A longitudinal study of hormonal reactions accompanying life events in recently resettled refugees.
BACKGROUND
Refugees constitute a growing section of the general population in many countries. It is therefore important to study which factors in everyday life are important to recently resettled refugees after they have been granted residence.


METHODS
Life events from a checklist, as well as categories derived from written responses to open-ended questions were analysed (repeated-measures ANOVA). Changes over time in mean serum/plasma concentrations of cortisol, thyroxine, prolactin, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEA-S) were compared in subjects with and without the reported events.


RESULTS
Distress in significant others (close friends or first-degree relatives) and a perception of excessive demands in everyday life were associated with increases in serum cortisol. Events associated with decreased levels of prolactin were typically situations of strain in relation to authorities or individuals to which the subjects were in a position of dependency. DHEA-S changed in opposite directions in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and non-PTSD subjects. DHEA-S also changed with positive events.


CONCLUSIONS
Distress in significant others and a too demanding everyday life lead to significant changes in the stress-responsive hormones cortisol, prolactin and DHEA-S. Since DHEA-S behaves differently in PTSD, this condition is a potential confounder in studies of DHEA-S with an unknown proportion of PTSD among participants.
Söndergaard
Hans Peter
HP
National Swedish Institute for Psychosocial Factors and Health, Stockholm, Sweden. hans.peter.sondergaard@phs.ki.se
Theorell
Töres
T
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018912:Arabs / Q000523:psychology; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate / Q000097:blood; D005195:Family Relations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D008016:Life Change Events; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood; D012036:Refugees; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D013315:Stress, Psychological
D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D011388:Prolactin; D006854:Hydrocortisone