title: The influence of childhood abuse on cortisol levels and the cortisol awakening response in depressed and nondepressed older adults.
abstract: Childhood abuse has been associated with depression in later life. This may be related to hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis functioning. Therefore we aimed to examine the impact of childhood abuse and its interaction with depression on cortisol levels in older adults.
  
  
  
  Data from 418 participants (mean age 70.8 years) in the Netherlands Study of Depression in Older Persons (NESDO) were used; 187 participants experienced childhood abuse; 309 participants had a diagnosis of depression. Diurnal cortisol levels were determined using six saliva samples from every participant. Multiple regression analyses were performed.
  
  
  
  Significant negative associations between childhood abuse and morning cortisol levels were found. In nondepressed persons, both psychological and sexual abuse were associated with greater dynamics of the HPA axis in response to awakening.
  
  
  
  Childhood abuse is associated with lower basal cortisol levels at awakening irrespective of major depressive disorder (MDD). Higher reactivity of the HPA axis during the hour after awakening was found in nondepressed participants only, which might suggest that late-life depression modifies the effect of childhood abuse on the HPA axis. Older adults with a history of childhood abuse may be more negatively affected by stress or stressful events and this is reflected in dysregulation of the HPA axis.
authors.affiliation: a GGZ inGeest/Department of Psychiatry and EMGO + Institute for Health and Care Research , VU University Medical Centre , Amsterdam , The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Ilse
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Wielaard
authors.affiliation: a GGZ inGeest/Department of Psychiatry and EMGO + Institute for Health and Care Research , VU University Medical Centre , Amsterdam , The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Roxanne
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schaakxs
authors.affiliation: a GGZ inGeest/Department of Psychiatry and EMGO + Institute for Health and Care Research , VU University Medical Centre , Amsterdam , The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Hannie C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Comijs
authors.affiliation: a GGZ inGeest/Department of Psychiatry and EMGO + Institute for Health and Care Research , VU University Medical Centre , Amsterdam , The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Max L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Stek
authors.affiliation: a GGZ inGeest/Department of Psychiatry and EMGO + Institute for Health and Care Research , VU University Medical Centre , Amsterdam , The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Didi
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rhebergen
mesh_terms: D054523:Adult Survivors of Child Abuse / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000378:metabolism*; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000378:metabolism*; D012463:Saliva
chemical_list: D006854:Hydrocortisone
keywords: Childhood abuse; cortisol; hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis; late-life depression