Cited by 1,063Stress Responses and CortisolAdrenal Hormones and DisordersAnimal Behavior and Welfare Studies

Hair cortisol as a biological marker of chronic stress: Current status, future directions and unanswered questions

Russell, Evan, Koren, Gideon, Rieder, Michael, Van Uum, Stan·2012·Psychoneuroendocrinology

Abstract

The detrimental effects of stress on human health are being increasingly recognized. There is a critical need for the establishment of a biomarker that accurately measures its intensity and course over time. Such a biomarker would allow monitoring of stress, increase understanding of its pathophysiology and may help identify appropriate and successful management strategies. Whereas saliva and urine cortisol capture real-time levels, hair cortisol analysis presents a complementary means of monitoring stress, capturing systemic cortisol exposure over longer periods of time. This novel approach for cortisol quantification is being increasingly used to identify the effects of stress in a variety of pathological situations, from chronic pain to acute myocardial infarctions. Because of its ability to provide a long-term, month-by-month measure of systemic cortisol exposure, hair cortisol analysis is becoming a useful tool, capable of answering clinical questions that could previously not be answered by other tests. In this paper we review the development, current status, limitations and outstanding questions regarding the use of hair cortisol as a biomarker of chronic stress.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2011.09.009

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Authors
Russell, E., Koren, G., Rieder, M., & Van Uum, S.
Affiliations
Western University (CA)
Venue
Psychoneuroendocrinology
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2012-05
Volume
37
Issue
5
Pages
589-601
ISSN
0306-4530 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2106656997
Cited by
1,063
References
80
Citations by year
2026: 68 · 2025: 79 · 2024: 96 · 2023: 92 · 2022: 90 · 2021: 106 · 2020: 82 · 2019: 90 · 2018: 80 · 2017: 85 · 2016: 60 · 2015: 54 · 2014: 38 · 2013: 27 · 2012: 13
FWCI
2.78
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Psychoneuroendocrinology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Adrenal Hormones and Disorders
  • Health Sciences › Veterinary › Small Animals › Animal Behavior and Welfare Studies
Keywords
hair cortisol, chronic stress, biomarkers, stress biomarkers, stress monitoring, chronic pain, myocardial infarction
MeSH terms
Animals, Chronic Disease, Female, Glucocorticoids, Hair, Humans, Hydrocortisone, Male, Saliva, Stress, Psychological, Biomarkers

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