Effects of childhood experiences on cortisol levels in depressed adults.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the impact of childhood abuse and parental bonding on cortisol levels in depressed adults.


METHODS
Mean afternoon cortisol levels were measured in 192 depressed adult patients at the beginning of a treatment trial. Childhood experiences of physical and sexual abuse were ascertained by interview, and perceived parenting by self-report.


RESULTS
Maternal affectionless control, childhood sexual and physical abuse were all associated with cortisol levels.


CONCLUSIONS
Childhood experiences, especially maternal affectionless control, appear to be related to hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis function in depressed adults.
Joyce
Peter R
PR
Department of Psychological Medicine, Christchurch School of Medicine & Health Sciences, PO Box 4345, Christchurch, New Zealand. peter.joyce@chmeds.ac.nz
Williamson
Samantha A H
SA
McKenzie
Janice M
JM
Frampton
Christopher M A
CM
Luty
Suzanne E
SE
Porter
Richard J
RJ
Mulder
Roger T
RT
D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000652:urine*; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008425:Maternal Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000503:physiopathology; D015995:Prevalence; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D006854:Hydrocortisone