Cortisol Levels in Childhood Associated With Emergence of Attenuated Psychotic Symptoms in Early Adulthood
Year: 2021
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: BACKGROUND: In individuals at clinical high-risk for psychosis, elevated cortisol levels predict subsequent onset of psychotic disorder. However, it is unclear whether cortisol alterations are evident at an earlier clinical stage and promote progression of psychosis expression. This study aimed to address this issue by investigating whether cortisol levels in childhood were associated with the emergence of attenuated psychotic symptoms in early adulthood. In exploratory analyses, we examined whether cortisol and psychosocial stress measures interacted in predicting attenuated psychotic symptoms. METHODS: A sample of children (N = 109) enriched for psychosis risk factors were recruited at age 9-12 years and assessed at age 11-14 years (T1) and 17-21 years (T2). Measures of psychopathology, psychosocial stressors, and salivary cortisol were obtained at T1. Attenuated psychotic symptoms were assessed at T2 using the Prodromal Questionnaire. RESULTS: Diurnal cortisol (β = 0.915, 95% CI: 0.062-1.769) and daily stressors (β = 0.379, 95% CI: 0.034-0.723) at T1 were independently associated with total Prodromal Questionnaire scores at T2 after accounting for demographic factors and T1 psychopathology. Exploratory analyses indicated a significant interaction between T1 diurnal cortisol and daily stressors (β = 0.743, 95% CI: 0.081-1.405), with the highest predicted T2 total Prodromal Questionnaire scores occurring when both diurnal cortisol and daily stressors were increased. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that daily stressors and elevations in diurnal cortisol in late childhood/early adolescence increases risk for developing attenuated psychotic symptoms. These findings emphasize the importance of assessing environmental and biological risk factors for psychosis during neurodevelopmentally vulnerable time periods.
Source: Biological Psychiatry
Language: English
Subfield: Psychiatry and Mental health
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,990
Funders: Brain and Behavior Research Foundation, Wellcome Trust, National Institute for Health and Care Research, Department of Health and Social Care, British Medical Association, King's College London, Fundação Bial, Economic and Social Research Council, Australian Research Council, NIHR Imperial Biomedical Research Centre
Awards: G1049449491, Biological markers of stress and inflammation across clinical stages of schizophrenia: from early at-risk states to chronic illness., G3470453819, G5235544663, G5443519224, Biological markers of stress and inflammation across clinical stages of schizophrenia: from early at-risk states to chronic illness., The role of social-emotional learning in attaining literacy and numeracy, Centre for Society and Mental Health, G8657651487
OpenAlex ID: W3196085452