Methods for treating a mammal suffering from glucocorticoid-related diseases and conditions, comprising administering to the mammal an effective amount of a selective inhibitor of 11-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase Type 1 enzyme activity, wherein the inhibitor is a compound of formula (I): ##STR00001## or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, prodrug, salt of a prodrug, or a combination thereof. Methods of inhibiting 11-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase Type 1 enzyme. Methods of treating neuronal degeneration, dysfunction, acute psychosis, anxiety, dementia, depression, non-insulin dependent type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance, obesity, lipid disorders, metabolic syndrome and other diseases and conditions that are mediated by excessive glucocorticoid action.