Increased cortisol in women with intimate partner violence-related posttraumatic stress disorder.
BACKGROUND
Alterations of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis function and sympathetic-adrenal activity have been proposed as key factors in biological models of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).


METHODS
We examined neuroendocrine function in female survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) with lifetime (current or remitted) PTSD (n=29) and in women who were exposed to IPV but never developed PTSD (n=20). Salivary cortisol was collected as a marker of HPA axis function at 1, 4, 9, and 11 h after awakening. Platelet epinephrine and norepinephrine were assayed as markers of sympathetic-adrenal activation.


RESULTS
Women with lifetime PTSD had significantly higher cortisol levels across the day compared to abuse-exposed participants without PTSD, after controlling for age, depression, severity, and latency of abuse. There were no significant group differences in levels of platelet catecholamines.


CONCLUSIONS
Elevated cortisol levels may be a biomarker of IPV-related lifetime PTSD, reflecting long-lasting changes associated with trauma-exposure or possibly a reflection of risk for PTSD in women.
Inslicht
Sabra S
SS
Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh Sennott Square, 3rd Floor, 210 S. Bouquet Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA. sabra.inslicht@ucsf.edu
Marmar
Charles R
CR
Neylan
Thomas C
TC
Metzler
Thomas J
TJ
Hart
Stacey L
SL
Otte
Christian
C
McCaslin
Shannon E
SE
Larkin
G Luke
GL
Hyman
Kelly B
KB
Baum
Andrew
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018585:Battered Women / Q000523:psychology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000378:metabolism; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000378:metabolism; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism; D017579:Domestic Violence / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000378:metabolism*; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000378:metabolism; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism*; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000378:metabolism
D015415:Biomarkers; D002395:Catecholamines; D006854:Hydrocortisone