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

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 20 of the 20 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

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

DOI 10.1046/j.1440-1819.2001.00787.x

Open this paper in CoChat — free account Open PDF

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.

The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.

Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1046/j.1440-1819.2001.00787.x

Cites

20 of 20 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Claims the paper makes

The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.

Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.

Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

The self-check needs the paper’s full text.

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
Raber, G., & Spokas, M. (2024) · doi:10.4135/9781071886229.n145 · Cited by 2,806
Child Psychopathology
Melmed, R. D. (1997) · Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics · doi:10.1097/00004703-199710000-00014 · Cited by 772
Dose-Response Changes in Plasma Cortisol and Lymphocyte Glucocorticoid Receptors Following Dexamethasone Administration in Combat Veterans With and Without Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Yehuda, R. (1995) · Archives of General Psychiatry · doi:10.1001/archpsyc.1995.03950190065010 · Cited by 449
Effect of previous trauma on acute plasma cortisol level following rape
(1995) · American Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.1176/ajp.152.11.1675 · Cited by 418
Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal dysfunction in posttraumatic stress disorder
Yehuda, R., Giller, E. L., Southwick, S. M., Lowy, M. T., & Mason, J. W. (1991) · Biological Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/0006-3223(91)90123-4 · Cited by 394
Enhanced Dexamethasone Suppression of Plasma Cortisol in Adult Women Traumatized by Childhood Sexual Abuse
Stein, M. B., Yehuda, R., Koverola, C., & Hanna, C. (1997) · Biological Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/s0006-3223(96)00489-1 · Cited by 345
Basal cortisol, dexamethasone suppression of cortisol, and MHPG in adolescents after the 1988 earthquake in Armenia
Goenjian, A. K., Yehuda, R., Pynoos, R. S., Steinberg, A. M., Tashjian, M., Yang, R., Najarian, L. M., & Fairbanks, L. A. (1996) · American Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.1176/ajp.153.7.929 · Cited by 310
Abused to abuser: antecedents of socially deviant behaviors
Burgess, A. W., Hartman, C. R., & McCormack, A. (1987) · American Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.1176/ajp.144.11.1431 · Cited by 241
The corticotropin-releasing hormone test in patients with posttraumatic stress disorder
Smith, M. A., Davidson, J. R. T., Ritchie, J., Kudler, H. S., Lipper, S., Chappell, P. B., & Nemeroff, C. B. (1989) · Biological Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/0006-3223(89)90050-4 · Cited by 234
Urinary Catecholamine Excretion in Sexually Abused Girls
DE BELLIS, M. D., LEFTER, L., TRICKETT, P. K., & PUTNAM, F. W. (1994) · Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry · doi:10.1097/00004583-199403000-00004 · Cited by 230

