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Diurnal cortisol levels and cortisol response in youths with obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Neuropsychobiology. 2008; 57(1-2):14-21.N

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Recent results indicate a role of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in the pathophysiology of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Although childhood onset is common, the HPA axis has scarcely been studied in young OCD subjects. Therefore, the present study aimed at examining basal and response levels of salivary cortisol in a sample of young OCD subjects.

METHODS

Twenty-three children and adolescents with DSM-IV OCD were compared to a reference group of school children (n = 240-336). The basal cortisol rhythm was measured through saliva samples 3 times/day. The cortisol response to a psychological stressor (exposure therapy in the OCD group and a fire alarm in the reference group) was also examined.

RESULTS

Compared to the reference group, OCD subjects displayed higher early-morning cortisol values (p = 0.005) with no difference between the late-morning and evening values. The cortisol levels in the OCD group diminished in response to the psychological stressor, compared to a positive response in the reference group (p < 0.001). No relation was found between cortisol and clinical parameters.

CONCLUSION

These results support the idea that HPA hyperactivity, commonly found in adult OCD patients, is also present at an earlier stage of development, with specificity for the early-morning peak.

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Publisher Full Text (DOI)

Authors+Show Affiliations

Gustafsson PE
Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linkoping University, Linkoping, Sweden. Per.E.Gustafsson@imk.liu.se
Gustafsson PA
No affiliation info available
Ivarsson T
No affiliation info available
Nelson N
No affiliation info available

MeSH

AdolescentChildCircadian RhythmDiagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental DisordersFemaleHumansHydrocortisoneHypothalamo-Hypophyseal SystemMaleObsessive-Compulsive DisorderPituitary-Adrenal SystemSalivaStress, PsychologicalSurveys and Questionnaires

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Language

eng

PubMed ID

18424906

Citation

Gustafsson, Per E., et al. "Diurnal Cortisol Levels and Cortisol Response in Youths With Obsessive-compulsive Disorder." Neuropsychobiology, vol. 57, no. 1-2, 2008, pp. 14-21.
Gustafsson PE, Gustafsson PA, Ivarsson T, et al. Diurnal cortisol levels and cortisol response in youths with obsessive-compulsive disorder. Neuropsychobiology. 2008;57(1-2):14-21.
Gustafsson, P. E., Gustafsson, P. A., Ivarsson, T., & Nelson, N. (2008). Diurnal cortisol levels and cortisol response in youths with obsessive-compulsive disorder. Neuropsychobiology, 57(1-2), 14-21. https://doi.org/10.1159/000123117
Gustafsson PE, et al. Diurnal Cortisol Levels and Cortisol Response in Youths With Obsessive-compulsive Disorder. Neuropsychobiology. 2008;57(1-2):14-21. PubMed PMID: 18424906.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
TY - JOUR T1 - Diurnal cortisol levels and cortisol response in youths with obsessive-compulsive disorder. AU - Gustafsson,Per E, AU - Gustafsson,Per A, AU - Ivarsson,Tord, AU - Nelson,Nina, Y1 - 2008/04/18/ PY - 2007/06/19/received PY - 2008/01/22/accepted PY - 2008/4/22/pubmed PY - 2008/9/4/medline PY - 2008/4/22/entrez SP - 14 EP - 21 JF - Neuropsychobiology JO - Neuropsychobiology VL - 57 IS - 1-2 N2 - BACKGROUND/AIMS: Recent results indicate a role of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in the pathophysiology of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Although childhood onset is common, the HPA axis has scarcely been studied in young OCD subjects. Therefore, the present study aimed at examining basal and response levels of salivary cortisol in a sample of young OCD subjects. METHODS: Twenty-three children and adolescents with DSM-IV OCD were compared to a reference group of school children (n = 240-336). The basal cortisol rhythm was measured through saliva samples 3 times/day. The cortisol response to a psychological stressor (exposure therapy in the OCD group and a fire alarm in the reference group) was also examined. RESULTS: Compared to the reference group, OCD subjects displayed higher early-morning cortisol values (p = 0.005) with no difference between the late-morning and evening values. The cortisol levels in the OCD group diminished in response to the psychological stressor, compared to a positive response in the reference group (p < 0.001). No relation was found between cortisol and clinical parameters. CONCLUSION: These results support the idea that HPA hyperactivity, commonly found in adult OCD patients, is also present at an earlier stage of development, with specificity for the early-morning peak. SN - 1423-0224 UR - https://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/citation/18424906/Diurnal_cortisol_levels_and_cortisol_response_in_youths_with_obsessive_compulsive_disorder_ DB - PRIME DP - Unbound Medicine ER -