Psychosocial factors associated with indices of cortisol production in women with breast cancer and controls

The present study was designed to (i) explore which psychosocial factors were associated with indices representing the early morning peak, diurnal cortisol rhythm and area under the curve (AUC); (ii) examine whether the relationships between psychosocial functioning and these cortisol indices were c...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Psychoneuroendocrinology 2006-04, Vol.31 (3), p.299-311
Main Authors: Vedhara, Kavita, stra, Jolanda Tuin, Miles, Jeremy N.V., Sanderman, Robbert, Ranchor, Adelita V.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adaptation, Psychological
Adult
Area Under Curve
Area under the curve (AUC)
Behavioral psychophysiology
Biological and medical sciences
Breast cancer
Breast Neoplasms - complications
Breast Neoplasms - metabolism
Breast Neoplasms - psychology
Circadian Rhythm - physiology
Cortisol
Distress
Diurnal rhythm
Early morning peak
Female
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Hormones and behavior
Humans
Hydrocortisone - biosynthesis
Matched-Pair Analysis
Middle Aged
Neuroticism
Periodicity
Personality traits
Personality. Affectivity
Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychology. Psychophysiology
Reference Values
Saliva - metabolism
Social Support
Statistics, Nonparametric
Stress, Psychological - etiology
Stress, Psychological - metabolism
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Summary:The present study was designed to (i) explore which psychosocial factors were associated with indices representing the early morning peak, diurnal cortisol rhythm and area under the curve (AUC); (ii) examine whether the relationships between psychosocial functioning and these cortisol indices were consistent and (iii) explore whether these relationships were influenced by the clinical status of the participant. Newly diagnosed breast cancer patients ( n=85) and healthy control women ( n=59) were recruited. State and trait measures of psychosocial functioning (i.e. anxiety, depression, distress, neuroticism, extraversion, marital satisfaction and mastery) were undertaken. In addition, all participants provided four saliva samples (on waking, 30 min later, between 11 and 1 p.m., before lunch and between 8 and 10 p.m., at least 2 h after evening meal) over two consecutive days to assess cortisol levels. The results highlighted the divergent nature of the four cortisol indices; revealed the presence of some significant relationships between the psychosocial measures and the cortisol indices; but highlighted inconsistencies in the relationships evident for patients and those observed for control women.
ISSN:0306-4530
1873-3360
DOI:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2005.08.006