Show all 20 references

Research works printed but not linked: 2

10.1001/archpsyc.1985.01790280093010 · DOI
10.1002/jts.2490070413 · DOI

Sorted by citations

If it goes up, must it come down? Chronic stress and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis in humans.
Miller, G. E., Chen, E., & Zhou, E. S. (2007) · Psychological Bulletin · doi:10.1037/0033-2909.133.1.25 · Cited by 2,467
Ten-Year Research Update Review: Child Sexual Abuse
PUTNAM, F. W. (2003) · Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry · doi:10.1097/00004583-200303000-00006 · Cited by 1,488
“In contrast, King et al. (2001) found decreased morning cortisol in CSA compared with matched control girls.”
Result
Hair cortisol as a biological marker of chronic stress: Current status, future directions and unanswered questions
Russell, E., Koren, G., Rieder, M., & Van Uum, S. (2012) · Psychoneuroendocrinology · doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2011.09.009 · Cited by 1,063
“These findings are significant because this was the first time that hair cortisol analysis was used to investigate patients with PTSD, and the results stood in stark contrast to most other studies that have found PTSD to be frequently associated with hypocortisolism (Mason et al., 1986; Yehuda et al., 1996; King et al…”
Result
The Biological Effects of Childhood Trauma
De Bellis, M. D., & Zisk, A. (2014) · Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America · doi:10.1016/j.chc.2014.01.002 · Cited by 892
“…that the LHPA system is dysregulated in youth exposed to trauma, the cortisol regulation data seem contradictory, where baseline morning and 24-hour cortisol concentrations showed no differences [39, 40] , were higher [41-47] or in a few studies, lower[47-49] compared to youth without trauma.”
Intergenerational transmission of trauma effects: putative role of epigenetic mechanisms
Yehuda, R., & Lehrner, A. (2018) · World Psychiatry · doi:10.1002/wps.20568 · Cited by 730
Understanding interpersonal trauma in children: Why we need a developmentally appropriate trauma diagnosis.
D'Andrea, W., Ford, J., Stolbach, B., Spinazzola, J., & van der Kolk, B. A. (2012) · American Journal of Orthopsychiatry · doi:10.1111/j.1939-0025.2012.01154.x · Cited by 703
“Young children who experienced abuse had lower cortisol than their nonabused peers (King et al., 2001; Linares et al., 2008).”
Background
Child sexual abuse
JOHNSON, C. F. (2004) · The Lancet · doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(04)16771-8 · Cited by 696
Mindfulness for Teachers: A Pilot Study to Assess Effects on Stress, Burnout, and Teaching Efficacy
Flook, L., Goldberg, S. B., Pinger, L., Bonus, K., & Davidson, R. J. (2013) · Mind, Brain, and Education · doi:10.1111/mbe.12026 · Cited by 682
Intimate Partner Violence and Adverse Health Consequences: Implications for Clinicians
Black, M. C. (2011) · American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine · doi:10.1177/1559827611410265 · Cited by 500
Status of Glucocorticoid Alterations in Post‐traumatic Stress Disorder
Yehuda, R. (2009) · Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1111/j.1749-6632.2009.04979.x · Cited by 409
Attenuation of cortisol across development for victims of sexual abuse
Trickett, P. K., Noll, J. G., Susman, E. J., Shenk, C. E., & Putnam, F. W. (2010) · Development and Psychopathology · doi:10.1017/s0954579409990332 · Cited by 405
Child maltreatment and HPA axis dysregulation: relationship to major depressive disorder and post traumatic stress disorder in females
Shea, A., Walsh, C., MacMillan, H., & Steiner, M. (2005) · Psychoneuroendocrinology · doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2004.07.001 · Cited by 378
“Significantly elevated morning salivary cortisol levels were reported in a study of 10 girls aged 5–7 years who had experienced CSA in the previous 2 months, when compared to age-matched controls (King et al., 2001).”
Background
Current status on behavioral and biological markers of PTSD: A search for clarity in a conflicting literature
Zoladz, P. R., & Diamond, D. M. (2013) · Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews · doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2013.03.024 · Cited by 339
Diurnal salivary cortisol in pediatric posttraumatic stress disorder
Carrion, V. G., Weems, C. F., Ray, R. D., Glaser, B., Hessl, D., & Reiss, A. L. (2002) · Biological Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/s0006-3223(01)01310-5 · Cited by 330
“They found that girls with history of sexual abuse within the last 2 months had lower cortisol in comparison with control subjects (King et al 2001).”
Influence of light at night on murine anxiety- and depressive-like responses
Fonken, L. K., Finy, M. S., Walton, J. C., Weil, Z. M., Workman, J. L., Ross, J., & Nelson, R. J. (2009) · Behavioural Brain Research · doi:10.1016/j.bbr.2009.07.001 · Cited by 209
