Major depression in young girls is related to altered cortisol awakening response

Background

There is evidence that clinical depression is associated with elevated basal cortisol levels in adult patients.

Objective

The present investigation tries to find out, whether this relationship also holds true in adolescents with major depression.

Methods

For 131 female subjects (63 MDD, 68 controls) the cortisol awakening response (CAR) was measured at 0, 30, 45, and 60 min after awakening. All subjects provided saliva cortisol.

Results

A significantly higher CAR was found in patients. The global mean difference was due to differences 60 and 45 min after awakening.

Limitations

A causal interpretation of the data is restricted, because of its cross-sectional nature. The effect size of the mean differences is rather small.

Conclusion

The observed HPA hyperactivity may be a cause as well as a consequence of depression in childhood.