title: Possible Contribution of PTSD to Altered Cortisol Activity in Young Adult Obese African-American Women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  African-Americans have been found to experience increased rates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), obesity, and flatter diurnal cortisol slopes compared to other demographic groups. Further exploration, however, is needed to understand how PTSD impacts diurnal cortisol activity in obese African-American women. The purpose of the current study is to examine the relationship between salivary cortisol levels and PTSD in a sample of obese young adult African-American women and to examine how depression and insomnia influence the relationship.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-four young adult African-American women (mean age = 24.0 years; mean BMI = 37.4 kg/m(2), 6/34 of the sample had a score of 40 or above on the PTSD Checklist (PCL) representing clinically significant PTSD) filled out questionnaires assessing PTSD, lifetime exposure to traumatic events, insomnia severity, and depression. A home-based assessment of salivary cortisol was provided upon awakening at 30 min and 1, 3, 6, and 12 h.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a significant interaction between PTSD status and diurnal cortisol activity (p < 0.04). There were trends for higher cortisol levels at awakening (p < 0.051) and 30 min post-awakening (p < 0.059) with PTSD. The significance of the interaction between PTSD and cortisol was attenuated by co-varying for depression and insomnia (p > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PTSD, influenced by depression and insomnia symptoms, has an impact on diurnal cortisol activity in obese young adult African-American women.
authors: College of Medicine, Howard University, 2041 Gerogia Avenue, NW, Washington, DC, 20060, USA. t_r_taylor@howard.edu.
authors: Teletia R
authors: TR
authors: Taylor
authors: College of Medicine, Howard University, 2041 Gerogia Avenue, NW, Washington, DC, 20060, USA.
authors: Kendra
authors: K
authors: Van Kirk
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Howard University, Washington, DC, USA.
authors: Denia
authors: D
authors: Tapscott
authors: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Howard University, Washington, DC, USA.
authors: Monet
authors: M
authors: Bernard
authors: College of Medicine, Howard University, 2041 Gerogia Avenue, NW, Washington, DC, 20060, USA.
authors: Juliana
authors: J
authors: Llano
authors: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Howard University, Washington, DC, USA.|Center for Clinical and Translational Research, Howard University, Washington, DC, USA.
authors: Thomas A
authors: TA
authors: Mellman
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000378:metabolism*; D009765:Obesity / Q000208:ethnology*; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006854:Hydrocortisone
keywords: African-Americans; Cortisol; Obesity; Post-traumatic stress disorder