliefs of low self-esteem, problems with partner and sexual disinterest or difficulty. Sexual dysfunction (problems with desire and/or lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction and pain) and dysfunctional sexual beliefs (conservatism, sin, age-beliefs, body image, affectivity and maternity) both presented significant improvement with the protocol application. Conclusion Considering the particular aspects of postmenopausal women with sexual dysfunction, we developed a cognitive behavioral group therapy protocol, with significant therapeutic potential. Though a control group was not used and that the application was done in a reduced number of participants, this protocol can be assessed and utilized in similar cases, being fit new researches to verify the applicability of such for sexual dysfunction at this stage of female development.

Background: Depression is a mental disorder that affects a large part of the world's population. DHEA is a hormone that has long been attributed to the ability to improve depressive symptoms. However, few studies were conducted with depression individuals not resulting from other medical conditions. Objective: To investigate whether DHEA is more effective than placebo in the treatment of depressive symptoms in subjects with depression not resulting from other psychiatric or medical comorbidities. Methods: An electronic search was carried out using the keywords Dehydroepiandrosterone (Mesh) AND Depression (Mesh) in the following databases: Medical Literature databases Analysis and Retrieval System Online (Medline), Excerpta Medical Database (EMBASE), Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences (LILACS) and the Cochrane Library through their website for relevant publications until June 2018. Only randomized clinical trials were included. The critical appraisal of the articles was performed using the Risk of Bias Tool from Cochrane Collaboration. Results: The meta-analysis applied in this review pointed to a significant effect in favor of treatment with DHEA compared to placebo. Conclusion: DHEA may be one more effective alternative between the drugs used in the treatment of depression.

Twenty patients with DSM5 schizophrenia were comprehensively and formally assessed by an experienced psychiatrist. All subjects were assessed for: positive and negative psychotic symptoms; social anxiety; panic anxiety; obsessive compulsive disorder, atypical depression; major depression; suicide risk; and global assessment of functioning. Different profiles of clinical presentation and symptom evolution emerged for patients with schizophrenia who had co-morbid depression (15%), OCD (15%), panic or limited symptom attacks (55%) and social anxiety (5%). At least eighty percent of the sample had one or more of these co-morbidities. Summing up, the data support our previous finding that panic is highly prevalent in Schizophrenia with Auditory Hallucinations (>73% here, versus 100% before), and panic was paroxysmally concurrent with voice onset. Moreover, characteristic clinical findings may help point clinicians to five specific co-morbidity psychosis subtypes. Moreover, co-morbidity dissection of psychotic diagnoses recalls and parallels the historical psychopharmacologic dissection of non-psychotic anxiety and depressive subtypes diagnoses. Larger studies should further test and explore these preliminary findings.

To present a review of cross-sectional and longitudinal studies that investigate the relationship between the hormones Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) and cognition. Methods: The cognition items included in this review were global cognitive function, memory, attention, executive function, intelligence, perception and visuospatial ability. A systematic review was proceeded using three databases: PubMed, ISI Web of Science, and PsycINFO. Results: Two thousand fifty five references about cognition and hormones were found; 772 duplicated references were excluded, resulting in 1.283 references to be evaluated. According to exclusion and inclusion criteria, 25 references were selected. A positive correlation between DHEA-S blood levels and global cognition was found in women and men. Other positive correlations between DHEA-S and working memory, attention and verbal fluency were found only in women. The DHEA effect on cognition is limited to one study conducted among young men with high-doses.

Objective To assess the relationship between sexual hormones, sexual function and quality of life in postmenopausal women. Method A cross-sectional study was conducted with a convenience sample of 36 postmenopausal women between the ages of 45 and 65 in follow-up at a climacteric outpatient clinic. Mood, quality of life, sexual function and hormonal profile were assessed. Results With regard to sexual hormones and sexual function, a relationship was found between orgasm and luteinizing hormone (r=0.37), orgasm and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) (r=0.39), SHBG and less pain (r=0.44), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and desire (r=-0.45), as well as between prolactin and lubrication (r=0.33). Sexual hormones and quality of life were related as follows: progesterone and limitations due to physical aspects (r=0.35), SHBG and social aspects (r=0.35), cortisol and pain (r=0.46), DHEA and social aspects (r=-0.40). Finally, the following relationships were found between sexual function and quality of life: sexual desire and vitality, social aspects, state of general health and mental health (r=0.46, r=0.51, r=0.35, and r=0.38, respectively). Arousal, orgasm and satisfaction with sexual life showed a relationship with less physical pain (r=0.40, r=0.42, and r=0.43, respectively). Satisfaction with sexual life was correlated with vitality (r=0.33). Conclusion Different correlations than expected were found in this study regarding the effect of some hormones on sexual function and some aspects of the quality of life of postmenopausal women. Resumo Objetivo Avaliar a relação entre hormônios sexuais, função sexual e qualidade de vida em mulheres na pós-menopausa. Métodos Estudo transversal com amostra de conveniência de 36 mulheres na pós-menopausa, com idades entre 45 e 65 anos, em seguimento ambulatorial de climatério. Humor, qualidade de vida, função sexual e perfil hormonal foram avaliados. Resultados Entre hormônios sexuais e função sexual, foi encontrada relação entre orgasmo e hormônio luteinizante (r=0,37), orgasmo e globulina ligadora de hormônios sexuais (SHBG) (r=0,39), SHBG e menos dor (r=0,44), desidroepiandrosterona (DHEA) e desejo (r=-0,45), bem como entre prolactina e lubrificação (r=0,33). Entre hormônios sexuais e qualidade de vida: progesterona e limitações por aspectos físicos (r=0,35), SHBG e aspectos sociais (r=0,35), cortisol e dor (r=0,46), DHEA e aspectos sociais (r=-0,40). Por fim, entre função sexual e qualidade de vida: desejo sexual e vitalidade, aspectos sociais, estado geral de saúde e saúde mental (r=0,46, r=0,51, r=0,35 e r=0,38, respectivamente). Excitação, orgasmo e satisfação com a vida sexual mostraram uma relação com menos dor física (r=0,40, r=0,42 e r=0,43, respectivamente). A satisfação com a vida sexual foi correlacionada com a vitalidade (r=0,33). Conclusão Correlações diferentes das esperadas foram encontradas neste estudo em relação ao efeito de alguns hormônios sobre a função sexual e alguns aspectos da qualidade de vida de mulheres na pós-menopausa.