Citation

Harris A, Endresen Reme S, Tangen T, Hansen AM, Helene Garde A, Eriksen HR. Psychiatry Res. 2015; 228(2): 209-215.

Affiliation

Department of Health Promotion and Development, University of Bergen, Norway; Uni Research Health, Bergen, Norway. Electronic address: hege.eriksen@uni.no.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.psychres.2015.04.006

PMID

26001959

Abstract

Dysregulation of hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal-activity has been associated with low back pain (LBP). The underlying mechanisms are not fully explained, but psychological mechanisms are considered important. In this study we examine the association between psychiatric disorders/symptoms measured with different instruments, and cortisol in a population with LBP. Participants (n=305) sick-listed 2-10 months due to non-specific LBP were included in the study. The screening instruments were the MINI-interview, HADS and HSCL-25. Saliva cortisol were measured on 2 consecutive days; at awakening, 30min later, at 15:00h and 22:00h.

RESULTS showed no associations between any of the main diagnostic categories from the MINI-interview, or anxiety/depression measured with HADS or HSCL-25 and cortisol. However, significant associations were found between low cortisol awakening response, low cortisol slope during the day and the somatization scale from HSCL-25 (dizziness or lack of energy, lack of sexual interest, the feeling that everything requires substantial efforts, difficulties to fall asleep, headache). The results indicate that cortisol, may not be directly associated with psychopathology, such as anxiety and depression, but instead are associated with one dimension of the psychopathology, namely lack of energy. This could help explain the inconsistency in the literature, and it should be explored further.

Language: en