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Elevated Cortisol Levels (elevated + cortisol_level)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Psychology	50%
Medical Sciences	50%

Selected Abstracts

Sex differences in negative affective response during nicotine withdrawal

PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGY, Issue 4 2006
Joanne M. Hogle
Abstract This study examined physiological indicants of the neurobiological mediators of negative affect during acute nicotine withdrawal. Eighty subjects (41 male) were assigned to one of four groups (24-h deprived or nondeprived dependent smokers, occasional smokers, and nonsmokers) and participated in an instructed fear conditioning paradigm involving cued administration of electric shock. Negative affective response was measured with fear-potentiated startle during cues that signaled electric shock and during the postcue offset recovery period. Salivary cortisol and self-report measures were also collected. Fear-potentiated startle results indicated that affective recovery postcue offset was delayed in nicotine-deprived women. Nicotine-deprived women also displayed elevated cortisol levels throughout the fear conditioning procedure. [source]

Cortisol reactions in five-year-olds to parent,child interaction: the moderating role of ego-resiliency

THE JOURNAL OF CHILD PSYCHOLOGY AND PSYCHIATRY AND ALLIED DISCIPLINES, Issue 7 2007
Sanny Smeekens
Background:, This study with five-year-olds is the first to examine whether low-quality interactions with parents elicit physiological stress in children beyond toddlerhood, as evident from elevated cortisol levels in their saliva. It was hypothesised that particularly children with low levels of ego-resiliency ,a personality construct reflecting the capacity to cope with stress , would show cortisol increases during low-quality parent,child interactions. Method:, In a sample of 101 five-year-old children (62 boys), parent,child interaction was observed at home during parent,child discourse that involved the recollection and discussion of emotional events that happened to the child in the past. Saliva samples to assess cortisol levels were collected before and 20 minutes after the parent,child discourse task. The children's teacher rated child ego-resiliency using a Dutch translation of the California Child Q-set (CCQ; Block & Block, 1980). Results:, One of the two parent,child interaction factors that emerged from a principal component analysis, namely negative parent,child interactions, was significantly related to the children's cortisol reaction; more negative parent,child interactions elicited significantly stronger cortisol reactions. The other parent,child interaction factor that was found, i.e., effective guidance, was not significantly related to children's cortisol reaction. As predicted, children low on ego-resiliency showed increases in cortisol during negative interactions with their parents, whereas high ego-resilient children did not. Conclusions:, The association between negative parent,child interactions and cortisol elevations in children may point to a likely mechanism through which negative parent,child interactions contribute to negative developmental outcomes as the repeated exposure to high levels of cortisol have earlier been found to negatively affect children's development and functioning in various areas. [source]

An Exploration of the Relationship Between Depressive Symptoms and Cortisol Rhythms in Colorado Ranchers

THE JOURNAL OF RURAL HEALTH, Issue 1 2009
Emily Schulze MA
ABSTRACT:,Context: Although the effects of stress on health have been studied in numerous urban-dwelling populations, fewer studies have addressed these effects in rural populations, such as farmers and ranchers. Purpose: The present study focuses on seasonal levels of depressed affect and perceived stress in Western Colorado ranchers, and how those phenomena related to their levels of cortisol. Methods: Twenty-one (21) ranchers, who were permittees on the Colorado Grand Mesa, completed the study. Participants identified 2-week time periods during the year representing relative high, medium, and low stress. During each period, participants took saliva samples, rated stress levels, and completed a daily health diary. In addition, the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II), the perceived stress scale (PSS), and a life events scale (LES) were administered. Results: Results showed a strong relationship between BDI-II and PSS scores (r = 0.748, P < .01). The decreased daytime cortisol decline supports the notion that the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis negative feedback loop is disrupted in chronic stress and depression, thus resulting in chronically elevated cortisol levels. Conclusion: This study supports the relationship between stress, depression, and HPA dysregulation in ranchers. [source]

Ketoconazole in bipolar patients with depressive symptoms: a case series and literature review

BIPOLAR DISORDERS, Issue 1 2001
E Sherwood Brown
Background: Data from several studies suggest that medications, such as ketoconazole, which lower cortisol levels, may be effective for major depressive disorder (MDD). As with MDD, the manic, depressive, and mixed phases of bipolar disorder are frequently associated with elevated cortisol levels. The literature on the use of cortisol-lowering strategies in mood disorders is reviewed, and a case series illustrating the use of ketoconazole in bipolar depression is presented. Methods: For the review, the MEDLINE and PSYCHINFO databases were searched, as were the bibliographies of pertinent articles to find papers on the use of cortisol-lowering agents in patients with mood disorders. In our open-label case series (n=6), ketoconazole (up to 800 mg/day) as an add-on therapy was given to patients with treatment-resistant or intolerant bipolar I or II disorders with current symptoms of depression. Results: Several case reports and small open studies suggest that cortisol-lowering agents may be useful for patients with depression. Two recent placebo-controlled trials of ketoconazole on patients with MDD report conflicting results. In our case series, all three patients who received a dose of at least 400 mg/day had substantial reductions in depressive symptoms. None had significant increases in mania. However, cortisol levels were not lowered in any of the subjects. Conclusions: The literature suggests that cortisol-lowering medications may be effective for a subset of depressed patients. Our preliminary findings suggest that ketoconazole may be useful in some patients with bipolar depression. Larger clinical trials are needed to confirm our observations. [source]