Stress reactivity and its effects on subsequent food intake in depressed and healthy women with and without adverse childhood experiences

• Published in: Psychoneuroendocrinology 2017-06, Vol.80, p.122-130
• Main Authors: Wingenfeld, Katja, Kühl, Linn K, Boeker, Anita, Schultebraucks, Katharina, Ritter, Kristin, Hellmann-Regen, Julian, Otte, Christian, Spitzer, Carsten
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Adverse childhood experiences; Cortisol; Depression; Depression - metabolism; Depressive Disorder, Major - metabolism; Eating - physiology; Eating - psychology; Eating behavior; Endocrinology & Metabolism; Feeding Behavior - psychology; Female; Humans; Hydrocortisone - metabolism; Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System - physiopathology; Life Change Events; Middle Aged; Pituitary-Adrenal System - physiopathology; Psychiatry; Saliva; Stress; Stress, Psychological - metabolism; Stress, Psychological - psychology
• ISSN: 0306-4530; 1873-3360
• DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2017.03.014

Highlights • The effects of Adverse Childhood experience (ACE) and major depressive disorder (MDD) on stress reactivity and subsequent food intake were systematically examined by using a full factorial design with healthy participants with and without severe ACE and patients with MDD with and without ACE. • Patients with MDD without ACE had a significantly blunted cortisol response during the TSST compared to healthy controls. • Stress enhanced food intake across study groups. • This effect was predominantly seen in with a low cortisol response to stress. • Future studies should examine who responds with exaggerated and blunted cortisol release to stress and consecutive increased food intake and what the health related consequences are.