Method for treating neurocognitive dysfunction

1. A method of treating a cognitive impairment associated with corticosteroid treatment as a result of a condition in a human in need of such treatment, comprising administering to the human an effective amount of at least one compound of formula I

wherein: A is a bridge selected from the following radicals: —(CH 2 ) m —, —CH═CH—, —(CH 2 ) p —O—, —(CH 2 ) p —S—, —(CH 2 ) p —SO 2 —, —(CH 2 ) p —NR 1 — and —SO2—NR 2 —, and wherein: m is an integer of from 1 to 3 inclusive; p is an integer selected from 1 and 2; R 1 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and C 1 -C 5 alkyl; and R 2 is C 1 -C 5 alkyl; X and Y are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and halogen; R and R′ are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and C 1 -C 5 alkyl; n is an integer from 1 to 12 inclusive; and * denotes an asymmetric carbon and the bond designated by {character pullout} indicates that the absolute conformation about the asymmetric carbon can be either (R) or (S) only when all four groups attached to the asymmetric carbon are nonequivalent, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and wherein said cognitive impairment is selected from the group consisting of a foggy feeling, a poor ability to concentrate, unclear thinking, being in a sedated state, and a rapidly developing mental fatigue.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein A is —SO 2 —NR 2 —.

3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein R and R′ are hydrogen.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the compound of formula I is tianeptine or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the compound is (R)-tianeptine, substantially free of the corresponding (S)-enantiomer.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the compound is (S)-tianeptine, substantially free of the corresponding (R)-enantiomer.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the effective amount of the at least one compound of formula I administered to the human is from about 2 to about 600 mg/day.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the effective amount of the at least one compound of formula I administered to the human is from about 10 to about 400 mg/day.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the effective amount of the at least one compound of formula I administered to the human is about 25 to about 300 mg/day.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one compound of formula I is administered to the subject as a pharmaceutical composition.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the condition is a pulmonary condition.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the pulmonary condition is selected from the group consisting of asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and pulmonary sarcoidosis.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the condition is selected from the group consisting of a cardiac condition, a gastrointestinal condition, a rheumatic condition, a collagen-vascular or dermatological condition, a renal condition, an endocrine condition.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the condition is pericarditis, hepatitis, ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease, rheumatoid arthritis or psoriatic arthritis, polymyositis, polyarteritis nodosa, vasculitis, systemic dermatomyositis, eczema, cutaneous sarcoidosis, mycosis fungoides, severe seborrheic dermatitis, psoriasis, and systemic lupus erythematosus, nephritic syndrome, or lupus nephritis, a hyperthyroid state or hypercalcemia associated with malignancy and sarcoidosis.

15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the condition is the prophylaxis of the rejection of a transplanted organ.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the compound of formula I is administered with a systemic corticosteroid.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the systemic corticosteroid is prednisone.