Zubin Bhagwagar1, Sepehr Hafizi, Philip J Cowen. 1. Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 7JX, UK. zubin.bhagwagar@psych.ox.ac.uk
Abstract
RATIONALE: Cortisol hypersecretion is regarded as important in the pathophysiology of major depression. However, recent studies in community-based samples have been inconclusive. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether acutely depressed, medication-free subjects show an exaggerated release of cortisol in saliva in relation to awakening. METHODS: We studied the pattern of waking salivary cortisol in 20 unmedicated acutely depressed subjects and 40 healthy controls. RESULTS: In both groups, salivary cortisol increased rapidly after waking, peaking at 30 min. Overall, patients with acute depression secreted approximately 25% more cortisol than controls, though 60 min after waking, their cortisol levels were similar. CONCLUSIONS: Depressed patients in the community appear to have increased early morning cortisol secretion, but the demonstration of this effect requires control for time of waking.
RATIONALE: Cortisol hypersecretion is regarded as important in the pathophysiology of major depression. However, recent studies in community-based samples have been inconclusive. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether acutely depressed, medication-free subjects show an exaggerated release of cortisol in saliva in relation to awakening. METHODS: We studied the pattern of waking salivary cortisol in 20 unmedicated acutely depressed subjects and 40 healthy controls. RESULTS: In both groups, salivary cortisol increased rapidly after waking, peaking at 30 min. Overall, patients with acute depression secreted approximately 25% more cortisol than controls, though 60 min after waking, their cortisol levels were similar. CONCLUSIONS: Depressed patients in the community appear to have increased early morning cortisol secretion, but the demonstration of this effect requires control for time of waking.
Authors: H Raff; J L Raff; E H Duthie; C R Wilson; E A Sasse; I Rudman; D Mattson Journal: J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci Date: 1999-09 Impact factor: 6.053
Authors: S J Lupien; M de Leon; S de Santi; A Convit; C Tarshish; N P Nair; M Thakur; B S McEwen; R L Hauger; M J Meaney Journal: Nat Neurosci Date: 1998-05 Impact factor: 24.884
Authors: Christian Otte; Charles R Marmar; Sharon S Pipkin; Rudolf Moos; Warren S Browner; Mary A Whooley Journal: Biol Psychiatry Date: 2004-08-15 Impact factor: 13.382
Authors: Ali A Weinstein; Patricia A Deuster; Jennifer L Francis; Robert W Bonsall; Russell P Tracy; Willem J Kop Journal: Biol Psychol Date: 2010-01-29 Impact factor: 3.251
Authors: Haroon I Sheikh; Lea R Dougherty; Elizabeth P Hayden; Daniel N Klein; Shiva M Singh Journal: Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry Date: 2010-05-16 Impact factor: 5.067
Authors: Ezemenari M Obasi; Tzu-An Chen; Lucia Cavanagh; B Katherine Smith; Kristin A Wilborn; Lorna H McNeill; Lorraine R Reitzel Journal: Health Psychol Date: 2019-11-07 Impact factor: 4.267
Authors: Brandon L Goldstein; Greg Perlman; Roman Kotov; Joan E Broderick; Keke Liu; Camilo Ruggero; Daniel N Klein Journal: J Affect Disord Date: 2016-10-11 Impact factor: 4.839