title: Examining the levels of BDNF and cortisol in children and adolescent victims of sexual abuse--a preliminary study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous reports have suggested the biological and psychological effects of trauma induced by cortisol and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). The present study compared the levels of BDNF, cortisol, and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) in children and adolescent victims of sexual abuse to those without a trauma history.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted in the Department of Child Psychiatry at Dicle University. The study included 44 children (M/F: 12/32) aged between 8 and 17years who experienced sexual abuse with 42 age-and gender-matched children who did not have a history of trauma. Cortisol, ACTH, and BDNF levels were measured using ELISA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cortisol levels were higher and BDNF levels were significantly lower in the victims of sexual abuse compared to the control group. The mean time that elapsed from the initial sexual abuse occurrence until the date of examination was 22.7±21.7months. The evaluation of the relationship between this time span and cortisol levels revealed that cortisol levels decreased with increasing time after trauma. Cortisol and BDNF levels were lower in the victims who experienced multiple sexual assaults.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of the present study suggest that cortisol and BDNF could be biological molecular mediators of the effects of trauma on biological and psychological systems. This is the first report on the effects of cortisol and BDNF induced trauma in child and adolescent victims of sexual abuse.
authors.affiliation: Dicle University, Medical School, Department of Child Psychiatry, Diyarbakır, Turkey. Electronic address: drserefsimsek@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Şeref
authors.initials: Ş
authors.lastname: Şimşek
authors.affiliation: Dicle University, Medical School, Department of Child Psychiatry, Diyarbakır, Turkey. Electronic address: tyuksel44@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Tuğba
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yüksel
authors.affiliation: Dicle University, Medical School, Department of Biochemistry, Diyarbakır, Turkey. Electronic address: dribrahimkaplan@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: İbrahim
authors.initials: İ
authors.lastname: Kaplan
authors.affiliation: Dicle University, Medical, School Department of Forensic Medicine, Diyarbakır, Turkey. Electronic address: drcemuysal@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Cem
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Uysal
authors.affiliation: Dicle University, Medical School, Department of Child Psychiatry, Diyarbakır, Turkey. Electronic address: rumeysaalaca17@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Rümeysa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Alaca
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; C579455:BDNF protein, human; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D006854:Hydrocortisone