Brief report: Role of cortisol in posttraumatic stress symptoms among mothers of children diagnosed with cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the role of cortisol in posttraumatic stress symptomatology among mothers of children newly diagnosed with cancer.


METHODS
Mothers (N = 27) completed standardized measures of posttraumatic stress symptoms and provided salivary cortisol samples at the time of their child's cancer diagnosis and then monthly for 1 year.


RESULTS
Random effects regression analyses of 351 person-by-time observations revealed that high levels of cortisol were associated with higher levels of posttraumatic stress symptoms (B = .12, p < .02). The mothers who exhibited higher cortisol levels at the time of their child's diagnosis showed statistically significant declines in symptomatology from diagnosis to 12 months postdiagnosis (B = .97, p < .0001) compared to mothers who exhibited lower cortisol levels at diagnosis (B = .003, p < .05).


CONCLUSIONS
These findings offer some suggestions into possible neurobiological processes underlying posttraumatic stress symptoms and directions for future research and clinical intervention.
Stoppelbein
Laura
L
Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS 39216, USA. lstoppelbein@psychiatry.umsmed.edu
Greening
Leilani
L
Fite
Paula J
PJ
D000293:Adolescent; D019540:Area Under Curve; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D008016:Life Change Events; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000523:psychology
D006854:Hydrocortisone