title: Disparate plasma cortisol concentrations in sexually abused female children from Johannesburg, South Africa.
abstract: A growing body of research indicates that a bidirectional response to a stressor may occur in maltreated children and may be associated with later life psychopathology. However, few studies have investigated stress reactivity in children when they first present to a sexual abuse clinic. Thus, in order to evaluate whether HPA axis dysregulation would be evident at first presentation to a sexual abuse clinic in young girls (n = 26), between the ages of 6-12 years old, blood samples were obtained immediately following examination at a forensic sexual abuse clinic and from the matched control group of children (n = 14; 10.1 ± 0.8) immediately following a bone density scan. Stratification of the sexually abused group into those children who were reportedly abused by a stranger and had no other family stressors (n = 15, 10.4 ± 1.8) and those children whose parents reported abuse of the child by a stranger and other family stressors (n = 11; 9.5 ± 1.8) revealed differences in stress reactivity. Plasma concentrations, of the children from the forensic clinic, were significantly increased in children who reported abuse by a stranger only (322.3 ± 117.4 nmol/l) and significantly decreased in children whose histories indicated sexual abuse by a stranger and other family stressors (149.6 ± 39.7 nmol/l) when compared to the control group (225.5 ± 47.5 nmol/l). In conclusion, following sexual abuse and a secondary stressor, the forensic examination, there is evidence of divergent cortisol responses in the stratified clinical group of children.
authors.affiliation: School of Physiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
authors.forename: Denise
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Muller
authors.affiliation: Teddy Bear Clinic, Johannesburg, South Africa.
authors.forename: Sheri-lee
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Errington
authors.affiliation: School of Clinical Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
authors.forename: Christopher P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Szabo
authors.affiliation: School of Physiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
authors.forename: Neville
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pitts
authors.affiliation: School of Clinical Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
authors.forename: Lorna
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jacklin
mesh_terms: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D006854:Hydrocortisone
keywords: Cortisol; Female children; Girls; HPA axis; Sexual abuse; Stress reactivity