Cited by 181Child Abuse and TraumaStress Responses and CortisolPosttraumatic Stress Disorder Research

Early sexual abuse and low cortisol

Open access
King, Jean A., Mandansky, Deborah, King, Susie, Fletcher, Kennethe E., Brewer, Judith·2001·Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences

Abstract

Abstract Post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health disorder precipitated by a stressful event that produces fear or terror in the individual. Post‐traumatic stress disorder studies, particularly in early sexual abuse, have been associated with neuroendocrine dysfunction, most notably the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis. Since the literature on PTSD and neuroendocrine factors in young subjects has been sparse, the present studies were designed to look at the basal functioning of the HPA axis in response to early sexual abuse in girls aged 5 to 7 years. Morning salivary samples were collected for cortisol determination from subjects and controls who were scheduled for a physical exam by their pediatrician. The present study shows that subjects who had been abused within the last couple of months had significantly lower cortisol in comparison to control subjects (age, social economic status and race matched). The data suggest that children may have an impaired HPA axis after early trauma.

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Crossref · 10.1046/j.1440-1819.2001.00787.x

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  1. [12]12. Puig-Antich J, Lukens E, Davies M, Goetz D, Brennan- Quattrock J, Todak G. Psychosocial functioning in pre- pubertal major depressive disorders. II. Interpersonal relationships after sustained recovery from affective episode. Arch. Gen. Psychiatry 1985; 42: 511-517.

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Authors
King, J. A., Mandansky, D., King, S., Fletcher, K. E., & Brewer, J.
Affiliations
University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School (US)
Corresponding author
King, Jean A.
Venue
Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2001-02
Volume
55
Issue
1
Pages
71-74
ISSN
  • 1323-1316 (ISSN-L)
  • 1440-1819
OpenAlex
W2049744963
Cited by
180
References
20
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 10 · 2012: 18
FWCI
8.48
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • eScholarship@UMassChan (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child Abuse and Trauma
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research
Keywords
post-traumatic stress disorder, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, cortisol, neuroendocrine dysfunction, children, salivary cortisol, trauma
MeSH terms
Child, Child Abuse, Sexual, Child, Preschool, Female, Humans, Hydrocortisone, Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic

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