The co-occurrence of childhood sexual abuse, adult sexual assault, intimate partner violence, and sexual harassment: A mediational model of posttraumatic stress disorder and physical health outcomes
Campbell, R., Greeson, M. R., Bybee, D., & Raja, S. (2008) · Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1037/0022-006x.76.2.194 · Cited by 291
Gender differences in the prevalence of childhood sexual abuse and in the development of pediatric PTSD
Walker, J. L., Carey, P. D., Mohr, N. M., Stein, D. J., & Seedat, S. (2004) · Archives of Women s Mental Health · doi:10.1007/s00737-003-0039-z · Cited by 202
“In another study low salivary cortisol levels in girls who had been sexually abused within recent months were found (King et al., 2001).”
Background
Putative biological mechanisms for the association between early life adversity and the subsequent development of PTSD
Yehuda, R., Flory, J. D., Pratchett, L. C., Buxbaum, J. D., Ising, M., & Holsboer, F. (2010) · Psychopharmacology · doi:10.1007/s00213-010-1969-6 · Cited by 209
“King et al. (2001) reported lower cortisol levels among a sample of 5-to 7-year old girls who had been sexually abused in the few months prior to the study compared to same age controls who were not abused.”
Method
Child Maltreatment and Adolescent Development
Trickett, P. K., Negriff, S. L., Ji, J., & Peckins, M. K. (2011) · Journal of Research on Adolescence · doi:10.1111/j.1532-7795.2010.00711.x · Cited by 203
A critical review of the empirical literature on the relation between anxiety and puberty
Reardon, L. E., Leen-Feldner, E. W., & Hayward, C. (2009) · Clinical Psychology Review · doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2008.09.005 · Cited by 197
Changes in cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone in women victims of physical and psychological intimate partner violence
Pico-Alfonso, M. A., Garcia-Linares, M. I., Celda-Navarro, N., Herbert, J., & Martı́nez, M. (2004) · Biological Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2004.06.001 · Cited by 184
Impact of early adversity on glucocorticoid regulation and later mental disorders
Strüber, N., Strüber, D., & Roth, G. (2014) · Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews · doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2013.10.015 · Cited by 173
The traumatic stress response in child maltreatment and resultant neuropsychological effects
Wilson, K. R., Hansen, D. J., & Li, M. (2011) · Aggression and Violent Behavior · doi:10.1016/j.avb.2010.12.007 · Cited by 175
Circuits and systems in stress. II. Applications to neurobiology and treatment in posttraumatic stress disorder
Vermetten, E., & Bremner, J. D. (2002) · Depression and Anxiety · doi:10.1002/da.10017 · Cited by 210
“Children abused within the last couple of months had significantly lower cortisol in comparison to controls [King et al., 2001], a profile that matches findings in adults.”
BackgroundResult
The impact of maternal childhood abuse on maternal and infant HPA axis function in the postpartum period
Brand, S. R., Brennan, P. A., Newport, D. J., Smith, A. K., Weiss, T., & Stowe, Z. N. (2010) · Psychoneuroendocrinology · doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2009.10.009 · Cited by 170
“Lower baseline cortisol may have initially followed the childhood trauma (King et al., 2001), but may not have been sustained into adulthood, particularly if the mother eventually developed major depression, as all of the women in our sample eventually did.”
Childhood trauma and diurnal cortisol disruption in fibromyalgia syndrome
Weissbecker, I., Floyd, A., Dedert, E. A., Salmon, P. M., & Sephton, S. E. (2005) · Psychoneuroendocrinology · doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2005.08.009 · Cited by 171
“Hypocortisolemia has been noted in sexually abused girls (King et al., 2001).”
Background
The Psychobiology of Children Exposed to Marital Violence
Saltzman, K. M., Holden, G. W., & Holahan, C. J. (2005) · Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology · doi:10.1207/s15374424jccp3401_12 · Cited by 159
“For example, Carrion et al. (2002) and De Bellis et al. (1999) found elevated cortisol levels in traumatized children, whereas King, Mandansky, King, Fletcher, and Brewer (2001) documented cortisol hyposecretion.”
Background
Corticosterone controls the developmental emergence of fear and amygdala function to predator odors in infant rat pups
Moriceau, S., Roth, T. L., Okotoghaide, T., & Sullivan, R. M. (2004) · International Journal of Developmental Neuroscience · doi:10.1016/j.ijdevneu.2004.05.011 · Cited by 147
“Clinically, abused children show heightened fear and stress responses (Gunnar et al., 2001), although attenuated fear responses have also been documented (Gunnar, 2001; King et al., 2001).”
