Ten-year follow-up study of cortisol levels in aging holocaust survivors with and without PTSD.
To investigate the longitudinal course of mean 24-hour urinary cortisol excretion in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the authors evaluated 24-hour cortisol excretion in 28 Holocaust survivors 10 years after obtaining an initial estimate. Cortisol levels increased in participants whose PTSD had remitted (n = 3) but declined in participants who developed PTSD (n = 3) or whose PTSD status did not change over time (PTSD+: n = 14, PTSD-: n = 8). Cortisol levels at Time 1 predicted diagnostic status change better than psychological variables, including exposure to traumatic events between assessments. The authors conclude that cortisol levels are affected by change in PTSD status and age.
Yehuda
Rachel
R
Division of Traumatic Stress Studies, Department of Psychiatry, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, Bronx NY, USA. rachel.yehuda@med.va.gov
Morris
Adam
A
Labinsky
Ellen
E
Zemelman
Shelly
S
Schmeidler
James
J
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D017767:Holocaust; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000652:urine; D008297:Male; D009519:New York City; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*
D006854:Hydrocortisone