title: Effects of perinatal stress and maternal traumatic stress on the cortisol regulation of preterm infants.
abstract: Preterm infants experience intense stress during the perinatal period because they endure painful and intense medical procedures. Repeated activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis during this period may have long-term effects on subsequent cortisol regulation. A premature delivery may also be intensely stressful for the parents, and they may develop symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Usable saliva samples were collected (4 times per day over 2 days, in the morning at awakening, at midday, in the afternoon, and in the evening before going to bed) to assess the diurnal cortisol regulation from 46 preterm infants when the infants were 12 months of corrected age (∼ 14 months after birth). Mothers reported their level of PTSD symptoms. The results showed an interaction between perinatal stress and maternal traumatic stress on the diurnal cortisol slope of preterm infants (R(2) = .32). This suggests that the HPA axis of preterm infants exposed to high perinatal stress may be more sensitive to subsequent environmental stress.
authors.affiliation: Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University Hospital of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Habersaat
authors.forename: Ayala
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Borghini
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nessi
authors.forename: Margarita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Forcada-Guex
authors.forename: Carole
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Müller-Nix
authors.forename: Blaise
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pierrehumbert
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ansermet
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000378:metabolism*; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D015931:Intensive Care, Neonatal / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D018743:Perinatal Care; D011247:Pregnancy; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000523:psychology*; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000209:etiology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D006854:Hydrocortisone