Background
Salivary Cortisol and Psychopathology in Children Bereaved by the September 11, 2001 Terror Attacks
Pfeffer, C. R., Altemus, M., Heo, M., & Jiang, H. (2007) · Biological Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2006.07.037 · Cited by 128
Developmental influences on stress response systems: Implications for psychopathology vulnerability in adolescence
Roberts, A. G., & Lopez‐Duran, N. L. (2018) · Comprehensive Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/j.comppsych.2018.10.008 · Cited by 144
Foundations of posttraumatic stress disorder: Does early life trauma lead to adult posttraumatic stress disorder?
Pratchett, L. C., & Yehuda, R. (2011) · Development and Psychopathology · doi:10.1017/s0954579411000186 · Cited by 142
Cortisol metabolic predictors of response to psychotherapy for symptoms of PTSD in survivors of the World Trade Center attacks on September 11, 2001
Yehuda, R., Bierer, L. M., Sarapas, C., Makotkine, I., Andrew, R., & Seckl, J. R. (2009) · Psychoneuroendocrinology · doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2009.03.018 · Cited by 121
“, 1995; 2007a), victims of chronic child abuse or domestic violence (King et al., 2001; Griffin et al., 2005; Bremner et al., 2007), but are more variable in association with single-incident civilian traumatization (Yehuda, 2006).”
Background
A New Look at the Neural Diathesis Stress Model of Schizophrenia: The Primacy of Social-Evaluative and Uncontrollable Situations
Jones, S. R., & Fernyhough, C. (2006) · Schizophrenia Bulletin · doi:10.1093/schbul/sbl058 · Cited by 124
“In terms of HPA-axis reactivity, evidence for reduced hippocampal and pituitary volumes in patients,(21,22) which is probably ‘‘a consequence of repeated episodes of HPA-axis hyperactivity,’’ is consistent with evidence of a blunted cortisol response to stressors in medicated patients, which one would expect after HPA…”
Synaptic regulation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis and its modulation by glucocorticoids and stress
Levy, B. H., & Tasker, J. G. (2012) · Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fncel.2012.00024 · Cited by 153
“Sexually abused girls (ages 5–7 years) have exhibited reduced salivary glucocorticoid levels within months following an abusive incident (King et al., 2001).”
Background
Neuroendocrine Aspects of PTSD
Yehuda, R. (2005) · Handbook of experimental pharmacology · doi:10.1007/3-540-28082-0_13 · Cited by 117
Physical and sexual abuse, salivary cortisol, and neurologic correlates of violent criminal behavior in female prison inmates
Brewer‐Smyth, K., Burgess, A. W., & Justine Shults, A. (2003) · Biological Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/s0006-3223(03)00705-4 · Cited by 124
The Long-Term Impact of Early Adversity on Late-Life Psychiatric Disorders
Gershon, A., Sudheimer, K. D., Tirouvanziam, R. M., Williams, L. M., & O'Hara, R. M. (2013) · Current Psychiatry Reports · doi:10.1007/s11920-013-0352-9 · Cited by 118
Stress reactivity in war-exposed young children with and without posttraumatic stress disorder: Relations to maternal stress hormones, parenting, and child emotionality and regulation
Feldman, R., Vengrober, A., Eidelman-Rothman, M., & Zagoory‐Sharon, O. (2013) · Development and Psychopathology · doi:10.1017/s0954579413000291 · Cited by 109
Does Childhood Sexual Abuse Set in Motion a Cycle of Violence Against Women?
Noll, J. G. (2005) · Journal of Interpersonal Violence · doi:10.1177/0886260504267756 · Cited by 102
Ethnic differences in adrenocorticotropic hormone, cortisol and corticotropin-releasing hormone during pregnancy
Glynn, L. M., Schetter, C. D., Chicz-DeMet, A., Hobel, C. J., & Sandman, C. A. (2007) · Peptides · doi:10.1016/j.peptides.2007.04.005 · Cited by 99
“Combat veterans, victims of sexual abuse, holocaust survivors and those who suffer from PTSD, among others, exhibit hypocortisolemia [2,10,13,35,36].”
Background
A preliminary study of cortisol and norepinephrine reactivity to psychosocial stress in borderline personality disorder with high and low dissociation
Simeon, D., Knutelska, M., Smith, L. M., Baker, B. R., & Hollander, E. (2006) · Psychiatry Research · doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2005.11.014 · Cited by 100
Stress reactivity in maltreated and comparison male and female young adolescents
Trickett, P. K., Gordis, E., Peckins, M. K., & Susman, E. J. (2014) · Child Maltreatment · doi:10.1177/1077559513520466 · Cited by 98
Predicting PTSD Prospectively Based on Prior Trauma History and Immediate Biological Responses
Delahanty, D. L., & Nugent, N. R. (2006) · Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1196/annals.1364.003 · Cited by 104
A biopsychosocial perspective on parenting and developmental psychopathology
