Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 6, 2026
08:38
Extraction and Analysis of Cortisol from Human and Monkey Hair
Published on: January 24, 2014
Hair cortisol as psychotherapy process parameter - an inpatient pediatric psychosomatic study
Tim Botschek1, Anna Röhlich2, Burkhard Brosig1
1Family Psychosomatics, Department of Pediatrics and Neonatology, Justus-Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany.
Frontiers in Psychiatry
|July 22, 2026
Summary
Inpatient pediatric psychosomatic therapy effectively treats mental health conditions in children and adolescents, showing lasting improvements in psychological well-being and stress regulation. This study confirms the therapy's efficacy using both psychological and biological markers.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry and Psychology
- Pediatrics
- Neuroendocrinology
Background:
- Pediatric psychosomatic inpatient therapy is crucial for treating child and adolescent mental disorders in Germany.
- Empirical research in this area is limited, focusing primarily on psychological factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy and sustainability of inpatient psychosomatic therapy for children and adolescents.
- To examine both psychological outcomes and biological markers (hair cortisol concentration) of long-term stress.
Main Methods:
- A longitudinal, naturalistic study involving 58 patients assessed at seven time points.
- Measured hair cortisol concentration (HCC) as a marker of long-term stress.
- Collected psychometric data using five validated questionnaires.
Main Results:
- Significant improvements were observed in perceived stress, depressive and anxiety symptoms, family functioning, and internalizing symptoms during treatment.
- These improvements remained stable at 3- and 6-month follow-ups.
- Hair cortisol concentration (HCC) significantly decreased from admission to discharge and remained stable post-treatment.
Conclusions:
- Inpatient pediatric psychosomatic interventions are effective for improving psychological outcomes and neuroendocrine stress regulation.
- Integrating biological markers like HCC enhances the understanding and evaluation of psychotherapy effectiveness.
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