The interactive effects of elevated mid-afternoon cortisol and trauma history on PTSD symptoms in children: A preliminary study

• Published in: Psychoneuroendocrinology 2009-11, Vol.34 (10), p.1582-1585
• Main Authors: Bevans, Katherine, Cerbone, Arleen B, Overstreet, Stacy
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Anxiety disorders. Neuroses; Behavioral psychophysiology; Biological and medical sciences; Child; Circadian Rhythm; Endocrinology & Metabolism; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hormones and behavior; Humans; Hydrocortisone - metabolism; Hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA); Male; Medical sciences; Pilot Projects; Post-traumatic stress disorder; Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms; Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Saliva - metabolism; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - complications; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - diagnosis; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - metabolism; Time Factors; Trauma; Wounds and Injuries - complications; Wounds and Injuries - metabolism; Wounds and Injuries - psychology
• ISSN: 0306-4530; 1873-3360
• DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2009.04.010

Summary Given the alarming frequency and severity of trauma exposure among children, identifying contextual and biologic factors that increase risk for symptomatic responses to trauma is an essential step toward preventing psychopathology. Basal functioning of the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis was evaluated to determine its role in relations between trauma exposure and PTSD symptoms among 66 children ( M age = 10.7 years). Exposure to recent trauma (within the past year), previously experienced trauma (more than 1 year ago), and basal mid-afternoon cortisol levels were each positively related to PTSD symptoms. Further, these factors interacted in an additive manner to account for a significant proportion of the variance in PTSD symptoms. Implications for the early identification of children at risk for symptomatic responses to trauma are discussed.