Inverse correlation between morning plasma cortisol levels and MMPI psychasthenia and depression scale scores in victims of mobbing with adjustment disorders.
OBJECTIVE
Evidence in the literature suggests stress-related changes of hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in mobbing. We investigated the association between HPA activity and psychological profiles in mobbing, using a multidisciplinary approach.


METHODS
Forty-eight victims of mobbing were evaluated by a working group of the Departments of Occupational Medicine, Psychiatry and Internal Medicine. After an informed consent, a detailed occupational history, a psychiatric interview with Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory 2 (MMPI-2) administration and a blood sample (8:00 AM) for the determination of basal adrenocorticotropin (ACTH), cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS) plasma levels were collected. Twenty-six patients received an overnight dexamethasone (dex) test.


RESULTS
Mean ACTH, cortisol and DHEAS levels were within normal ranges. The dex-test response was normal, with a significant hormone suppression (ACTH p<0.001, cortisol p<0.001, DHEAS p<0.001). The correlations between basal hormones and the psychometric scales of MMPI-2 revealed that cortisol was significantly and negatively related to Psychasthenia (Pt, p=0.003) and Depression (D, p=0.006), while DHEAS showed a significant negative correlation to Hysteria (Hy, p=0.008). Basal ACTH levels were not significantly related to psychometric scales.


CONCLUSIONS
A significant inverse correlation between morning plasma cortisol levels and psychometric parameters in victims of mobbing with adjustment disorders was observed. A larger group of patients is necessary to identify and validate a cut-off cortisol level that may become an innovative biological parameter for the diagnosis and follow-up in victims of mobbing.
Rocco
Antonio
A
Department of Internal Medicine, II Faculty of Medicine, La Sapienza, University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Martocchia
Antonio
A
Frugoni
Patrizia
P
Baldini
Rossella
R
Sani
Gabriele
G
Di Simone Di Giuseppe
Barbara
B
Vairano
Andrea
A
Girardi
Paolo
P
Monaco
Edoardo
E
Tatarelli
Roberto
R
Falaschi
Paolo
P
D000275:Adjustment Disorders / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000523:psychology*; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000097:blood; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D008950:MMPI; D008297:Male; D016272:Occupational Health; D011594:Psychometrics; D012919:Social Behavior; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D014754:Violence / Q000523:psychology*; D017132:Workplace / Q000523:psychology*
D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D006854:Hydrocortisone