title: Initial posttraumatic urinary cortisol levels predict subsequent PTSD symptoms in motor vehicle accident victims.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study was designed to examine the relationship between urinary hormone levels collected upon admission to the trauma unit following a motor vehicle accident and posttraumatic stress disorder symptomatology 1 month later.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen-hour urine samples were collected from 63 male and 36 female motor vehicle accident victims and were used to assess levels of catecholamines and cortisol reflecting peritraumatic and acute-phase posttraumatic levels. Presence of posttraumatic stress disorder symptomatology was assessed 1 month after the accident.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Motor vehicle accident victims subsequently diagnosed with acute posttraumatic stress disorder excreted significantly lower levels of cortisol in 15-hour urines collected upon admission to the hospital. In addition, urinary levels of cortisol predicted a significant percentage of the variance in intrusive and avoidant thoughts 1 month after the accident.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of our study suggest that initial cortisol levels in the immediate aftermath of a traumatic event contribute, in part, to subsequent symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Kent State University, (DLD), Kent, Ohio 44242, USA.
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Delahanty
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Raimonde
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Spoonster
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000523:psychology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000652:urine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000652:urine*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000523:psychology / Q000652:urine*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000652:urine*
chemical_list: D002395:Catecholamines; D006854:Hydrocortisone