@article{ref1,
title="Initial posttraumatic urinary cortisol levels predict subsequent PTSD symptoms in motor vehicle accident victims",
journal="Biological psychiatry",
year="2000",
author="Delahanty, Douglas L. and Raimonde, A. Jay and Spoonster, Eileen",
volume="48",
number="9",
pages="940-947",
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.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0006-3223",
doi="",
url="http://dx.doi.org/"
}