ABSTRACT
Given the scope of recent interest in the neuropsychiatric effects of DHEA/S, it is somewhat surprising to learn that the first published reports appeared in the early 1950’s (Sands and Chamberlain, 1952; Strauss et al., 1952). For unclear reasons public and professional interest in human behavioral effects waned until the late 1980’s, at which point a confluence of animal behavioral and human epidemiologic data suggested that DHEA may naturally regulate aspects of human mood, cognition, and behavior and possibly counteract many of the adverse effects of ageing. The positive results reported in the first well controlled clinical trial of the pharmacologic effects of DHEA replacement in humans (Morales et al., 1994) further kindled scientific investigation and enthusiasm. Although recent studies have been somewhat more mixed in their conclusions, a wealth of evidence now exists that indicates that DHEA/S levels frequently correlate with mood, psychiatric status, memory and functional abilities in humans and that pharmacologic treatment with DHEA may have salutary effects on these same domains in normal individuals, as well as various patient groups. This chapter chronicles the progress that has been made in understanding the behavioral role of DHEA regulation and treatment in humans.
