Citation

Inslicht SS, Marmar CR, Neylan TC, Metzler TJ, Hart SL, Otte C, McCaslin SE, Larkin GL, Hyman KB, Baum A. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2006; 31(7): 825-838.

Affiliation

Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh Sennott Square, 3rd Floor, 210 S. Bouquet Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA. sabra.inslicht@ucsf.edu

Erratum On

Psychoneuroendocrinology 2006;31(10):1295-6

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.psyneuen.2006.03.007

PMID

16716530

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Alterations of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis function and sympathetic-adrenal activity have been proposed as key factors in biological models of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). METHODS: We examined neuroendocrine function in female survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) with lifetime (current or remitted) PTSD (n=29) and in women who were exposed to IPV but never developed PTSD (n=20). Salivary cortisol was collected as a marker of HPA axis function at 1, 4, 9, and 11 h after awakening. Platelet epinephrine and norepinephrine were assayed as markers of sympathetic-adrenal activation. RESULTS: Women with lifetime PTSD had significantly higher cortisol levels across the day compared to abuse-exposed participants without PTSD, after controlling for age, depression, severity, and latency of abuse. There were no significant group differences in levels of platelet catecholamines. CONCLUSIONS: Elevated cortisol levels may be a biomarker of IPV-related lifetime PTSD, reflecting long-lasting changes associated with trauma-exposure or possibly a reflection of risk for PTSD in women.

Language: en