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Ten‐year follow‐up study of cortisol levels in aging holocaust survivors with and without PTSD
Author(s) -
Yehuda Rachel,
Morris Adam,
Labinsky Ellen,
Zemelman Shelly,
Schmeidler James
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
journal of traumatic stress
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.259
H-Index - 134
eISSN - 1573-6598
pISSN - 0894-9867
DOI - 10.1002/jts.20228
Subject(s) - psychology , holocaust survivors , posttraumatic stress , clinical psychology , psychiatry , the holocaust , medicine , philosophy , theology
To investigate the longitudinal course of mean 24‐hour urinary cortisol excretion in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the authors evaluated 24‐hour cortisol excretion in 28 Holocaust survivors 10 years after obtaining an initial estimate. Cortisol levels increased in participants whose PTSD had remitted ( n = 3) but declined in participants who developed PTSD ( n = 3) or whose PTSD status did not change over time (PTSD+: n = 14, PTSD−: n = 8). Cortisol levels at Time 1 predicted diagnostic status change better than psychological variables, including exposure to traumatic events between assessments. The authors conclude that cortisol levels are affected by change in PTSD status and age.