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Abstract

Background
There is a consensus that stress plays a role in the onset of psychosis but the precise underlying mechanism remains unclear. The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is hypothesised to mediate the relationship between stress and psychosis and evidence indicates a potential role for the stress hormone cortisol as a biomarker of psychosis risk.

Objective
We explored this hypothesis by examining the HPA axis in people at ultra-high risk (UHR) for psychosis and its relationship to symptoms.

Method
UHR (n = 52) and healthy control (HC; n = 42) participants were compared on two measures of HPA axis function: cortisol response to awakening and daytime cortisol release.

Results
UHR participants displayed a blunted cortisol awakening response compared with HC participants. No group difference in daytime cortisol levels was found, nor were any associations between cortisol measures and symptoms.

Conclusions
These findings are broadly consistent with previous studies and neurobiological models which propose that stress and the HPA axis are involved in the onset of psychosis, although they raise further questions regarding the precise nature of this involvement.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)25-31
Number of pages7
JournalSchizophrenia Research
Volume158
Issue number1-3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Sept 2014

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