Bijan Pirnia1, Vahid Khosravani2, Faezeh Maleki3, Rozita Kalbasi4, Kambiz Pirnia5, Parastoo Malekanmehr6, Alireza Zahiroddin7. 1. Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities, University of Science and Culture, Tehran, Iran; Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: b.pirnia@usc.ac.ir. 2. Psychosocial Injuries Research Center, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran. 3. Division of Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Educational Sciences and Psychology, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran. 4. Department of Psychology, Islamic Azad University, Kish International Branch, Kish Island, Iran. 5. Internal disease specialist, Technical Assistant in Bijan Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, Tehran, Iran. 6. Department of Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Islamic Azad University, Tonekabon Branch, Mazandaran, Iran. 7. Department of Psychiatry, Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis dysregulation which was found to have an important role in the pathophysiology of depression, suicide, and substance dependence, may be influenced by childhood maltreatment (CM). The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between CM and cortisol changes in methamphetamine-dependent individuals. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study, methamphetamine-dependent individuals (n = =195) with or without both comorbid major depressive disorder (MDD) and a history of suicide attempts were selected and completed the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form (CTQ-SF), the Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation (BSSI), and the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II). To assess cortisol levels, saliva samples were collected at six time intervals for two consecutive days. RESULTS: A history of CM significantly predicted wake-up cortisol level, cortisol awakening response (CAR), and diurnal cortisol slope. Methamphetamine-dependent individuals with both MDD and lifetime suicide attempts had higher CM and higher cortisol levels with a blunted diurnal cortisol slope than individuals who were merely methamphetamine-dependent. Individuals with high CM showed higher cortisol levels with a blunted diurnal slope than those with low or without CM. LIMITATIONS: Cross-sectional data and use of self-report scales, especially retrospective measurements (e.g., the CTQ-SF), were important limitations of this study. CONCLUSION: Findings suggest that methamphetamine-dependent individuals with adverse psychological factors such as CM, MDD, and suicide attempts may show dysregulation in biological factors including cortisol level. In addition, CM and its effects on cortisol in the HPA axis may emerge as important factors regarding psychopathological use of methamphetamine.
BACKGROUND: The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis dysregulation which was found to have an important role in the pathophysiology of depression, suicide, and substance dependence, may be influenced by childhood maltreatment (CM). The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between CM and cortisol changes in methamphetamine-dependent individuals. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study, methamphetamine-dependent individuals (n = =195) with or without both comorbid major depressive disorder (MDD) and a history of suicide attempts were selected and completed the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form (CTQ-SF), the Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation (BSSI), and the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II). To assess cortisol levels, saliva samples were collected at six time intervals for two consecutive days. RESULTS: A history of CM significantly predicted wake-up cortisol level, cortisol awakening response (CAR), and diurnal cortisol slope. Methamphetamine-dependent individuals with both MDD and lifetime suicide attempts had higher CM and higher cortisol levels with a blunted diurnal cortisol slope than individuals who were merely methamphetamine-dependent. Individuals with high CM showed higher cortisol levels with a blunted diurnal slope than those with low or without CM. LIMITATIONS: Cross-sectional data and use of self-report scales, especially retrospective measurements (e.g., the CTQ-SF), were important limitations of this study. CONCLUSION: Findings suggest that methamphetamine-dependent individuals with adverse psychological factors such as CM, MDD, and suicide attempts may show dysregulation in biological factors including cortisol level. In addition, CM and its effects on cortisol in the HPA axis may emerge as important factors regarding psychopathological use of methamphetamine.