Citation

Delahanty DL, Raimonde AJ, Spoonster E. Biol. Psychiatry 2000; 48(9): 940-947.

Affiliation

Department of Psychology, Kent State University, (DLD), Kent, Ohio 44242, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2000, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

11074232

Abstract

BACKGROUND: This study was designed to examine the relationship between urinary hormone levels collected upon admission to the trauma unit following a motor vehicle accident and posttraumatic stress disorder symptomatology 1 month later. METHODS: Fifteen-hour urine samples were collected from 63 male and 36 female motor vehicle accident victims and were used to assess levels of catecholamines and cortisol reflecting peritraumatic and acute-phase posttraumatic levels. Presence of posttraumatic stress disorder symptomatology was assessed 1 month after the accident. RESULTS: Motor vehicle accident victims subsequently diagnosed with acute posttraumatic stress disorder excreted significantly lower levels of cortisol in 15-hour urines collected upon admission to the hospital. In addition, urinary levels of cortisol predicted a significant percentage of the variance in intrusive and avoidant thoughts 1 month after the accident. CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study suggest that initial cortisol levels in the immediate aftermath of a traumatic event contribute, in part, to subsequent symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder.

Language: en