The role of personality and traumatic events in cortisol levels - Where does PTSD fit in?
Abstract
Background: Studies of cortisol in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have yielded mixed results. We hypothesize that personality traits and traumatic experiences could be the confounders of cortisol measures and disease symptoms. Method: This study was a part of a broader project in which simultaneous psychological and biological investigations were carried out in hospital conditions on 400 male participants categorized by four groups: (A) 133 with current PTSD, (B) 66 with lifetime PTSD, (C) 102 trauma controls, and (D) 99 healthy controls (matched by age and education). Cortisol and ACTH were measured in blood samples taken hourly from 22:00 h to 09:00 h, with an additional sample at 07:30 h (resting state and morning rise). The next night, dexamethasone (0.5 mg) suppression test was performed. Results: No significant differences in basal cortisol and ACTH were found between study groups. The trait Conscientiousness, negatively modulated by Extraversion (assessed by NEO Personali...ty Inventory-Revised) was found to correlate with cortisol (but not with ACTH). Group differences are found on suppression. Structural equation modeling shows excellent fit only when the paths (influences) from Conscientiousness to basal cortisol and from traumatic events to suppression are present. The paths connecting suppression and PTSD symptoms do not contribute. Conclusions: Two sources of differences of hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenocortical axis functioning are implied, both only indirectly connected to PTSD. It seems that basal cortisol secretion is associated more tightly with personality (introvertively modulated Conscientiousness), while the regulation by glucocorticoid receptor system is sensitized by repeated traumatic situations.
Keywords:
Traumatic experiences / Structural equation model / Post-traumatic stress disorder / Personality traits / Low dose dexamethasone suppression test / Cortisol / ConscientiousnessSource:
Psychoneuroendocrinology, 2012, 37, 7, 937-947Publisher:
- Pergamon-Elsevier Science Ltd, Oxford
Funding / projects:
- European Commission Joint Research Centre [INCO-CT-2004-509213]
- Identification, measurement and development of the cognitive and emotional competences important for a Europe-oriented society (RS-MESTD-Basic Research (BR or ON)-179018)
- Role of steroid hormones in neuroendocrine adaptation to stress and pathophysiology of metabolic syndrome - molecular mechanisms and clinical implications (RS-MESTD-Integrated and Interdisciplinary Research (IIR or III)-41009)
DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2011.11.001
ISSN: 0306-4530
PubMed: 22133516
WoS: 000305199400007
Scopus: 2-s2.0-84861185242
Institution/Community
Psihologija / PsychologyTY - JOUR AU - Savić, Danka AU - Knežević, Goran AU - Damjanović, Svetozar AU - Spirić, Željko AU - Matić, Gordana PY - 2012 UR - http://reff.f.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/1362 AB - Background: Studies of cortisol in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have yielded mixed results. We hypothesize that personality traits and traumatic experiences could be the confounders of cortisol measures and disease symptoms. Method: This study was a part of a broader project in which simultaneous psychological and biological investigations were carried out in hospital conditions on 400 male participants categorized by four groups: (A) 133 with current PTSD, (B) 66 with lifetime PTSD, (C) 102 trauma controls, and (D) 99 healthy controls (matched by age and education). Cortisol and ACTH were measured in blood samples taken hourly from 22:00 h to 09:00 h, with an additional sample at 07:30 h (resting state and morning rise). The next night, dexamethasone (0.5 mg) suppression test was performed. Results: No significant differences in basal cortisol and ACTH were found between study groups. The trait Conscientiousness, negatively modulated by Extraversion (assessed by NEO Personality Inventory-Revised) was found to correlate with cortisol (but not with ACTH). Group differences are found on suppression. Structural equation modeling shows excellent fit only when the paths (influences) from Conscientiousness to basal cortisol and from traumatic events to suppression are present. The paths connecting suppression and PTSD symptoms do not contribute. Conclusions: Two sources of differences of hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenocortical axis functioning are implied, both only indirectly connected to PTSD. It seems that basal cortisol secretion is associated more tightly with personality (introvertively modulated Conscientiousness), while the regulation by glucocorticoid receptor system is sensitized by repeated traumatic situations. PB - Pergamon-Elsevier Science Ltd, Oxford T2 - Psychoneuroendocrinology T1 - The role of personality and traumatic events in cortisol levels - Where does PTSD fit in? EP - 947 IS - 7 SP - 937 VL - 37 DO - 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2011.11.001 ER -
@article{ author = "Savić, Danka and Knežević, Goran and Damjanović, Svetozar and Spirić, Željko and Matić, Gordana", year = "2012", abstract = "Background: Studies of cortisol in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have yielded mixed results. We hypothesize that personality traits and traumatic experiences could be the confounders of cortisol measures and disease symptoms. Method: This study was a part of a broader project in which simultaneous psychological and biological investigations were carried out in hospital conditions on 400 male participants categorized by four groups: (A) 133 with current PTSD, (B) 66 with lifetime PTSD, (C) 102 trauma controls, and (D) 99 healthy controls (matched by age and education). Cortisol and ACTH were measured in blood samples taken hourly from 22:00 h to 09:00 h, with an additional sample at 07:30 h (resting state and morning rise). The next night, dexamethasone (0.5 mg) suppression test was performed. Results: No significant differences in basal cortisol and ACTH were found between study groups. The trait Conscientiousness, negatively modulated by Extraversion (assessed by NEO Personality Inventory-Revised) was found to correlate with cortisol (but not with ACTH). Group differences are found on suppression. Structural equation modeling shows excellent fit only when the paths (influences) from Conscientiousness to basal cortisol and from traumatic events to suppression are present. The paths connecting suppression and PTSD symptoms do not contribute. Conclusions: Two sources of differences of hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenocortical axis functioning are implied, both only indirectly connected to PTSD. It seems that basal cortisol secretion is associated more tightly with personality (introvertively modulated Conscientiousness), while the regulation by glucocorticoid receptor system is sensitized by repeated traumatic situations.", publisher = "Pergamon-Elsevier Science Ltd, Oxford", journal = "Psychoneuroendocrinology", title = "The role of personality and traumatic events in cortisol levels - Where does PTSD fit in?", pages = "947-937", number = "7", volume = "37", doi = "10.1016/j.psyneuen.2011.11.001" }
Savić, D., Knežević, G., Damjanović, S., Spirić, Ž.,& Matić, G.. (2012). The role of personality and traumatic events in cortisol levels - Where does PTSD fit in?. in Psychoneuroendocrinology Pergamon-Elsevier Science Ltd, Oxford., 37(7), 937-947. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2011.11.001
Savić D, Knežević G, Damjanović S, Spirić Ž, Matić G. The role of personality and traumatic events in cortisol levels - Where does PTSD fit in?. in Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2012;37(7):937-947. doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2011.11.001 .
Savić, Danka, Knežević, Goran, Damjanović, Svetozar, Spirić, Željko, Matić, Gordana, "The role of personality and traumatic events in cortisol levels - Where does PTSD fit in?" in Psychoneuroendocrinology, 37, no. 7 (2012):937-947, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2011.11.001 . .