Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Email this article to a Colleague Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to My Articles & Searches Download to citation manager Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Articles by Mannie, Z. N. Articles by Cowen, P. J. Search for Related Content PubMed Citation Articles by Mannie, Z. N. Articles by Cowen, P. J. Neurophysiology Depression Stress Genetics

Increased Waking Salivary Cortisol Levels in Young People at Familial Risk of Depression

OBJECTIVE: Cortisol hypersecretion is one of the most reliable biological abnormalities in major depression, but it is uncertain if it represents an illness marker or a trait vulnerability to mood disorder. The present study sought to answer this question by measuring waking salivary cortisol levels in young people at familial risk of depression but with no personal history of mood disorder. METHOD: The authors studied 49 young people who had not been depressed themselves but who had a parent with a history of major depression (FH+) and a comparison group of 55 participants who had no personal history of depression and no reported depression in a first-degree relative. The authors measured the amount of cortisol secreted in saliva during the first 30 minutes after awakening on a workday and on a nonworkday. RESULTS: The amount of cortisol secreted by the FH+ subjects was greater than that of the comparison subjects on both workdays (mean=698 nmolxminutes/liter, SD=243, versus mean=550, SD=225) and nonworkdays (mean=633 nmolxminutes/liter, SD=216, versus mean=492, SD=166). The increase in cortisol secretion was not accounted for by differences in parental attachment, life events, personality, or current mental state. CONCLUSIONS: Hypersecretion of cortisol can be detected in asymptomatic individuals at genetic risk of depression and may represent an illness endophenotype. Further studies will be needed to find out if increased waking salivary cortisol levels can predict individual risk of illness and whether the increased cortisol secretion has implications for general health and cognitive function.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				Z. N. Mannie, R. Norbury, S. E. Murphy, B. Inkster, C. J. Harmer, and P. J. Cowen Affective modulation of anterior cingulate cortex in young people at increased familial risk of depression The British Journal of Psychiatry, May 1, 2008; 192(5): 356 - 361. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Elevated Salivary Cortisol as a Possible Indicator of Depression Risk Journal Watch Psychiatry, May 7, 2007; 2007(507): 4 - 4. [Full Text]

Get information about faster international access.

Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2007 American Psychiatric Association. All rights reserved.

Home | Search | Current Issue | Past Issues | Subscribe | All APPI Journals | Help | Contact Us