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Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, childhood adversity and adolescent nonsuicidal self-injury

Background: whereas childhood adversity (CA) and the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis have been suggested to play a major role in the etiology of non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), no study has thus far investigated both its associations and interactions with adolescent NSSI. Method: We inves...

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Main Authors: Reichl, Corinna (Author) , Heyer, Anne (Author) , Brunner, Romuald (Author) , Parzer, Peter (Author) , Völker, Julia Madeleine (Author) , Resch, Franz (Author) , Kaess, Michael (Author)
Format: Article (Journal)
Language:English
Published: 15 September 2016
In: Psychoneuroendocrinology
Year: 2016, Volume: 74, Pages: 203-211
ISSN:1873-3360
DOI:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2016.09.011
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Author Notes:Corinna Reichl, Anne Heyer, Romuald Brunner, Peter Parzer, Julia Madeleine Völker, Franz Resch, Michael Kaess
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Summary:Background: whereas childhood adversity (CA) and the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis have been suggested to play a major role in the etiology of non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), no study has thus far investigated both its associations and interactions with adolescent NSSI. Method: We investigated CA (antipathy, neglect, physical, psychological, and sexual abuse) and indices of HPA axis activity (salivary and hair cortisol) in a clinical sample of 26 adolescents engaging in NSSI and 26 age- and gender-matched healthy controls (HC). We used standardized interviews for the assessment of CA (CECA), NSSI (SITBI-G), and axis I diagnoses (MINI-KID). Salivary cortisol sampling was surveyed using a monitoring system and instructed via telephone calls. Results: Adolescents engaging in NSSI exhibited significantly higher cortisol awakening responses compared to HC. No differences were found with respect to the diurnal slope or hair cortisol. In the presence of CA, healthy adolescents showed flatted diurnal cortisol slopes while those engaging in NSSI exhibited significantly steeper ones. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that adolescents engaging in NSSI may exhibit a stronger cortisol awakening response, potentially in expectation of strain. However, elevated cortisol levels may not be maintained throughout the day, especially among adolescents with a history of CA.
Item Description:Gesehen am 15.02.2018
Physical Description:Online Resource
ISSN:1873-3360
DOI:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2016.09.011

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