Major depressive disorder and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity: results from a large cohort study.
BACKGROUND
There is a central belief that depression is associated with hyperactivity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, resulting in higher cortisol levels. However, results are inconsistent.


OBJECTIVE
To examine whether there is an association between depression and various cortisol indicators in a large cohort study.


METHODS
Data are from 1588 participants of the Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety who were recruited from the community, general practice care, and specialized mental health care. Three groups were compared: 308 control subjects without psychiatric disorders, 579 persons with remitted (no current) major depressive disorder (MDD), and 701 persons with a current MDD diagnosis, as assessed using the DSM-IV Composite International Diagnostic Interview.


METHODS
Cortisol levels were measured in 7 saliva samples to determine the 1-hour cortisol awakening response, evening cortisol levels, and cortisol suppression after a 0.5-mg dexamethasone suppression test.


RESULTS
Both the remitted and current MDD groups showed a significantly higher cortisol awakening response compared with control subjects (effect size [Cohen d] range, 0.15-0.25). Evening cortisol levels were higher among the current MDD group at 10 pm but not at 11 pm. The postdexamethasone cortisol level did not differ between the MDD groups. Most depression characteristics (severity, chronicity, symptom profile, prior childhood trauma) were not associated with hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity except for comorbid anxiety, which tended to be associated with a higher cortisol awakening response. The use of psychoactive medication was generally associated with lower cortisol levels and less cortisol suppression after dexamethasone ingestion.


CONCLUSIONS
This large cohort study shows significant, although modest, associations between MDD and specific hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis indicators. Because a higher cortisol awakening response was observed among both subjects with current MDD and subjects with remitted MDD, this may be indicative of an increased biological vulnerability for depression.
Vreeburg
Sophie A
SA
Department of Psychiatry, VU University Medical Center, A. J. Ernststraat 887, 1081 HL Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Hoogendijk
Witte J G
WJ
van Pelt
Johannes
J
Derijk
Roel H
RH
Verhagen
Jolanda C M
JC
van Dyck
Richard
R
Smit
Johannes H
JH
Zitman
Frans G
FG
Penninx
Brenda W J H
BW
D000328:Adult; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002908:Chronic Disease; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003907:Dexamethasone; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011594:Psychometrics; D012307:Risk Factors; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D003907:Dexamethasone; D006854:Hydrocortisone