title: Decreased dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate levels in adolescents with post-traumatic stress disorder after single sexual trauma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recent evidence shows that the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis can be dysregulated in chronic sexual abuse victims with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). We hypothesized that PTSD in adolescents exposed to a single sexual trauma may function as a chronic stressor leading to HPA-axis dysregulation.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to assess dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEA-S) and cortisol levels in female adolescents |with single sexual trauma-related PTSD compared to healthy controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  We assessed 20 female adolescent (age 12-18) single sexual trauma victims with PTSD from the Ondokuz Mayis University Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry between December 2013 and December 2014. PTSD symptoms were assessed using the Child Depression Inventory (CDI) and Child Posttraumatic Stress Reaction Index (CPSRI). Blood cortisol and DHEA-S were measured in 20 female adolescent sexual abuse victims with PTSD and 20 healthy adolescents after 12-h fasting using the chemiluminescence method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared to age-matched controls, female adolescent sexual abuse victims with PTSD had significantly lower DHEA-S levels (U = 70.00, Z = - 3.517, p = 0.01, r = 0.55). There was also a significant negative correlation between DHEA-S and CDI scores (Spearman r = - 0.522, p < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Decreased DHEA-S levels and correlation with depressive symptoms are evidence for a dysregulated HPA-axis in female adolescent single sexual trauma victims with PTSD. Further research is now recommended with large patient groups in order to maximize generalizations.
authors.affiliation: a Mirac Baris Usta, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry , School of Medicine, Ondokuz Mayis University , Samsun , Turkey.
authors.forename: Mirac Baris
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Usta
authors.affiliation: b Ozgur Korhan Tuncel, Department of Biochemistry , School of Medicine, Ondokuz Mayis University , Samsun , Turkey.
authors.forename: Ozgur Korhan
authors.initials: OK
authors.lastname: Tuncel
authors.affiliation: c Seher Akbas, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry , School of Medicine, Ondokuz Mayis University , Samsun , Turkey.
authors.forename: Seher
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Akbas
authors.affiliation: d Berna Aydin, Department of Forensic Medicine , School of Medicine, Ondokuz Mayis University , Samsun , Turkey.
authors.forename: Berna
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Aydin
authors.affiliation: e Gokce Nur Say, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry , Ondokuz Mayis University , Samsun , Turkey.
authors.forename: Gokce Nur
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Say
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D019548:Crime Victims; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate / Q000097:blood*; D003863:Depression / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012742:Sex Offenses; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D006854:Hydrocortisone
keywords: Adolescent; Cortisol; DHEA-S; PTSD; Sexual trauma