title: Use of hair cortisol analysis to detect hypercortisolism during active drinking phases in alcohol-dependent individuals.
abstract: The assessment of cortisol levels in human hair has recently been suggested to provide a retrospective index of cumulative cortisol exposure over periods of up to 6 months. The current study examined the utility of hair cortisol analysis to retrospectively detect hypercortisolism during active drinking phases in alcoholics in acute withdrawal (n=23), the normalisation of cortisol output in abstinent alcoholics (n=25) and cortisol levels in age- and gender-matched controls (n=20). Scalp-near 3-cm hair segments were sampled and analysed for cortisol content. Results showed three to fourfold higher cortisol levels in hair samples of alcoholics in acute withdrawal than in those of abstinent alcoholics (p<.001) or controls (p<.001), with no differences between the latter two groups. The current hair cortisol findings closely mirror results of previous research using well-established measures of systemic cortisol secretion and thus provide further validation of this novel method.
authors: Technical University of Dresden, Department of Psychology, 01062 Dresden, Germany. stalder@biopsych.tu-dresden.de
authors: Tobias
authors: T
authors: Stalder
authors: Clemens
authors: C
authors: Kirschbaum
authors: Kareen
authors: K
authors: Heinze
authors: Susann
authors: S
authors: Steudte
authors: Paul
authors: P
authors: Foley
authors: Antje
authors: A
authors: Tietze
authors: Lucia
authors: L
authors: Dettenborn
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003480:Cushing Syndrome / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006197:Hair / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000032:analysis*; D007118:Immunoassay / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011581:Psychological Tests
chemical_list: D006854:Hydrocortisone