An investigation into the relationship between salivary cortisol, stress, anxiety and depression.
This study examined the relationship between indices of self-reported emotional distress and absolute versus change in cortisol levels. Fifty-four women attending a diagnostic breast clinic completed scales measuring stress, anxiety and depression and provided five saliva samples over the course of a single day for the measurement of cortisol. No significant relationships were evident between absolute cortisol levels and the distress measures. Analysis of the change in cortisol levels revealed a non-linear interaction effect between stress and anxiety and time of day. There was a non-linear relation between time of day and cortisol levels, but the extent of the non-linearity was dependent upon levels of stress and anxiety, not depression. A relationship was apparent between indices of distress and change in cortisol levels, but not absolute levels of the hormone.
Vedhara
Kav
K
Department of Experimental Psychology, Human Stress Research Unit, University of Bristol, 8 Woodland Road, Clifton, Bristol BS8 1TN, UK. k.vedhara@bristol.ac.uk
Miles
Jeremy
J
Bennett
Paul
P
Plummer
Sue
S
Tallon
Deborah
D
Brooks
Emily
E
Gale
Lone
L
Munnoch
Katherine
K
Schreiber-Kounine
Christa
C
Fowler
Clare
C
Lightman
Stafford
S
Sammon
Alistair
A
Rayter
Zenon
Z
Farndon
John
J
D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000523:psychology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000523:psychology
D006854:Hydrocortisone