title: BDNF and cortisol levels in children with or without post-traumatic stress disorder after sustaining sexual abuse.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There are studies reporting that cortisol and brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF) play a role in the pathophysiology of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, up-to-date no study evaluated the relationship between PTSD and the levels of cortisol and BDNF in children and adolescents who have sustained trauma. The aim of this study was to investigate whether BDNF, cortisol and adrenocorticotropine (ACTH) levels differ between individuals who developed PTSD or not following a sexual trauma.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 55 children aged between 6 and 17 years who sustained sexual assault (M/F: 13/42). The patients were divided into two groups, with or without PTSD based on the results of a structured psychiatric interview (K-SADS-PL and CAPS-CA). Of the participants, 49% (n=27) were diagnosed with PTSD. Cortisol, ACTH, and BDNF levels were evaluated using the ELISA method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no significant differences between patients with or without PTSD in terms of cortisol, ACTH, BDNF levels. There were no correlations between CAPS-CA scores and cortisol, ACTH, and BDNF levels in patients with or without PTSD. In patients with PTSD, decreased cortisol levels were found with increasing time after trauma, and no significant correlation was found with the cortisol levels in patients without PTSD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although no significant association was found between biochemical parameters and the presence or severity of PTSD; decreasing cortisol levels with increasing time after trauma in patients with PTSD suggest that cortisol might have played a role in the pathophysiology of this disorder.
authors: Dicle University, Medical School, Department of Child Psychiatry, Diyarbakır, Turkey. Electronic address: drserefsimsek@gmail.com.
authors: Seref
authors: S
authors: Simsek
authors: Dicle University, Medical School, Department of Forensic Medicine, Diyarbakır, Turkey. Electronic address: drcemuysal@gmail.com.
authors: Cem
authors: C
authors: Uysal
authors: Dicle University, Medical School, Department of Biochemistry, Diyarbakır, Turkey. Electronic address: dribrahimkaplan@hotmail.com.
authors: Ibrahim
authors: I
authors: Kaplan
authors: Dicle University, Medical School, Department of Child Psychiatry, Diyarbakır, Turkey. Electronic address: tyuksel44@yahoo.com.
authors: Tugba
authors: T
authors: Yuksel
authors: Dicle University, Medical School, Department of Child Psychiatry, Diyarbakır, Turkey. Electronic address: huseyinaktas04@gmail.com.
authors: Huseyin
authors: H
authors: Aktas
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000453:epidemiology; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D006854:Hydrocortisone
keywords: BDNF; Cortisol; HPA axis; PTSD; Sexual abuse; Trauma