Abnormal cortisol awakening response predicts worse cognitive function in patients with first-episode psychosis.
BACKGROUND
Cognitive impairment, particularly in memory and executive function, is a core feature of psychosis. Moreover, psychosis is characterized by a more prominent history of stress exposure, and by dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. In turn, stress exposure and abnormal levels of the main HPA axis hormone cortisol are associated with cognitive impairments in a variety of clinical and experimental samples; however, this association has never been examined in first-episode psychosis (FEP).


METHODS
In this study, 30 FEP patients and 26 controls completed assessment of the HPA axis (cortisol awakening response and cortisol levels during the day), perceived stress, recent life events, history of childhood trauma, and cognitive function. The neuropsychological battery comprised general cognitive function, verbal and non-verbal memory, executive function, perception, visuospatial abilities, processing speed, and general knowledge.


RESULTS
Patients performed significantly worse on all cognitive domains compared to controls. In patients only, a more blunted cortisol awakening response (that is, more abnormal) was associated with a more severe deficit in verbal memory and processing speed. In controls only, higher levels of perceived stress and more recent life events were associated with a worse performance in executive function and perception and visuospatial abilities.


CONCLUSIONS
These data support a role for the HPA axis, as measured by cortisol awakening response, in modulating cognitive function in patients with psychosis; however, this association does not seem to be related to the increased exposure to psychosocial stressors described in these patients.
Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, UK.
M
M
Aas
P
P
Dazzan
V
V
Mondelli
T
T
Toulopoulou
A
A
Reichenberg
M
M
Di Forti
H L
HL
Fisher
R
R
Handley
N
N
Hepgul
T
T
Marques
A
A
Miorelli
H
H
Taylor
M
M
Russo
B
B
Wiffen
A
A
Papadopoulos
K J
KJ
Aitchison
C
C
Morgan
R M
RM
Murray
C M
CM
Pariante
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000503:physiopathology; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D002189:Marijuana Abuse / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000503:physiopathology; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D014851:Wakefulness / Q000502:physiology
D006854:Hydrocortisone