Is there a relation between major depression and hair cortisol? A systematic review and meta-analysis
Abstract
Literature supports a causal role of stress in major depressive disorder (MDD). Hair cortisol concentration (HCC) has been widely used as a measure of long-term stress. Although elevated HCC has been observed in healthy people experiencing chronic stress, findings regarding individuals with mental disorders have been complicated. This review attempts to systematically present all the published research on major depression and HCC. An extensive search of databases was performed to identify articles that investigated this question. The initial search retrieved 142 studies, of which, 16 original articles were included in this review. Results were contradictory; most of the studies showed no significant HCC differences between MDD patients and controls, while others indicated either higher or lower HCC in MDD patients than controls. Higher HCC was reported in first depressive episode compared to recurrent MDD and controls; patients with comorbid MDD and anxiety disorder had higher HCC than controls. No significant HCC difference was found between patients with melancholic or atypical depression and controls. Findings concerning HCC in postpartum depression were inconsistent. A meta-analysis of the data extracted from seven studies of the sample was performed to quantify the degree of cortisol change in MDD patients vs. controls. A random effects model revealed no significant hair cortisol concentrations difference between depressed patients and healthy controls (SMD: -0.02, 95% C…
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A meta-analysis of long-term cortisol secretion (751 patients) through hair assays found no differences between MDD and controls.
“A meta-analysis of long-term cortisol secretion 751 patients) through hair assays found no differences between MDD and controls (160).”
From Childhood Trauma, the HPA Axis and Psychiatric Illnesses: A Targeted Literature Synthesis (2022) · cites this paper as [160]
Hair cortisol concentrations are related to PTSD, depression and anxiety disorders.
“Studies have found that HCC is related to PTSD, depression and anxiety disorders [40, 41] or with perceived job insecurity and work stress [42, 43].”
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Childhood Trauma, the HPA Axis and Psychiatric Illnesses: A Targeted Literature Synthesis
Murphy, F., Nasa, A., Cullinane, D., Raajakesary, K., Gazzaz, A., Sooknarine, V., Haines, M., Roman, E., Kelly, L., O'Neill, A., et al. (2022) · Frontiers in Psychiatry · doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2022.748372 · Cited by 181 · see citing works
“A meta-analysis of long-term cortisol secretion 751 patients) through hair assays found no differences betweenMDD and controls (160).”
MethodRoos, R., Witteveen, A. B., Ayuso-Mateos, J. L., Barbui, C., Bryant, R. A., Felez-Nobrega, M., Figueiredo, N., Kalisch, R., Haro, J. M., McDaid, D., et al. (2023) · BMC Psychiatry · doi:10.1186/s12888-023-05288-5 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
“Studies have found that HCC is related to PTSD, depression and anxiety disorders [40, 41] or with perceived job insecurity and work stress [42, 43].”
Background
- Authors
- Psarraki, E. E., Kokka, I., Bacopoulou, F., Chrousos, G. P., Artemiadis, A., & Darviri, C.
- Affiliations
- National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (GR)
- University of Cyprus (CY)
- Corresponding author
- Psarraki, Evgenia E.
- ORCID
- Venue
- Psychoneuroendocrinology
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2021-02
- Volume
- 124
- Pages
- 105098
- ISSN
- 0306-4530 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W3109404939
- Cited by
- 67
- References
- 12
- Citations by year
- 2026: 9 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 14 · 2022: 17 · 2021: 4
- FWCI
- 0.91
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Psychoneuroendocrinology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Treatment of Major Depression
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Keywords
- major depressive disorder, hair cortisol, chronic stress, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, stress and depression, first-episode depression, recurrent depression, anxiety comorbidity, endogenous depression, atypical depression, postpartum depression, cortisol measurement
- MeSH terms
- Anxiety Disorders, Depression, Major Depressive Disorder, Female, Hair, Humans, Hydrocortisone
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