Calkins, S. D., Propper, C. B., & Mills-Koonce, R. (2013) · Development and Psychopathology · doi:10.1017/s0954579413000680 · Cited by 105
Epigenetic Risk Factors in PTSD and Depression
Raabe, F. J., & Spengler, D. (2013) · Frontiers in Psychiatry · doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2013.00080 · Cited by 100
Pharmacologic treatment approaches for children and adolescents with posttraumatic stress disorder
Donnelly, C. L. (2003) · Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America · doi:10.1016/s1056-4993(02)00102-5 · Cited by 94
“King et al [31] demonstrated that girls aged 5 to 7 years who were exposed to recent sexual abuse exhibited significantly lower salivary cortisol levels than agematched controls.”
Background
Self-rated Health in Relation to Rape and Mental Health Disorders in a National Sample of College Women
Zinzow, H. M., Amstadter, A. B., McCauley, J. L., Ruggiero, K. J., Resnick, H. S., & Kilpatrick, D. G. (2011) · Journal of American College Health · doi:10.1080/07448481.2010.520175 · Cited by 94
“46 , 47 HPA disruption can lead to chronic inflammatory disorders, chronic pain syndromes, and a variety of somatic symptoms.”
Background
The Influence of Stress on the Menstrual Cycle among Newly Incarcerated Women
Allsworth, J. E., Clarke, J. G., Peipert, J. F., Hebert, M. R., Cooper, A. S., & Boardman, L. A. (2007) · Women s Health Issues · doi:10.1016/j.whi.2007.02.002 · Cited by 93
Early parental loss and salivary cortisol in young adulthood: The moderating role of family environment
Luecken, L. J., & Appelhans, B. M. (2006) · Development and Psychopathology · doi:10.1017/s0954579406060160 · Cited by 89
Experiential avoidance and the relationship between child maltreatment and PTSD symptoms: Preliminary evidence
Shenk, C. E., Putnam, F. W., & Noll, J. G. (2012) · Child Abuse & Neglect · doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2011.09.012 · Cited by 97
The Diurnal Cortisol Cycle in Delinquent Male Adolescents and Normal Controls
Popma, A., Doreleijers, T. A. H., Jansen, L. M. C., Van Goozen, S. H. M., Van Engeland, H., & Vermeiren, R. (2007) · Neuropsychopharmacology · doi:10.1038/sj.npp.1301289 · Cited by 85
A prospective examination of the role of childhood sexual abuse and physiological asymmetry in the development of psychopathology
Shenk, C. E., Noll, J. G., Putnam, F. W., & Trickett, P. K. (2010) · Child Abuse & Neglect · doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2010.02.010 · Cited by 83
Association of childhood adversities with the first onset of mental disorders in Japan: Results from the World Mental Health Japan, 2002–2004
Fujiwara, T., & Kawakami, N. (2010) · Journal of Psychiatric Research · doi:10.1016/j.jpsychires.2010.08.002 · Cited by 80
“Previous studies have shown that the experience of maltreatment during childhood increased the level of cortisol if the experience was recent; however, there was no difference in the cortisol level if the experience was not recent (De Bellis et al., 1994; Kaufman et al., 1997; King et al., 2001).”
Background
Mood and Hormone Responses to Psychological Challenge in Adolescent Males with Conduct Problems
McBurnett, K., Raine, A., Stouthamer‐Loeber, M., Loeber, R., Kumar, A. M., Kumar, M., & Lahey, B. B. (2005) · Biological Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2005.01.041 · Cited by 78
The Longitudinal Impact of Exposure to Violence on Cortisol Reactivity in Adolescents
Peckins, M. K., Dockray, S., Eckenrode, J. L., Heaton, J., & Susman, E. J. (2012) · Journal of Adolescent Health · doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2012.01.005 · Cited by 76
Intimate Male Partner Violence Impairs Immune Control Over Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 in Physically and Psychologically Abused Women
Garcia-Linares, M. I., Sánchez-Lorente, S., Coe, C. L., & Martı́nez, M. (2004) · Psychosomatic Medicine · doi:10.1097/01.psy.0000145820.90041.c0 · Cited by 74
Differential Relationships Between Personal and Community Stressors and Children’s Neurocognitive Functioning
Fishbein, D. H., Warner, T. D., Krebs, C., Trevarthen, N., Flannery, B., & Hammond, J. A. (2008) · Child Maltreatment · doi:10.1177/1077559508326355 · Cited by 79
Differential pathways to preterm delivery for sexually abused and comparison women
Noll, J. G., Schulkin, J., Trickett, P. K., Susman, E. J., Breech, L., & Putnam, F. W. (2007) · Journal of Pediatric Psychology · doi:10.1093/jpepsy/jsm046 · Cited by 71
“…finding may be indicative of the fact that in our data (Table I), and in several studies of adults retrospectively reporting childhood abuse (Heim et al., 2001; King et al., 2001), basal cortisol concentrations are consistent with various degrees of HPA axis attenuation (cortisol hyposecretion).”
Salivary cortisol levels and infant temperament shape developmental trajectories in boys at risk for behavioral maladjustment
