Key result
Lower post-MI cortisol linked to greater PTSD symptom severity up to 12 months.
Why the study?
Although hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis alterations occur in PTSD, whether serum cortisol after myocardial infarction predicts subsequent PTSD symptoms had not been investigated.
Does serum cortisol measured during MI hospitalization predict PTSD symptoms at 3 and 12 months post-MI?
Cohort (n=106)
Does serum cortisol measured during MI hospitalization predict PTSD symptoms at 3 and 12 months post-MI?
Lower serum cortisol levels during acute MI hospitalization may predict the development of more severe PTSD symptoms up to one year later.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Lower post-MI cortisol was associated with more PTSD symptoms; hypothesis-generating and requires larger prospective confirmation.
Background After an acute myocardial infarction (MI2), patients may develop posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD3). There is evidence for alterations in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in PTSD. An association between patients` cortisol level after experiencing an MI and subsequent PTSD symptoms has not been investigated yet. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine whether serum cortisol measured in patients admitted to hospital for acute coronary care after MI is predictive of PTSD symptoms at three and 12 months post-MI, respectively. Methods Patients (N=106) with a verified MI and high risk for the development of MI-induced PTSD symptoms were included in the study within 48 hours of hospital admission for acute coronary intervention. Serum cortisol was measured from fasting venous blood samples the next morning. Hierarchical regression analysis was used to test for an independent contribution of cortisol levels from admission to the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale sum score three and 12 months after discharge from the coronary care unit. Results Hierarchical regression analysis showed that lower serum cortisol levels were significantly associated with more severe PTSD symptoms three months (B=-0.002, p=0.042) and 12 months (B=-0.002, p=0.043) post-MI. Limitations The generalizability of the findings is limited to patients with high acute peri-traumatic distress and without an acute severe depressive episode. The study does not provide any information about the diurnal cortisol pattern. Conclusion Lower serum cortisol measured during MI hospitalization may predict more severe MI-induced PTSD symptoms three and 12 months after hospital discharge.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Schaffter et al. (2021) conducted a cohort in Acute myocardial infarction with high risk for posttraumatic stress disorder (n=106). Fasting morning serum cortisol levels post-MI was evaluated on Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale sum score at 3 and 12 months post-MI (B=-0.002 at 3 and 12 months, p=0.042 at 3 months; 0.043 at 12 months). Lower serum cortisol post-MI was associated with more severe PTSD symptoms at 3 months and 12 months.
Synapse has enriched 10 related papers. Consider them for comparative context: