Abnormal cortisol levels during the day and cortisol awakening response in first-episode psychosis: The role of stress and of antipsychotic treatment

Valeria Mondelli, Paola Dazzan, Nilay Hepgul, Marta Di Forti, Monica Aas, Alessandro D'Albenzio, Marco Di Nicola, Helen Fisher, Rowena Handley, Tiago Reis Marques, Craig Morgan, Serena Navari, Heather Taylor, Andrew Papadopoulos, Katherine J. Aitchison, Robin M. Murray, Carmine M. Pariante

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

239 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

First-episode psychosis (FEP) patients show hyperactivity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, but the mechanisms leading to this are still unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of stress and antipsychotic treatment on diurnal cortisol levels, and on cortisol awakening response, in FEP. Recent stressful events, perceived stress and childhood trauma were collected in 50 FEP patients and 36 healthy controls using structured instruments. Salivary cortisol was obtained at awakening, at 15, 30, and 60 min after awakening, and at 12 and 8 pm. Patients experienced more recent stressful events, perceived stress and childhood trauma than controls (p
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)234 - 242
Number of pages9
JournalSchizophrenia Research
Volume116
Issue number2-3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Feb 2010

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