Pérez‐Edgar, K. E., Schmidt, L. A., Henderson, H. A., Schulkin, J. A., & Fox, N. A. (2008) · Psychoneuroendocrinology · doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2008.03.018 · Cited by 75
“Third, assessing cortisol in both early childhood and infancy may be of particular importance when considering long term adjustment given that stress early in life, such as maltreatment and abuse in the extreme, may alter the set point for the stress response well into adulthood (Heim et al., 2001; King et al., 2001).”
HPA and SAM axis responses as correlates of self- vs parental ratings of anxiety in boys with an Autistic Disorder
Bitsika, V., Sharpley, C. F., Sweeney, J. A., & McFarlane, J. R. (2014) · Physiology & Behavior · doi:10.1016/j.physbeh.2013.12.011 · Cited by 72
Childhood psychosocial adversity and adult cortisol patterns
Power, C., Thomas, C., Li, L., & Hertzman, C. (2012) · The British Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.1192/bjp.bp.111.096032 · Cited by 68
Salivary cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate in adolescent rape victims with post traumatic stress disorder
Bicanic, I., Postma, R. M., Sinnema, G., de Roos, C., Olff, M., van Wesel, F., & van de Putte, E. M. (2012) · Psychoneuroendocrinology · doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2012.06.015 · Cited by 67
“, 1999), decreased cortisol levels (King et al., 2001), as well as similar levels (Kaufman et al.”
Background
Psychological and stress hormone correlates in early life: A key to HPA-axis dysregulation and normalisation
Turner‐Cobb, J. M. (2005) · Stress · doi:10.1080/10253890500095200 · Cited by 65
“(2001) in girls aged 5–7 years old who had experienced sexual abuse in the previous 2 months, lower morning cortisol levels were found compared to controls under experimental conditions (King et al. 2001).”
Background
Immediate impact of child maltreatment on mental, developmental, and physical health trajectories
Winter, S., Dittrich, K., Dörr, P., Overfeld, J., Moebus, I., Murray, E., Karaboycheva, G., Zimmermann, C., Knop, A. J. J., Voelkle, M. C., et al. (2022) · Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry · doi:10.1111/jcpp.13550 · Cited by 80
Sex, gender, and irritable bowel syndrome: making the connections
Payne, S. (2004) · Gender Medicine · doi:10.1016/s1550-8579(04)80007-x · Cited by 62
A longitudinal study of several potential mediators of the relationship between child maltreatment and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms
Shenk, C. E., Putnam, F. W., Rausch, J. R., Peugh, J. L., & Noll, J. G. (2014) · Development and Psychopathology · doi:10.1017/s0954579413000916 · Cited by 62
Maternal Disrupted Communication During Face‐to‐Face Interaction at 4 months: Relation to Maternal and Infant Cortisol Among at‐Risk Families
Crockett, E. E., Holmes, B., Granger, D. A., & Lyons‐Ruth, K. (2013) · Infancy · doi:10.1111/infa.12015 · Cited by 63
“The experience of trauma is also associated with later lower cortisol levels (Heim et al., 1998; King et al., 2001; Yehuda et al., 2000, 2001).”
Background
Psychobiological dysregulation in violence-exposed mothers: Salivary cortisol of mothers with very young children pre- and post-separation stress
Schechter, D. S., Zeanah, C. H., Myers, M. M., Brunelli, S. A., Liebowitz, M. R., Marshall, R. D., Coates, S. W., Trabka, K. A., Baca, P., & Hofer, M. A. (2004) · Bulletin of the Menninger Clinic · doi:10.1521/bumc.68.4.319.56642 · Cited by 64
“These maternal data support findings from multiple studies of adults exposed to childhood maltreatment (Heim & Nemeroff, 2001; Heim et al., 1998; King et al., 2001) who develop lifetime PTSD.”
Result
Stress and immune biomarkers interact with parenting behavior to shape anxiety symptoms in trauma-exposed youth
Yirmiya, K., Djalovski, A., Motsan, S., Zagoory‐Sharon, O., & Feldman, R. (2018) · Psychoneuroendocrinology · doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2018.08.016 · Cited by 61
Increased adrenocorticotropin suppression following dexamethasone administration in sexually abused adolescents with posttraumatic stress disorder
Duval, F., Crocq, M.-A., Guillon, M.-S., Mokrani, M.-C., Monreal, J. A., Bailey, P., & Macher, J.-P. (2004) · Psychoneuroendocrinology · doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2004.03.006 · Cited by 62
The role of trauma in the hormonal interplay of cortisol, testosterone, and oxytocin in adolescent aggression
Fragkaki, I., Cima, M., & Granic, I. (2017) · Psychoneuroendocrinology · doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2017.11.005 · Cited by 54
Childhood Sexual Abuse, HPA Axis Regulation, and Mental Health
Hulme, P. A. (2010) · Western Journal of Nursing Research · doi:10.1177/0193945910388949 · Cited by 54
The neurophysiological embedding of child maltreatment
