Diurnal pattern of cortisol output in postnatal depression

作者：Taylor Alyx; Glover Vivette; Marks Maureen; Kammerer Martin^*

来源：Psychoneuroendocrinology, 2009, 34(8): 1184-1188.

DOI：10.1016/j.psyneuen.2009.03.004

• HPA axis
• Depression
• Cortisol
• Cortisol awakening response
• Postnatal
• Postpartum

This study investigated the diurnal output of saliva cortisol in women with symptoms of depression postnatally. Twenty-one depressed and 30 non-depressed women at 7.5 weeks postpartum, and 21 non-perinatal controls, collected saliva at waking, 30 min, and 3 and 12 h postwaking. Women who were not depressed postnatally showed a pattern of cortisol secretion over the day similar to non-perinatal controls. There was a significant difference in diurnal pattern between postnatally depressed and postnatally non-depressed women, due to a difference in the first two time points (waking and 30 min): compared to the other two groups who each had a significant increase in cortisol levels from waking to 30 min, the depressed women had significantly higher cortisol levels at waking and no increase at 30 min. The lack of a morning rise in the depressed women is similar to that reported for posttraumatic stress disorder and chronic fatigue syndrome and may reflect a response, in vulnerable women, to the marked cortisol withdrawal that occurs after delivery.

• 出版日期2009-9