Urinary catecholamines and cortisol in recent-onset posttraumatic stress disorder after motor vehicle accidents.
OBJECTIVE
This study examined relationships among stress hormone levels, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) diagnosis and symptoms, and gender shortly after a common civilian trauma.


METHODS
Levels of catecholamines and cortisol in 15-hour urine samples were examined in 55 adults who had been in serious motor vehicle accidents and in 22 age-matched control.


RESULTS
Catecholamines were related to PTSD diagnosis and symptoms, but only among men: PTSD-symptomatic men who had been in an accident exhibited elevated levels of epinephrine and norepinephrine 1 month after the accident and had higher epinephrine levels 5 months later. Intrusive thoughts predicted catecholamine levels at 1 month, and avoidance of trauma-relevant stimuli was associated with higher epinephrine levels 5 months later. These effects were not significant among women. Urinary cortisol was also elevated among PTSD-symptomatic men, but not women, and only immediately (1 month) after the accident. For men and women, greater emotional numbing predicted a lower cortisol level 6 months after the accident.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings were interpreted as limited support for the generalizability of findings in men with chronic, combat-related PTSD and indicate the need for additional research on psychoendocrine assessment of traumatized women and specific dimensions of PTSD symptomatology.
Hawk
L W
LW
University of Pittsburgh, PA, USA. LHAWK@acsu.buffalo.edu
Dougall
A L
AL
Ursano
R J
RJ
Baum
A
A
D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000652:urine*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000652:urine*; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018986:Motor Vehicles; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000378:metabolism; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012737:Sex Factors; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000652:urine*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D002395:Catecholamines; D006854:Hydrocortisone