TY - JOUR
T1 - Hair cortisol concentrations and perceived stress in 7-year-old children at familial high-risk of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder
AU - Brandt, Julie Marie
AU - Hemager, Nicoline
AU - Ellersgaard, Ditte
AU - Gregersen, Maja
AU - Søndergaard, Anne
AU - Ohland, Jessica
AU - Søborg Spang, Katrine
AU - Christiani, Camilla
AU - Burton, Birgitte Klee
AU - Greve, Aja
AU - Hjorthøj, Carsten
AU - Mors, Ole
AU - Plessen, Kerstin Jessica
AU - Møllegaard Jepsen, Jens Richardt
AU - Nordentoft, Merete
AU - Elgaard Thorup, Anne Amalie
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023
PY - 2023
Y1 - 2023
N2 - Background: Dysregulation of the HPA-axis, perceived stress and interpersonal trauma are associated with an elevated risk for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Being at familial high-risk of these two mental disorders also constitutes an increased risk. In this study, we aimed to investigate hair cortisol concentrations and perceived stress among 7-year-old children at familial high-risk of schizophrenia (FHR-SZ), bipolar disorder (FHR-BP), and population-based controls (controls). Methods: A total of 515 children (mean age 7.8, SD 0.2) from baseline assessment of the Danish High Risk and Resilience Study – VIA 7 participated in this study. Hair cortisol concentrations were analyzed among 322 children (FHR-SZ; N = 111, FHR-BP; N = 82, controls; N = 129). Perceived stress was assessed with the Daily Life Stressor Scale including 512 children (FHR-SZ; N = 195, FHR-BP; N = 118, controls; N = 199). Interpersonal trauma was measured with face-to-face interviews. Results: Seven-year-old children at FHR-SZ or FHR-BP did not have a higher level of hair cortisol concentrations compared with controls (FHR-SZ: mean: 5.10, 95%CI 3.69–6.52; FHR-BP: mean: 5.01, 95%CI 3.27–6.72; controls: mean: 4.51, 95%CI 3.61–5.40; p = 0.77). Self-reported perceived stress was higher among children at FHR-SZ and FHR-BP compared with controls (FHR-SZ: mean: 12.09, 95%CI 10.99–13.19; FHR-BP: mean: 10.69, 95%CI 9.38–11.99; controls: mean: 8.90, 95%CI 8.13–9.68; p < 0.001). There was no significant association between hair cortisol concentrations and perceived stress (p = 0.84). Exploratory analyses revealed that interpersonal trauma exposure was neither associated with elevated hair cortisol nor perceived stress. Conclusions: Children at FHR-SZ and FHR-BP did not exhibit higher levels of hair cortisol concentrations at age 7, while both FHR-groups had higher level of self-reported perceived stress compared with controls. Early attention to stress in children at FHR is crucial and these vulnerabilities should be targeted in future interventions studies.
AB - Background: Dysregulation of the HPA-axis, perceived stress and interpersonal trauma are associated with an elevated risk for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Being at familial high-risk of these two mental disorders also constitutes an increased risk. In this study, we aimed to investigate hair cortisol concentrations and perceived stress among 7-year-old children at familial high-risk of schizophrenia (FHR-SZ), bipolar disorder (FHR-BP), and population-based controls (controls). Methods: A total of 515 children (mean age 7.8, SD 0.2) from baseline assessment of the Danish High Risk and Resilience Study – VIA 7 participated in this study. Hair cortisol concentrations were analyzed among 322 children (FHR-SZ; N = 111, FHR-BP; N = 82, controls; N = 129). Perceived stress was assessed with the Daily Life Stressor Scale including 512 children (FHR-SZ; N = 195, FHR-BP; N = 118, controls; N = 199). Interpersonal trauma was measured with face-to-face interviews. Results: Seven-year-old children at FHR-SZ or FHR-BP did not have a higher level of hair cortisol concentrations compared with controls (FHR-SZ: mean: 5.10, 95%CI 3.69–6.52; FHR-BP: mean: 5.01, 95%CI 3.27–6.72; controls: mean: 4.51, 95%CI 3.61–5.40; p = 0.77). Self-reported perceived stress was higher among children at FHR-SZ and FHR-BP compared with controls (FHR-SZ: mean: 12.09, 95%CI 10.99–13.19; FHR-BP: mean: 10.69, 95%CI 9.38–11.99; controls: mean: 8.90, 95%CI 8.13–9.68; p < 0.001). There was no significant association between hair cortisol concentrations and perceived stress (p = 0.84). Exploratory analyses revealed that interpersonal trauma exposure was neither associated with elevated hair cortisol nor perceived stress. Conclusions: Children at FHR-SZ and FHR-BP did not exhibit higher levels of hair cortisol concentrations at age 7, while both FHR-groups had higher level of self-reported perceived stress compared with controls. Early attention to stress in children at FHR is crucial and these vulnerabilities should be targeted in future interventions studies.
KW - Bipolar disorder
KW - Familial high-risk
KW - Hair cortisol
KW - Perceived stress
KW - Schizophrenia
U2 - 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2023.110750
DO - 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2023.110750
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 36921662
AN - SCOPUS:85150023653
VL - 125
JO - Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry
JF - Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry
SN - 0278-5846
M1 - 110750
ER -