Holochwost, S. J., Wang, G., Kołacz, J., Mills-Koonce, R., Klika, J. B., & Jaffee, S. R. (2020) · Development and Psychopathology · doi:10.1017/s0954579420000383 · Cited by 66
“King et al. (2001) Abuse (sexual) Childhood Parent-report and public records 5–7 years Abused girls (10), matched controls (10) N/A HPA axis Salivary cortisol samples were collected between 9 and 11 a.m. prior to doctors’ visits.”
BackgroundMethod
Early-Life Adversity and Dysregulation of Adult Diurnal Cortisol Rhythm
Karlamangla, A. S., Merkin, S. S., Almeida, D. M., Friedman, E. M., Mogle, J. A., & Seeman, T. E. (2018) · The Journals of Gerontology Series B · doi:10.1093/geronb/gby097 · Cited by 45
Breastfeeding in Women Having Experienced Childhood Sexual Abuse
Elfgen, C., Hagenbuch, N., Görres, G., Block, E., & Leeners, B. (2017) · Journal of Human Lactation · doi:10.1177/0890334416680789 · Cited by 58
Psychophysiological characteristics of PTSD in children and adolescents: A review of the literature
Kirsch, V., Wilhelm, F. H., & Goldbeck, L. (2011) · Journal of Traumatic Stress · doi:10.1002/jts.20620 · Cited by 46
Hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal axis daily fluctuation, anxiety and age interact to predict cortisol concentrations in boys with an autism spectrum disorder
Bitsika, V., Sharpley, C. F., Andronicos, N. M., & Agnew, L. L. (2014) · Physiology & Behavior · doi:10.1016/j.physbeh.2014.11.010 · Cited by 41
“The finding of hypocortisolism among the most anxious boys with an ASD [37] is similar to that previously reported in childrenwhohave been exposed to chronic severe social and interactional stress [57,58] and who are sometimes described as similar to people who are suffering from PTSD [59].”
Result
Prolonged psychological stress suppresses cortisol secretion
Žarković, M., Stefanova, E. D., Ćirić, J., Penezić, Z., Kostić, V., Šumarac‐Dumanović, M., Μacut, D., Ivović, M., & Gligorovic, P. V. (2003) · Clinical Endocrinology · doi:10.1046/j.1365-2265.2003.01925.x · Cited by 40
Dehydroepiandrosterone and cortisol as markers of HPA axis dysregulation in women with low sexual desire
Basson, R. J., O’Loughlin, J. I., Weinberg, J., Young, A. H., Bodnar, T. S., & Brotto, L. A. (2019) · Psychoneuroendocrinology · doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2019.03.001 · Cited by 40
“For example, low basal cortisol levels have been reported in children following early life stress/trauma including sexual abuse (King et al., 2001), and maltreatment or bullying (Ouellet-Morin et al.”
Background
Linking Childhood Maltreatment With Girls' Internalizing Symptoms: Early Puberty as a Tipping Point
Mendle, J., Leve, L. D., Ryzin, M. J. V., & Natsuaki, M. N. (2013) · Journal of Research on Adolescence · doi:10.1111/jora.12075 · Cited by 44
Relações entre abuso sexual na infância, transtorno de estresse pós-traumático (TEPT) e prejuízos cognitivos
Borges, J. L., & Dell’Aglio, D. D. (2008) · Psicologia em Estudo · doi:10.1590/s1413-73722008000200020 · Cited by 59
Pharmacological modulation of acute trauma memories to prevent PTSD: considerations from a developmental perspective
Hruska, B., Cullen, P. K., & Delahanty, D. L. (2014) · Neurobiology of Learning and Memory · doi:10.1016/j.nlm.2014.02.001 · Cited by 38
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Carrión, V. G., & Kletter, H. (2012) · Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America · doi:10.1016/j.chc.2012.05.004 · Cited by 38
Sexual violence among two populations of men at high risk of HIV infection
Braitstein, P. K. A., Asselin, J. J., Schilder, A. J., Miller, M.-L., Laliberté, N., Schechter, M. T., & Hogg, R. S. (2006) · AIDS Care · doi:10.1080/13548500500294385 · Cited by 37
Acute child and mother psychophysiological responses and subsequent PTSD symptoms following a child's traumatic event
Ostrowski, S. A., Christopher, N. C., van Dulmen, M. H. M., & Delahanty, D. L. (2007) · Journal of Traumatic Stress · doi:10.1002/jts.20286 · Cited by 39
Does adverse family environment or sex matter in the salivary cortisol responses to anticipatory stress?
Hardie, T., Moss, H. B., Vanyukov, M. M., Yao, J. K., & Kirillovac, G. P. (2002) · Psychiatry Research · doi:10.1016/s0165-1781(02)00182-8 · Cited by 36
“Similarly, prepubertal girls who were sexually abused had lower basal cortisol levels when compared to their peers (King et al., 2001).”
Background
Longitudinal study of the inception of perimenopause in relation to lifetime history of sexual or physical violence
Allsworth, J. E., Zierler, S., Lapane, K. L., Krieger, N., Hogan, J. W., & Harlow, B. L. (2004) · Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health · doi:10.1136/jech.2003.017160 · Cited by 32
Revisión sistemática de las consecuencias neurobiológicas del abuso sexual infantil
