title: Patterns of cortisol and alpha-amylase reactivity to psychosocial stress in maltreated women.
abstract: Childhood maltreatment can trigger enduring changes in major stress response systems, particularly in the context of major depressive disorder (MDD). However, the relative impact of maltreatment versus MDD on hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and sympathetic-adrenal-medullary system stress reactivity is not well understood.
  
  
  
  This study examined salivary cortisol and alpha-amylase responses to the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) in 26 maltreated (15 with current MDD) and 26 non-maltreated (17 with current MDD) women.
  
  
  
  Maltreated women showed greater anticipatory cortisol reactivity during the TSST protocol compared to non-maltreated women. Maltreated women also showed rapid deceleration in cortisol levels. Whereas non-maltreated women showed initial declines in alpha-amylase levels but rapidly increasing alpha-amylase levels during the TSST protocol, maltreated women did not exhibit changes in alpha-amylase levels during the TSST protocol. Contrary to expectation, MDD did not impact cortisol or alpha-amylase responses.
  
  
  
  The present study is limited by retrospective report of childhood maltreatment, cross-sectional design, and modest sample sizes.
  
  
  
  These findings suggest that childhood maltreatment plays a greater role driving alterations in cortisol and alpha-amylase stress reactivity than MDD. Understanding the biological embedding of maltreatment is critical for elucidating mechanisms linking these experiences to risk for negative mental and physical health outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family and Community Medicine, Meharry Medical College, USA.
authors.forename: Alyssa S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Mielock
authors.affiliation: Department of Family and Community Medicine, Meharry Medical College, USA; Center for Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience, Meharry Medical College, USA; Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University, USA. Electronic address: mmorris@mmc.edu.
authors.forename: Matthew C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University, USA; Kennedy Center, Vanderbilt University, USA; Center for Behavioral Health Research, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, USA.
authors.forename: Uma
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Rao
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000523:psychology; D017579:Domestic Violence; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013179:Spouse Abuse; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult; D000516:alpha-Amylases / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000516:alpha-Amylases; D006854:Hydrocortisone
keywords: Alpha-amylase; Cortisol; Maltreatment; Stress reactivity; Witnessing violence; Women