Early posttraumatic autonomic and endocrine markers to predict posttraumatic stress symptoms after a preventive intervention with oxytocin. Issue 1 (31st December 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Engel, Sinha; van Zuiden, Mirjam; Frijling, Jessie. L.; Koch, Saskia B. J.; Nawijn, Laura; Yildiz, Rinde L. W.; Schumacher, Sarah; Knaevelsrud, Christine; Bosch, Jos A.; Veltman, Dick J.; Olff, Miranda
• Is Part Of: European journal of psychotraumatology. Volume 11:Issue 1(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-12-31
• Subjects: Biomarker -- Prevention -- prognosis -- glucocorticoids -- oxytocin -- heart rate; Biomarcador -- Prevención -- Pronóstico -- Glucocorticoides -- Oxitocina -- Frecuencia cardíaca; 生物标志物 -- 预防 -- 预后 -- 糖皮质激素 -- 催产素 -- 心率; Biological markers can inform clinicians about an individual's PTSD risk after recent trauma. Biological markers predicting PTSD risk differed for men, cycling women and women on hormonal contraception. Biological markers did not predict the effects of nasal spray with oxytocin as preventive intervention for PTSD.; Post-traumatic stress disorder -- Periodicals; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic; Post-traumatic stress disorder; Electronic journals; Periodicals; Periodicals; Fulltext; Internet Resources; Periodicals; 616.8521
• DOI: 10.1080/20008198.2020.1761622
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2000-8198

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Background: Efficient prevention of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) needs to target individuals with an increased risk for adverse outcome after trauma. Prognostic or prescriptive biological markers assessed early posttrauma may inform personalized treatment recommendations. Objective: To test prognostic and prescriptive effects of early (posttraumatic) autonomic and endocrine markers on PTSD symptom development. Method: Autonomic and endocrine markers were assessed within 12 days posttrauma and before treatment initiation within a randomized placebo-controlled trial investigating repeated oxytocin administration as preventive intervention for PTSD. Linear mixed effects models were used to test the effects of heart rate (variability), resting cortisol, morning cortisol and cortisol awakening response (CAR), cortisol suppression by dexamethasone and resting oxytocin on PTSD symptoms 1.5, 3 and 6 months posttrauma in men ( n = 54), women using hormonal contraception ( n = 27) and cycling women ( n = 19). Results: We found significant prognostic effects of resting oxytocin and cortisol suppression. In women using hormonal contraception, higher oxytocin was associated with higher PTSD symptoms across follow-up. Stronger cortisol suppression by dexamethasone, reflecting increased glucocorticoid receptor feedback sensitivity, was associated with lower PTSD symptoms across follow-up in men, but with higher symptoms at 1.5 months in women using hormonal contraception. These effects were independent of treatment condition. No further significant prognostic or prescriptive effects were detected. Conclusion: Our exploratory study indicates that resting oxytocin and glucocorticoid receptor feedback sensitivity early posttrauma are associated with subsequent PTSD symptom severity. Notably, prognostic effects depended on sex and hormonal contraception use, emphasizing the necessity to consider these factors in biomedical PTSD research.