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Short circuit: Disaggregation of adrenocorticotropic hormone and cortisol levels in HIV‐positive, methamphetamine‐using men who have sex with men
Author(s) -
Carrico Adam W.,
Rodriguez Violeta J.,
Jones Deborah L.,
Kumar Mahendra
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
human psychopharmacology: clinical and experimental
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.461
H-Index - 78
eISSN - 1099-1077
pISSN - 0885-6222
DOI - 10.1002/hup.2645
Subject(s) - meth , methamphetamine , adrenocorticotropic hormone , insulin resistance , medicine , hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis , polysubstance dependence , psychology , hormone , endocrinology , insulin , psychiatry , substance abuse , chemistry , polymer , monomer , organic chemistry , acrylate
Objective This study examined if methamphetamine use alone (METH + HIV−) and methamphetamine use in combination with HIV (METH + HIV+) were associated with hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenal (HPA) axis dysregulation as well as insulin resistance relative to a nonmethamphetamine‐using, HIV‐negative comparison group (METH‐HIV−). Methods Using an intact groups design, serum levels of HPA axis hormones in 46 METH + HIV− and 127 METH + HIV+ men who have sex with men (MSM) were compared to 136 METH‐HIV− men. Results There were no group differences in prevailing adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) or cortisol levels, but the association between ACTH and cortisol was moderated by METH + HIV+ group (β = −0.19, p < .05). Compared to METH‐HIV− men, METH + HIV+ MSM displayed 10% higher log 10 cortisol levels per standard deviation lower ACTH. Both groups of methamphetamine‐using MSM had lower insulin resistance and greater syndemic burden (i.e., sleep disturbance, severe depression, childhood trauma, and polysubstance use disorder) compared to METH‐HIV− men. However, the disaggregated functional relationship between ACTH and cortisol in METH + HIV+ MSM was independent of these factors. Conclusions Further research is needed to characterize the bio‐behavioral pathways that explain dysregulated HPA axis functioning in HIV‐positive, methamphetamine‐using MSM.