title: Longer-term increased cortisol levels in young people with mental health problems.
abstract: Disturbance of hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis activity is commonly reported in a range of mental disorders in blood, saliva and urine samples. This study aimed to look at longer-term cortisol levels and their association with clinical symptoms. Hair strands of 30 young people (16-25 years) presenting with mental health problems (Mage±SD=21±2.4, 26 females) and 28 healthy controls (HC, Mage±SD=20±2.9, 26 females) were analyzed for cortisol concentrations, representing the past 6 months prior to hair sampling. Clinical participants completed an assessment on psychiatric symptoms, functioning and lifestyle factors. All participants completed the Perceived Stress Scale. Hair cortisol concentrations representing the past 3 (but not 3-6) months were significantly increased in clinical participants compared to HC. Perceived stress in the past month was significantly higher in clinical participants compared to HC, but not significantly correlated with hair cortisol. Hair cortisol levels were not significantly associated with any other measures. Hair segment analyses revealed longer-term increased levels of cortisol in the past 3 months in early mental health problems. Further insight into the role of cortisol on the pathogenesis of mental illnesses requires longitudinal studies relating cortisol to psychopathology and progression of illness.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, UK; School of Psychology, Keele University, UK. Electronic address: kxh114@bham.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Kareen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Heinze
authors.affiliation: Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Ashleigh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, UK.
authors.forename: Renate L E P
authors.initials: RLEP
authors.lastname: Reniers
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, UK; Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne and Melbourne Health, Carlton South, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Stephen J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Wood
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006197:Hair / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000032:analysis*; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008603:Mental Health; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006854:Hydrocortisone
keywords: Clinical staging; Hair cortisol; Youth mental health