Sex differences of salivary cortisol secretion in patients with major depression.
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Sex differences of salivary cortisol secretion in patients with major depression. / Hinkelmann, Kim; Botzenhardt, Johannes; Muhtz, Christoph; Agorastos, Agorastos; Wiedemann, Klaus; Kellner, Michael; Otte, Christian.
In: STRESS, Vol. 15, No. 1, 1, 2012, p. 105-109.Research output: SCORING: Contribution to journal › SCORING: Journal article › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Sex differences of salivary cortisol secretion in patients with major depression.
AU - Hinkelmann, Kim
AU - Botzenhardt, Johannes
AU - Muhtz, Christoph
AU - Agorastos, Agorastos
AU - Wiedemann, Klaus
AU - Kellner, Michael
AU - Otte, Christian
PY - 2012
Y1 - 2012
N2 - Depression is associated with increased cortisol secretion and occurs more often in women than in men. Thus, it has been hypothesized that differences in cortisol secretion might, in part, be responsible for the greater risk of developing depression in women. However, only few studies have examined sex differences in baseline cortisol secretion in depressed patients and healthy controls. We examined sex effects on cortisol secretion in 52 medication-free patients with major depression (37 women, 15 men, mean ± SD age 35 ± 11 years, Hamilton Depression Scale mean score 27 ± 5) and 50 healthy age- and sex-matched control subjects. Salivary cortisol concentrations were measured at 8:00, 12:00, 16:00, and 22:00 h. Repeated measures analysis of covariance revealed a group × sex interaction (p = 0.05). Post hoc tests revealed higher cortisol concentrations in depressed compared to healthy men [F(1;29) = 7.5, p = 0.01]. No differences were found between depressed and non-depressed women. Our results do not support the hypothesis that differences in cortisol secretion between depressed and non-depressed subjects are more pronounced in women than in men. Study characteristics and methods as well as sex-specific confounding variables such as menstrual cycle, menopause and the use of oral contraceptives may account for inconclusive results across studies.
AB - Depression is associated with increased cortisol secretion and occurs more often in women than in men. Thus, it has been hypothesized that differences in cortisol secretion might, in part, be responsible for the greater risk of developing depression in women. However, only few studies have examined sex differences in baseline cortisol secretion in depressed patients and healthy controls. We examined sex effects on cortisol secretion in 52 medication-free patients with major depression (37 women, 15 men, mean ± SD age 35 ± 11 years, Hamilton Depression Scale mean score 27 ± 5) and 50 healthy age- and sex-matched control subjects. Salivary cortisol concentrations were measured at 8:00, 12:00, 16:00, and 22:00 h. Repeated measures analysis of covariance revealed a group × sex interaction (p = 0.05). Post hoc tests revealed higher cortisol concentrations in depressed compared to healthy men [F(1;29) = 7.5, p = 0.01]. No differences were found between depressed and non-depressed women. Our results do not support the hypothesis that differences in cortisol secretion between depressed and non-depressed subjects are more pronounced in women than in men. Study characteristics and methods as well as sex-specific confounding variables such as menstrual cycle, menopause and the use of oral contraceptives may account for inconclusive results across studies.
KW - Adult
KW - Humans
KW - Male
KW - Female
KW - Middle Aged
KW - Sex Characteristics
KW - Depressive Disorder, Major/physiopathology
KW - Hydrocortisone/secretion
KW - Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System/physiopathology
KW - Pituitary-Adrenal System/physiopathology
KW - Saliva/chemistry
KW - Adult
KW - Humans
KW - Male
KW - Female
KW - Middle Aged
KW - Sex Characteristics
KW - Depressive Disorder, Major/physiopathology
KW - Hydrocortisone/secretion
KW - Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System/physiopathology
KW - Pituitary-Adrenal System/physiopathology
KW - Saliva/chemistry
M3 - SCORING: Journal article
VL - 15
SP - 105
EP - 109
JO - STRESS
JF - STRESS
SN - 1025-3890
IS - 1
M1 - 1
ER -