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Published on: October 10, 2012
Alterations in morning cortisol associated with PTSD in women with breast cancer
Linda J Luecken1, Barbara Dausch, Vanessa Gulla
1Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA. linda.luecken@asu.edu
Objective:
Diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer can be a stressful experience, putting women at risk of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The current study investigated morning cortisol levels in newly diagnosed (i.e., within 6 months) breast cancer patients.
Methods:
Structured DSM-IV interviews determined current and past incidence of PTSD and major depressive disorder (MDD) in 71 women with Stage 0-3 breast cancer.
Results:
Significantly decreased plasma cortisol was found in women meeting current or lifetime criteria for PTSD or past diagnosis of MDD.
Conclusions:
These results reinforce the importance for both psychological and physiological outcomes of a clinical evaluation of both current and past psychiatric status in newly diagnosed cancer patients.
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