Elevated cortisol in healthy female adolescent offspring of mothers with posttraumatic stress disorder. (May 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Liu, Keke; Ruggero, Camilo J.; Goldstein, Brandon; Klein, Daniel N.; Perlman, Greg; Broderick, Joan; Kotov, Roman
• Is Part Of: Journal of anxiety disorders. Volume 40(2016:May)
• Page Start: 37
• Page End: 43
• Publication Date: 2016-05
• Subjects: Posttraumatic stress disorder -- Maternal PTSD -- Mother-daughter dyads -- Cortisol -- Adolescents -- HPA axis; Anxiety -- Periodicals; Anxiety Disorders -- Periodicals; Angoisse -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 616.8522
• DOI: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2016.04.003
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0887-6185

Abstract

Highlights: Cortisol awakening response was measured in healthy adolescents with maternal PTSD. Maternal PTSD is associated with higher cortisol in healthy adolescent offspring. Altered cortisol may represent a vulnerability factor for PTSD in at-risk youth. Abstract: Offspring with maternal PTSD are at increased risk of developing PTSD themselves. Alterations in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis may play a role and have been noted in offspring, although evidence is mostly from adult offspring with PTSD symptoms themselves. The present study of adolescent girls ( N = 472) and their mothers ( n = 18 with lifetime PTSD versus n = 454 with no PTSD) sought to determine whether healthy, non-affected offspring of mothers with PTSD would exhibit altered HPA axis function. Saliva samples were collected from the adolescent girls at waking, 30 min after waking, and 8 pm on 3 consecutive days. Offspring whose mothers were diagnosed with PTSD demonstrated higher cortisol awakening response (CAR; Cohen's d = 0.58) and greater total cortisol output (Cohen's d = 0.62). In this preliminary study, higher cortisol levels during adolescence among offspring of mothers with PTSD may index a vulnerability in these at-risk youth.