Elli Koumantarou Malisiova1, Iraklis Mourikis2, Christina Darviri3, Nicolas C Nicolaides4, Iannis M Zervas5, Charalambos Papageorgiou5, George P Chrousos6. 1. Postgraduate Course on the Science of Stress and Health Promotion, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece; 1st Department of Psychiatry, Eginition Hospital, Athens University Medical School, 72-74 Vas. Sophias Ave., 11528 Athens, Greece; Outpatient Specialty Clinic for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Behavioral Therapy. Electronic address: ellie-km@hotmail.gr. 2. 1st Department of Psychiatry, Eginition Hospital, Athens University Medical School, 72-74 Vas. Sophias Ave., 11528 Athens, Greece; Outpatient Specialty Clinic for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Behavioral Therapy. 3. Postgraduate Course on the Science of Stress and Health Promotion, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece. 4. Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Diabetes, First Department of Pediatrics, University of Athens Medical School, Aghia Sophia Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece; Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Center of Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece. 5. 1st Department of Psychiatry, Eginition Hospital, Athens University Medical School, 72-74 Vas. Sophias Ave., 11528 Athens, Greece; Psychotherapy Center and Women's Mental Health Clinic. 6. Postgraduate Course on the Science of Stress and Health Promotion, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece; Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Diabetes, First Department of Pediatrics, University of Athens Medical School, Aghia Sophia Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece; Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Center of Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Research on HPA axis dysregulation has been associated with vulnerability to, or perseverence of, several mental disorders. Hoever, measurements of cortisol levels in blood, saliva and/or urine have yielded variable results. Nevertheless, cortisol analysis in scalp hair appears to be a consistent tool for measurement of long-term exposure to stress. This article provides a systematic review of studies exploring hair cortisol concentrations in patients with mental disorders in comparison with healthy controls. METHODS: This review was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines. The electronic databases of PubMed/Medline, Web of Science and Scopus were searched for relevant articles, using a specific syntax. RESULTS: A total of 582 articles were identified, of which 22 were finally included. Patients with depression show a general trend for higher hair cortisol concentrations (HCC) than controls, whereas patients with PTSD tend to demonstrate lower HCC. Very little is known about other mental disorders, including suicidality and drug abuse. The divergence of samples included and the timing of cortisol sampling, seem to play a key role in the discrepancies of the results. Correlations of HCC with self-reported measures of stress were found, at best, inconclusive. CONCLUSIONS: Further research should attempt to describe specific cortisol profiles for each psychiatric disorder and HCC could contribute in evaluating therapy outcomes and predicting relapses. Obtaining information on HCC in different stages of psychiatric disorders in association with pertinent clinical variables, might help in forging a neuroendocrine model for clinical staging of mental disorders.
OBJECTIVE: Research on HPA axis dysregulation has been associated with vulnerability to, or perseverence of, several mental disorders. Hoever, measurements of cortisol levels in blood, saliva and/or urine have yielded variable results. Nevertheless, cortisol analysis in scalp hair appears to be a consistent tool for measurement of long-term exposure to stress. This article provides a systematic review of studies exploring hair cortisol concentrations in patients with mental disorders in comparison with healthy controls. METHODS: This review was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines. The electronic databases of PubMed/Medline, Web of Science and Scopus were searched for relevant articles, using a specific syntax. RESULTS: A total of 582 articles were identified, of which 22 were finally included. Patients with depression show a general trend for higher hair cortisol concentrations (HCC) than controls, whereas patients with PTSD tend to demonstrate lower HCC. Very little is known about other mental disorders, including suicidality and drug abuse. The divergence of samples included and the timing of cortisol sampling, seem to play a key role in the discrepancies of the results. Correlations of HCC with self-reported measures of stress were found, at best, inconclusive. CONCLUSIONS: Further research should attempt to describe specific cortisol profiles for each psychiatric disorder and HCC could contribute in evaluating therapy outcomes and predicting relapses. Obtaining information on HCC in different stages of psychiatric disorders in association with pertinent clinical variables, might help in forging a neuroendocrine model for clinical staging of mental disorders.
Authors: Hilja Viitaniemi; Auli Suominen; Linnea Karlsson; Paula Mustonen; Susanna Kortesluoma; Kari Rantavuori; Ana João Rodrigues; Bárbara Coimbra; Hasse Karlsson; Satu Lahti Journal: Dent J (Basel) Date: 2021-04-11
Authors: Asta Mažeikienė; Svajone Bekesiene; Dovilė Karčiauskaitė; Eglė Mazgelytė; Gerry Larsson; Tomas Petrėnas; Andrius Kaminskas; Jurgita Songailienė; Algirdas Utkus; Ramutė Vaičaitienė; Rasa Smaliukienė Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-11-22 Impact factor: 3.390