{'fraction_non_alphanumeric': 0.026555386949924126, 'fraction_numerical': 0.0015174506828528073, 'mean_word_length': 5.764102564102564, 'pattern_counts': {'":': 0, '<': 0, '<?xml version=': 0, '>': 0, 'https://': 0, 'lorem ipsum': 0, 'www.': 0, 'xml': 0}, 'pii_count': 0, 'substrings_counts': 0, 'word_list_counts': {'cursed_substrings.json': 0, 'profanity_word_list.json': 0, 'sexual_word_list.json': 0, 'zh_pornsignals.json': 0}}
Antidepressant and Cognition‐Enhancing Effects of DHEA in Major Depression

Several lines of evidence suggest that dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) may be involved in behavioP and that ageor illness-related decreases in circulating levels may be pathophysiologically relevant in psychiatric illness. We recently reported that DHEA, DHEAS, and the ratios of these hormones with cortisol decrease with age in both normal subjects and patients with major depression5 and that basal levels of these hormones were directly correlated with performance in verbal memory tasks involving “automatic,” noneffortful functions, and “semantic memory” performance (i.e., knowledge rather than episode-based memory)? Pilot studies of DHEA administration to medical or psychiatric patients6 noted improvements in mood, energy, libido, and in some cases memory performance. Morales et al. administered physiologic doses of DHEA to healthy elderly volunteers and noted improved senses of well-being. In the current open-label pilot studies, we sought to determine if DHEA administration would improve mood and cognition in middle-aged and elderly depressives. Doses of DHEA were individually adjusted to achieve circulating levels which are in the mid-normal range in younger healthy individuals.