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Updated: Jul 6, 2026

Biomarkers in an Animal Model for Revealing Neural, Hematologic, and Behavioral Correlates of PTSD
Published on: October 10, 2012
Blunted ACTH response to dexamethasone suppression-CRH stimulation in posttraumatic stress disorder
Andreas Ströhle1, Michael Scheel, Sieglinde Modell
1Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany. andreas.stroehle@charite.de
Abstract:
Previous studies have suggested that patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have an enhanced negative feedback sensitivity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) system and a blunted ACTH response to corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH). The effects of two dexamethasone dosages (0.75 and 1.5 mg) on the ACTH and cortisol concentrations after CRH stimulation (100 microg) were studied in eight patients with PTSD and matched healthy control subjects. Compared to healthy subjects, patients with PTSD have a blunted ACTH response to CRH. Cortisol concentrations were only significantly influenced by dexamethasone dosage. Our results give further evidence for a central role of the pituitary in reflecting changes of the negative feedback sensitivity of the HPA system in patients with PTSD.
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