| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
ORIGINAL ARTICLES |
From the University of Pittsburgh (L.W.H., A.L.D., A.B.), Pittsburgh, PA; and Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (R.J.U.), Bethesda, MD.
Address reprint requests to: Larry Hawk, PhD, Department of Psychology, Park Hall, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14260. Email: LHAWK{at}acsu.buffalo.edu
OBJECTIVE: This study examined relationships among stress hormone levels, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) diagnosis and symptoms, and gender shortly after a common civilian trauma.
METHODS: Levels of catecholamines and cortisol in 15-hour urine samples were examined in 55 adults who had been in serious motor vehicle accidents and in 22 age-matched control.
RESULTS: Catecholamines were related to PTSD diagnosis and symptoms, but only among men: PTSD-symptomatic men who had been in an accident exhibited elevated levels of epinephrine and norepinephrine 1 month after the accident and had higher epinephrine levels 5 months later. Intrusive thoughts predicted catecholamine levels at 1 month, and avoidance of trauma-relevant stimuli was associated with higher epinephrine levels 5 months later. These effects were not significant among women. Urinary cortisol was also elevated among PTSD-symptomatic men, but not women, and only immediately (1 month) after the accident. For men and women, greater emotional numbing predicted a lower cortisol level 6 months after the accident.
CONCLUSIONS: These findings were interpreted as limited support for the generalizability of findings in men with chronic, combat-related PTSD and indicate the need for additional research on psychoendocrine assessment of traumatized women and specific dimensions of PTSD symptomatology.
Key Words: posttraumatic stress disorder • cortisol • catecholamines • psychoendocrine • gender differences
Abbreviations: ANCOVA = analysis of covariance; DSM = Diagnosticand Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; HPA =hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal; IES = Impact of Event Scale; MVA = motor vehicle accident; PTSD = posttraumatic stressdisorder; SCID = Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R.
This article has been cited by other articles:
 |
|
 |
|
  J. L. F. Shaver, S. K. Johnston, M. J. Lentz, and C. A. Landis Stress Exposure, Psychological Distress, and Physiological Stress Activation in Midlife Women With Insomnia Psychosom Med, September 1, 2002; 64(5): 793 - 802. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
L. H. Powell, W. R. Lovallo, K. A. Matthews, P. Meyer, A. R. Midgley, A. Baum, A. A. Stone, L. Underwood, J. J. McCann, K. Janikula Herro, et al. Physiologic Markers of Chronic Stress in Premenopausal, Middle-Aged Women Psychosom Med, May 1, 2002; 64(3): 502 - 509. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
F. Lamprecht and M. Sack Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Revisited Psychosom Med, March 1, 2002; 64(2): 222 - 237. [Abstract] [Full Text]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. W. Mason, S. Wang, R. Yehuda, H. Lubin, D. Johnson, J. D. Bremner, D. Charney, and S. Southwick Marked Lability in Urinary Cortisol Levels in Subgroups of Combat Veterans With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder During an Intensive Exposure Treatment Program Psychosom Med, March 1, 2002; 64(2): 238 - 246. [Abstract] [Full Text]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 L. M. Diamond Contributions of Psychophysiology to Research on Adult Attachment: Review and Recommendations Personality and Social Psychology Review, November 1, 2001; 5(4): 276 - 295. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
L. Cohen, C. de Moor, D. Devine, A. Baum, and R. J. Amato Endocrine Levels at the Start of Treatment Are Associated With Subsequent Psychological Adjustment in Cancer Patients With Metastatic Disease Psychosom Med, November 1, 2001; 63(6): 951 - 958. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
