Cited by 307Child Abuse and TraumaStress Responses and CortisolChild Welfare and Adoption

Effect of childhood physical abuse on cortisol stress response

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Carpenter, Linda L., Shattuck, Thaddeus T., Tyrka, Audrey R., Geracioti, Thomas D., Price, Lawrence H.·2011·Psychopharmacology

Abstract

RationaleAbuse and neglect are highly prevalent in children and have enduring neurobiological effects. Stressful early life environments perturb the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis, which in turn may predispose to psychiatric disorders in adulthood. However, studies of childhood maltreatment and adult HPA function have not yet rigorously investigated the differential effects of maltreatment subtypes, including physical abuse.ObjectiveIn this study, we sought to replicate our previous finding that childhood maltreatment was associated with attenuated cortisol responses to stress and determine whether the type of maltreatment was a determinant of the stress response.MethodsSalivary cortisol response to the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) was examined in a non-clinical sample of women (n = 110). Subjects had no acute medical problems and were not seeking psychiatric treatment. Effects of five maltreatment types, as measured by the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, on cortisol response to the TSST were investigated. To further examine the significant (p < 0.005) effect of one maltreatment type, women with childhood physical abuse (PA) (n = 20) were compared to those without past PA (n = 90).ResultsWomen reporting childhood PA displayed a significantly blunted cortisol response to the TSST compared with subjects without PA, after controlling for estrogen use, age, other forms of maltreatment, and other potential confounds. There were no differences between PA and control groups with regard to physiological arousal during the stress challenge.ConclusionsIn a non-clinical sample of women with minimal or no current psychopathology, physical abuse is associated with a blunted cortisol response to a psychosocial stress task.

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  1. First MB Spitzer RL Gibbon M Williams JB 1996 Structured clinical interview for DSM-IV axis I disorders, patient edition (SCIP-I/P) New York State Psychiatric Institute, Biometrics Research New York

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Authors
Carpenter, L. L., Shattuck, T. T., Tyrka, A. R., Geracioti, T. D., & Price, L. H.
Affiliations
  • Butler Hospital (US)
  • Cincinnati VA Medical Center (US)
Corresponding author
Carpenter, Linda L.
Venue
Psychopharmacology
Published
2010-09-14
Volume
214
Issue
1
Pages
367-375
ISSN
  • 0033-3158 (ISSN-L)
  • 1432-2072
OpenAlex
W2066438189
Cited by
307
References
45
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 19 · 2021: 29 · 2020: 31 · 2019: 28 · 2018: 33 · 2017: 23 · 2016: 22 · 2015: 20 · 2014: 27 · 2013: 17 · 2012: 14
FWCI
15.15
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Psychopharmacology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • AstraZeneca
  • Jazz Pharmaceuticals
  • H. Lundbeck A/S
  • Qatar National Research Fund
  • National Institute of Mental Health (K23MH067947, R01MH068767)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child Abuse and Trauma
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
  • Social Sciences › Safety Research › Child Welfare and Adoption
Keywords
child physical abuse, cortisol, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, stress response, child abuse, Trier Social Stress Test, salivary cortisol, blunted cortisol response, women, psychosocial stress, estrogen use
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Female, Humans, Hydrocortisone, Middle Aged, Surveys and Questionnaires, Saliva, Stress, Psychological, Case-Control Studies, Adult Survivors of Child Abuse, Young Adult

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