Study Report
Reference
| Citation | Ahrens, 2008 PubMed |
| Full Info | Ahrens, T., Deuschle, M., Krumm, B., van der Pompe, G., den Boer, J.A. and Lederbogen, F. (2008) Pituitary-adrenal and sympathetic nervous system responses to stress in women remitted from recurrent major depression. Psychosom Med, 70, 461-467.
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Study
| Hypothesis or Background |
To better understand the changes in hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and sympathetic nervous system (SNS) function after remission of depression. We characterized these systems at baseline and in response to a psychosocial stressor in a cohort of women remitted from recurrent major depression as well as in never-depressed healthy female controls.
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| Sample Information | In all, we studied 22 women remitted from recurrent major depression (age = 51.0 +/- 1.7 years) and 20 healthy controls (age = 54.2 +/- 1.6 years). |
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| Method Detail | Baseline HPA function was measured via saliva cortisol sampling at 8 AM and 4 PM over 7 days as well as quantification of urinary overnight cortisol secretion. The HPA system response to a psychosocial stressor was assessed by measuring serum cortisol and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) levels and SNS reactivity by determining serum epinephrine (E) and norepinephrine (NE) concentrations as well as autonomic nervous system changes by analysis of heart rate variability (HRV). The stressor included a speech task, mental arithmetic, and a cognitive challenge. |
| Method Keywords | blood analysis; salivary analysis |
| Result | In all, we studied 22 women remitted from recurrent major depression (age = 51.0 +/- 1.7 years) and 20 healthy controls (age = 54.2 +/- 1.6 years). Morning saliva cortisol concentrations were lower in remitted patients, paralleled by lower serum cortisol concentrations before stress testing. This group also displayed a blunted cortisol and ACTH response to the stressor, as compared with healthy controls. No between-group differences in HRV parameters were observed. |
| Conclusions | In this group of women remitted from recurrent major depressive disorder, we found evidence of HPA system hypoactivity, both in the basal state and in response to a psychosocial stressor. |
Relationships reported by
Ahrens, 2008
| Component A Approved Name (Name in Paper) |
Component A Type |
Component B Approved Name (Name in Paper) |
Component B Type |
Statistical Result |
Relationship Description |
Result Category (Positive/Negative)) |
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MDD
|
syndrome |
Hydrocortisone (cortisol) |
molecule |
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Morning saliva cortisol concentrations were lower in remitted patients, paralleled by lower serum cortisol concentrations before stress testing. |
Positive
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MDD
|
syndrome |
Pro-opiomelanocortin (adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)) |
protein |
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This group(remitted patients from recurrent major depression) also displayed a blunted cortisol and ACTH response to the stressor, as compared with healthy controls. |
Positive
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