Changes in cortisol and DHEA plasma levels after psychotherapy for PTSD

Miranda Olff; Giel-Jan de Vries; Yener Guzelcan; Johanna Assies; Berthold P. R. Gersons

doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2007.04.001

Changes in cortisol and DHEA plasma levels after psychotherapy for PTSD

Miranda Olff, Giel-Jan de Vries, Yener Guzelcan, Johanna Assies, Berthold P. R. Gersons

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

127 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been associated with dysregulation of the neuroendocrine system. In this study we examine the effects of psychotherapy in 21 PTSD patients, with and without coexisting depression, on the levels of six stress-related hormones: cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), and dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEA-S), prolactin, thyrotropin (TSH) and free thyroxin (fT4). The results show that after brief eclectic psychotherapy (BEP) significant changes occurred in levels of cortisol and DHEA. Responders showed an increase in cortisol and DHEA levels, while in non-responders both hormone levels decreased. Differences were only found after controlling for depressive symptoms. In conclusion, effective psychotherapy for PTSD may alter dysregulations in the Hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA)-axis, but comorbid depressive symptoms should be taken into account

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	619-626
Journal	Psychoneuroendocrinology
Volume	32
Issue number	6
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2007.04.001
Publication status	Published - 2007

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https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2007.04.001

Cite this

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title = "Changes in cortisol and DHEA plasma levels after psychotherapy for PTSD",

abstract = "Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been associated with dysregulation of the neuroendocrine system. In this study we examine the effects of psychotherapy in 21 PTSD patients, with and without coexisting depression, on the levels of six stress-related hormones: cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), and dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEA-S), prolactin, thyrotropin (TSH) and free thyroxin (fT4). The results show that after brief eclectic psychotherapy (BEP) significant changes occurred in levels of cortisol and DHEA. Responders showed an increase in cortisol and DHEA levels, while in non-responders both hormone levels decreased. Differences were only found after controlling for depressive symptoms. In conclusion, effective psychotherapy for PTSD may alter dysregulations in the Hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA)-axis, but comorbid depressive symptoms should be taken into account",

author = "Miranda Olff and {de Vries}, Giel-Jan and Yener Guzelcan and Johanna Assies and Gersons, {Berthold P. R.}",

year = "2007",

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language = "English",

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T1 - Changes in cortisol and DHEA plasma levels after psychotherapy for PTSD

AU - Olff, Miranda

AU - de Vries, Giel-Jan

AU - Guzelcan, Yener

AU - Assies, Johanna

AU - Gersons, Berthold P. R.

PY - 2007

Y1 - 2007

N2 - Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been associated with dysregulation of the neuroendocrine system. In this study we examine the effects of psychotherapy in 21 PTSD patients, with and without coexisting depression, on the levels of six stress-related hormones: cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), and dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEA-S), prolactin, thyrotropin (TSH) and free thyroxin (fT4). The results show that after brief eclectic psychotherapy (BEP) significant changes occurred in levels of cortisol and DHEA. Responders showed an increase in cortisol and DHEA levels, while in non-responders both hormone levels decreased. Differences were only found after controlling for depressive symptoms. In conclusion, effective psychotherapy for PTSD may alter dysregulations in the Hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA)-axis, but comorbid depressive symptoms should be taken into account

AB - Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been associated with dysregulation of the neuroendocrine system. In this study we examine the effects of psychotherapy in 21 PTSD patients, with and without coexisting depression, on the levels of six stress-related hormones: cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), and dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEA-S), prolactin, thyrotropin (TSH) and free thyroxin (fT4). The results show that after brief eclectic psychotherapy (BEP) significant changes occurred in levels of cortisol and DHEA. Responders showed an increase in cortisol and DHEA levels, while in non-responders both hormone levels decreased. Differences were only found after controlling for depressive symptoms. In conclusion, effective psychotherapy for PTSD may alter dysregulations in the Hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA)-axis, but comorbid depressive symptoms should be taken into account

U2 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2007.04.001

DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2007.04.001

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SN - 0306-4530

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