Depression, cortisol and somatoform dissociative symptoms
Language English Country Sweden Media print
Document type Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
PubMed
18404142
PII: NEL290208A11
Knihovny.cz E-resources
- MeSH
- Depressive Disorder blood etiology physiopathology MeSH
- Dissociative Disorders blood diagnosis etiology physiopathology MeSH
- Adult MeSH
- Stress, Physiological complications physiopathology MeSH
- Hydrocortisone blood MeSH
- Middle Aged MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Surveys and Questionnaires MeSH
- Somatoform Disorders blood diagnosis etiology physiopathology MeSH
- Pituitary-Adrenal System physiopathology MeSH
- Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System physiopathology MeSH
- Check Tag
- Adult MeSH
- Middle Aged MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Male MeSH
- Female MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
- Names of Substances
- Hydrocortisone MeSH
OBJECTIVE: According to recent findings neuroendocrine response related to dissociative symptoms is related to dysregulation of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis but HPA axis functioning as related to dissociation is only partially understood. METHOD: With the aim to test the relationship between basal serum cortisol and dissociative symptoms measured as somatoform and psychic dissociation we performed clinical testing and biochemical analysis in 30 inpatients with diagnosis of unipolar depression (mean age 41.46, SD=13.68). RESULTS: The results show that cortisol as an index of HPA axis functioning manifests significant relationship to somatoform dissociative symptoms (r=-0.40; p=0.014). CONCLUSIONS: The result indicates relationship between HPA-axis reactivity and somatoform dissociative symptoms in unipolar depressive patients and suggests that somatoform dissociation presents a defense mechanism related to a passive coping response.
