Increased salivary cortisol after waking in depression

Bhagwagar, Zubin; Hafizi, Sepehr; Cowen, Philip J.

doi:10.1007/s00213-005-0062-z

Cited by 281Stress Responses and CortisolAdrenal Hormones and DisordersTreatment of Major Depression

Increased salivary cortisol after waking in depression

Bhagwagar, Zubin, Hafizi, Sepehr, Cowen, Philip J.·2005·Psychopharmacology

DOI 10.1007/s00213-005-0062-z

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Abstract

Rationale Cortisol hypersecretion is regarded as important in the pathophysiology of major depression. However, recent studies in community-based samples have been inconclusive.Objective To determine whether acutely depressed, medication-free subjects show an exaggerated release of cortisol in saliva in relation to awakening.Methods We studied the pattern of waking salivary cortisol in 20 unmedicated acutely depressed subjects and 40 healthy controls.Results In both groups, salivary cortisol increased rapidly after waking, peaking at 30 min. Overall, patients with acute depression secreted approximately 25% more cortisol than controls, though 60 min after waking, their cortisol levels were similar.Conclusions Depressed patients in the community appear to have increased early morning cortisol secretion, but the demonstration of this effect requires control for time of waking.

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Cross-sectional associations between the CAR and depression are mixed: some studies find lower CARs in current MDD, others find current MDD or high depressive symptoms associated with higher CARs.
“Studies examining cross-sectional associations between the CAR and depression have found mixed results: some have found significantly lower CARs in individuals with current MDD diagnoses (Huber et al., 2006; Stetler and Miller, 2005), whereas others have found current MDD or high depressive symptoms to be associated with higher CARs (Bhagwagar et al., 2005; Pruessner et al., 2003).”
From Prospective prediction of major depressive disorder from cortisol awakening responses in adolescence (2010) · cites this paper as Bhagwagar et al., 2005

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Authors: Bhagwagar, Z., Hafizi, S., & Cowen, P. J.
Affiliations: Warneford Hospital (GB)
Corresponding author: Bhagwagar, Zubin
ORCID: Bhagwagar, Zubin
Hafizi, Sepehr
Cowen, Philip J.
Venue: Psychopharmacology
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published: 2005-07-01
Volume: 182
Issue: 1
Pages: 54-57
ISSN: 0033-3158 (ISSN-L)
1432-2072
DOI: 10.1007/s00213-005-0062-z
OpenAlex: W2073779547
Cited by: 281
References: 16
Citations by year: 2026: 1 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 18 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 18 · 2020: 19 · 2019: 13 · 2018: 15 · 2017: 13 · 2016: 17 · 2015: 24 · 2014: 21 · 2013: 12 · 2012: 15
FWCI: 3.62
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Licence: www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
Locations: Psychopharmacology (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders: Medical Research Council
Topics: Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Adrenal Hormones and Disorders
Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Treatment of Major Depression
Keywords: salivary cortisol, depression, cortisol hypersecretion, awakening, circadian rhythm, untreated depression
MeSH terms: Adult, Circadian Rhythm, Cushing Syndrome, Major Depressive Disorder, Depressive Disorder, Major, Female, Humans, Hydrocortisone, Male, Middle Aged, Reference Values, Saliva, Secretory Rate, Wakefulness

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Increased salivary cortisol after waking in depression

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