Childhood trauma and basal cortisol in people with personality disorders.

Abstract

This study examined the influence of various forms of childhood abuse on basal cortisol levels in a sample of adults with Axis II personality disorders. Participants included 63 adults (n = 19 women) who provided basal plasma cortisol samples and completed the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire. Linear regression analyses that included all 5 subscales (ie, sexual abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse, physical neglect and emotional neglect) demonstrated that physical abuse was related to lower cortisol levels (beta = -.43, P = .007), consistent with prior literature. In contrast, physical neglect was associated with higher cortisol (beta = .36, P = .02), after controlling for other forms of abuse. Results are consistent with the view that childhood trauma has long-lasting neurobiological effects and suggest that different forms of trauma may have distinct biological effects.

• Authors: Janine D Flory, Rachel Yehuda, Robert Grossman, Antonia S New, Vivian Mitropoulou, Larry J Siever
• Journal: Comprehensive psychiatry (Compr Psychiatry) 2009 Jan-Feb Vol. 50 Issue 1 Pg. 34-7 ISSN: 1532-8384 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 19059511 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural)

Chemical References

• Hydrocortisone

Topics

• Adult
• Child
• Child Abuse (statistics & numerical data)
• Depressive Disorder, Major (diagnosis, epidemiology, metabolism)
• Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
• Female
• Humans
• Hydrocortisone (blood, metabolism)
• Male
• Personality Disorders (epidemiology)
• Severity of Illness Index
• Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic (diagnosis, epidemiology, metabolism)
• Surveys and Questionnaires