Involvement of GABAA receptor modulating neuroactive steroids in patients with social phobia

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its sulfate ester (DHEA-S), neurosteroids synthesized in the brain, are weak gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) A receptor allosteric antagonists that may be involved in anxiety disorders. In the present study we measured the levels of DHEA, DHEA-S, pregnenolone and cortisol in platelets of untreated patients (n = 26) diagnosed with social phobia (SP) compared with sex- and age-matched healthy controls (n = 21). No significant differences in neurosteroids were observed in the platelets of untreated SP patients compared with healthy controls. The findings may reflect an absence of involvement of the GABAA modulators DHEA, DHEA-S and pregnenolone in SP.