Childhood Adversity but not Current Psychiatric Illness Predicts Hair Cortisol Concentration in Healthy Young Adults

• In Event: Poster Session 02
  In Poster Session: PS 02 Topic - Biological Processes: Psychophysiology

Abstract

Introduction: Childhood adversity is a major risk factor for psychiatric disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders. Early life stress appears to confer risk through dysregulation of neuroendocrine factors, particularly cortisol. While difficult to measure given its diurnal variability, the concentration of cortisol secreted into hair has recently emerged as a novel biomarker of long-term HPA-axis activity. Existing research is limited by small sample sizes and limited data regarding early life experiences and the impact of multiple forms of adversity on hair cortisol concentration. This study examined the relationship of early life stress, hair cortisol, and psychiatric disorders in young adults.
Methods: Healthy young adults ages 18-40 (N=88) were recruited via community advertisements and assessed for eligibility via phone interview. Cases (N=47) experienced moderate-severe childhood maltreatment and parental loss, and a subset (n=27) also had a current psychiatric diagnosis. Controls (N=41) had no early stress or psychiatric history. Instruments including the Childhood Experiences of Care and Abuse (CECA), a semi-structured interview, and self report questionnaires assessed demographics, medical/psychiatric history, adversity, health behaviors, and hair treatment factors. Participants had no acute/chronic medical conditions, current medications, bipolar or psychotic disorders. Hair samples (most proximal 3cm) were collected from the posterior vertex of the scalp and were analyzed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Covariates for statistical analyses were selected based on strength of evidence demonstrating associations with hair cortisol.
Results: Participants with childhood adversity had significantly greater hair cortisol concentration
compared with those without childhood adversity (t(86)=-2.53, p=0.013). Adversity remained significantly predictive of hair cortisol in a model adjusting for age, sex, and hair washing frequency (F(4,87)=7.27, p=.009, adj R2 =.102). Recent perceived stress was not associated with hair cortisol (r=-.08, p=.47). Hair cortisol was not significantly different between cases with and without current psychiatric disorders (t(86)=.14, p=.89; n=27 and n=21, respectively).
Conclusion: These findings demonstrate that early life stress exposure, but not recent perceived stress, is predictive of hair cortisol concentration in healthy young adults. Among participants with early adversity, there was no significant difference between those with and without current psychiatric disorders, though this may be underpowered. Participants were physically healthy young adults, without medical comorbidities or medications, suggesting unique effects of adversity without confounding influences of these factors. These findings appeared to be specific to adversity in childhood, as adult perceived stress was not contributory. Future plans include further examining relationships with type and timing of stress exposure, and evaluating associations with metabolic measures.

Authors

• Teresa Daniels, Brown University
  Presenting Author

• Quincy M. Beck, Butler Hospital
  Non-Presenting Author

• Samantha A. Wong, Brown University
  Non-Presenting Author

• A. Polly Gobin, Butler Hospital
  Non-Presenting Author

• Linda L. Carpenter, Brown University, Butler Hospital
  Non-Presenting Author

• Lawrence H. Price, Brown University, Butler Hospital
  Non-Presenting Author

• Audrey R. Tyrka, Brown University
  Non-Presenting Author