Pereda, N., & Gallardo‐Pujol, D. (2011) · Gaceta Sanitaria · doi:10.1016/j.gaceta.2010.12.004 · Cited by 40
What’s in a singer’s voice: The effect of attachment, emotions and trauma
Monti, E., Kidd, D. C., Carroll, L. M., & Castano, E. (2016) · Logopedics Phoniatrics Vocology · doi:10.3109/14015439.2016.1166394 · Cited by 23
How Does Childhood Trauma Impact Women’s Sexual Desire? Role of Depression, Stress, and Cortisol
O’Loughlin, J. I., Rellini, A. H., & Brotto, L. A. (2019) · The Journal of Sex Research · doi:10.1080/00224499.2019.1693490 · Cited by 28
Physiological stress responses predict sexual functioning and satisfaction differently in women who have and have not been sexually abused in childhood.
Meston, C. M., & Lorenz, T. K. (2012) · Psychological Trauma Theory Research Practice and Policy · doi:10.1037/a0027706 · Cited by 26
The Levels of Cortisol, Oxidative Stress, and DNA Damage in the Victims of Childhood Sexual Abuse: A Preliminary Study
Şimşek, Ş., Kaplan, İ., Uysal, C., Yüksel, T., & Alaca, R. (2016) · Journal of Child Sexual Abuse · doi:10.1080/10538712.2016.1123790 · Cited by 23
The impact of childhood sexual abuse on activation of immunological and neuroendocrine response
Nunes, S. O. V., Watanabe, M. A. E., Morimoto, H. K., Moriya, R. M., & Reiche, E. M. V. (2010) · Aggression and Violent Behavior · doi:10.1016/j.avb.2010.07.006 · Cited by 24
“Other research has shown hypocortilosemia in girls aged 5–7 years who had been sexually abused had significantly lower morning salivary cortisol in comparison to control subjects (King et al., 2001).”
Women's Sexual Desire, Trauma Exposure, and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
O’Loughlin, J. I., & Brotto, L. A. (2020) · Journal of Traumatic Stress · doi:10.1002/jts.22485 · Cited by 25
Differences in HPA axis reactivity to intimacy in women with and without histories of sexual trauma
Martinson, A. A., Craner, J. R., & Sigmon, S. T. (2015) · Psychoneuroendocrinology · doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2015.12.025 · Cited by 23
“…a number of studies showing exaggerated HPA axis and sympathetic nervous system (SNS) responses (e.g., De Bellis et al., 1999), and other studies showing blunted cortisol responses (e.g., King et al., 2001; Yehuda, 2004; Bremner et al., 2007; De Bellis et al., 2011; Bremner and Vaccarino, 2015).”
Background
Thyroid hormone levels and psychological symptoms in sexually abused adolescent girls
Haviland, M. G., Sonne, J. L., Anderson, D. L., Nelson, J. C., Sheridan-Matney, C., Nichols, J. G., Carlton, E. I., & Murdoch, W. G. C. (2006) · Child Abuse & Neglect · doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2005.11.011 · Cited by 21
Analyzing pathways from childhood maltreatment to internalizing symptoms and disorders in children and adolescents (AMIS): a study protocol
White, L. O., Klein, A. M., Kirschbaum, C., Kurz-Adam, M., Uhr, M., Müller‐Myhsok, B., Hoffmann, K., Sierau, S., Michel, A., Stalder, T., et al. (2015) · BMC Psychiatry · doi:10.1186/s12888-015-0512-z · Cited by 22
“For example, whereas elevated cortisol concentrations were found in 24-h urinary as well as in morning salivary samples of maltreated children [69, 84], maltreated children also have also been found to exhibit attenuated morning salivary cortisol concentrations [83].”
Background
Developmental Antecedents of the Facets of Psychopathy: The Role of Multiple Abuse Experiences
Krstic, S., Knight, R. A., & Robertson, C. A. (2015) · Journal of Personality Disorders · doi:10.1521/pedi_2015_29_223 · Cited by 24
Amygdala, Medial Prefrontal Cortex and Glucocorticoid Interactions Produce Stress-Like Effects on Memory
Kim, E. J., & Kim, J. J. (2019) · Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnbeh.2019.00210 · Cited by 21
Diurnal cortisol levels, psychiatric symptoms and sense of coherence in abused adolescents
Gustafsson, P. E., Nelson, N., & Gustafsson, P. A. (2010) · Nordic Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.3109/08039480903265314 · Cited by 22

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.
ORCID: 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
DOI: 10.1046/j.1440-1819.2001.00787.x
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: bronze
doi.org
Licence: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor, 2713 d)
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

About these checks

Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.

Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.

Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.

What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›

Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review

Early sexual abuse and low cortisol

Abstract

Overview

Integrity signals

Verification

Claims the paper makes

Self-check

Citations

Cites

Cited by

Related

Metadata

Record

About these checks