Spinal Decompression

DHEA AND DEPRESSION

Could a popular over the counter treatment be a new, legitimate answer for treating depression? New research suggests the supplement called DHEA is an effective way to help minor and even major depression.
The connection between DHEA and depression is particularly significant because, in any given year, around 19 million of us, or nearly one in ten, suffers some form of depression. Only about twenty percent get adequate treatment. Others self-treat, turning to supplements like St. John’s Wort, kava kava, and ginseng.

The problem with supplements is that often, there are not good studies to show evidence for their use. This study however, provides some proof in a reputable journal that DHEA may in fact be of benefit for those suffering with depression.
“When you are bed bound you are going to be depressed.” Jennifer Small was suffering from fibromyalgia pain which got so severe it put her into bed, and that triggered her depression. She’s turned to the supplement DHEA to cope with depression. DHEA, or dehydroepiandosterone, is actually a hormone produced in the adrenal glands, a building block for hormones like cortisol and testosterone.
Now, according to research in the Archives of General Psychiatry, the supplement DHEA may be helpful for those suffering from even significant depression. Compared to dummy placebo pills, after six weeks of DHEA treatment, half the patients experienced significant improvements in measures of depression and sexual functioning.
Dr. Eric Braverman, an integrative medicine specialist who focuses on brain health, says using the supplement can help boost the levels, and thus boost the mood at low doses. “DHEA has a natural effect on depression. The side effects are very limited, occasionally people get a little adolescent acne. It’s sort of like getting your hormones back up to the 20 year old level. The side effects are minimal, usually on the prostate. Sometimes other parts of the body can be affected but generally speaking it is very, very safe,” says Dr. Braverman. He believes DHEA can be an appropriate part of someone’s overall treatment plan for depression. “When you treat depression it’s really, you look at everything in a person’s life, their exercise pattern, whether they are getting any sun, whether they have any fun, what’s going on with their parents, what’s going on in their relationships, whether their thyroid is bad, whether their cholesterol level is bad, do they have a history of heart disease, everything. I mean everything feeds your mood, so no body treats people that are blue, sad, chronic fatigue with only one thing. If you are very deficient in DHEA, DHEA is going to be better than some antidepressants, if you’re not that deficient DHEA only may help a little bit.
Jennifer says DHEA made a huge impact. “Because of DHEA I could finally go out to a restaurant at night and have dinner with someone. Without it I could not have done that. It started to make possible social life, and of course that elevates your mood. It’s terrific.”
The researchers say that given a 50 percent response rate one would obviously select more reliable first-line treatments for this condition. However, in the 50 percent of depressed outpatients who do not respond to first-line antidepressant treatment, or in those unwilling to take traditional antidepressants, DHEA may have a useful role in the treatment of mild to moderately severe depression.
Most experts will say depression is a serious condition that can lead to even death because of suicide. It needs to be taken seriously and it should be followed and treated by a professional. If one chooses to use DHEA for depression, it should be done under the guidance or at least with the knowledge of the treating professional.

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