title: Introducing a novel method to assess cumulative steroid concentrations: increased hair cortisol concentrations over 6 months in medicated patients with depression.
abstract: Depression has been linked to increased cortisol concentrations using point measures taken from urine, blood, or saliva samples. However, with regard to hypercortisolism-induced consequences, long-term cumulative cortisol burden is of relevance. Our objective was to use hair analysis as a new method to assess cortisol exposure over 6 months in depressed patients and healthy controls. We examined 23 depressed patients (8 men and 15 women, mean age: 41.6 years ( ± standard deviation (SD), 13.1 years); mean duration of current depressive episode 9 months ( ± SD, 13 months)) and 64 healthy controls, matched for age and gender. Cortisol concentrations in two 3-cm hair segments from near to the scalp were analyzed, representing cortisol secretion during the 6 months prior to sampling. Compared with healthy individuals, depressed patients had higher hair cortisol concentrations in the first (mean ± SD: 26.7 ± 20.8 vs. 18.7 ± 11.5 pg/mg, p < 0.05) and second hair segment (mean ±  SD: 21.9 ± 23.7 vs. 13.4 ± 9.6 pg/mg, p < 0.05). In conclusion, hair cortisol analysis confirmed enhanced cortisol secretion in depressed patients over a prolonged time period. Because of the retrospective and cumulative nature of cortisol in hair, the assessment of hair cortisol concentration may help in addressing unanswered questions regarding hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis overactivity and associated health consequences in psychiatric disorders.
authors: Department of Psychology, Technical University of Dresden, Dresden, Germany. l.dettenborn-betz@uke.de
authors: Lucia
authors: L
authors: Dettenborn
authors: Christoph
authors: C
authors: Muhtz
authors: Nadine
authors: N
authors: Skoluda
authors: Tobias
authors: T
authors: Stalder
authors: Susann
authors: S
authors: Steudte
authors: Kim
authors: K
authors: Hinkelmann
authors: Clemens
authors: C
authors: Kirschbaum
authors: Christian
authors: C
authors: Otte
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003863:Depression / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006197:Hair / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000032:analysis*; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000502:physiology; D007297:Inpatients; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000502:physiology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012008:Recurrence; D012907:Smoking / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D006854:Hydrocortisone