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Open Access 01-12-2020 | Anxiety | Research article

Cortisol and DHEA-S levels in pregnant women with severe anxiety

Authors: Philippe Leff-Gelman, Mónica Flores-Ramos, Ariela Edith Ávila Carrasco, Margarita López Martínez, María Fernanda Sarabia Takashima, Fausto Manuel Cruz Coronel, Blanca Farfán Labonne, José Antonio Zorrilla Dosal, Paola Barriguete Chávez-Peón, Saul Garza Morales, Ignacio Camacho-Arroyo

Published in: BMC Psychiatry | Issue 1/2020

Abstract

Background

A complex interaction between cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone-sulphate (DHEA-S) is crucial in the stress system balance; several studies have reported increased cortisol levels during chronic stress and a weak counter-regulation by DHEA-S. During pregnancy, scarce information about this system is available, although cortisol and DHEA-S play an important role in the initiation and acceleration of labor. We conducted the present study in order to determine both cortisol and DHEA-S levels during the last trimester of pregnancy in patients exhibiting severe anxiety.

Methods

Pregnant women during the 3rd trimester of pregnancy were evaluated by using the self-reported version of the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HARS). According to the scores obtained from the psychometric scale, participants were divided into two groups: 1) patients exhibiting a cutoff score > 15 were considered with severe anxiety (ANX) (n = 101), and control pregnant subjects (CTRL) (n = 44) with a cutoff score < 5. Morning cortisol, DHEA-S and Cortisol/DHEA-S index were measured in all participants. Comparisons between groups were performed; additionally, correlations between clinical variables, biochemical data and HARS were calculated.

Results

Cortisol levels were significantly higher in the ANX group (p < 0.001), whereas those of DHEA-S were significantly lower in the same group (p < 0.01) when compared to healthy pregnant subjects. An increased cortisol/DHEA-S index was observed in the ANX group (p < 0.05). A significant association between cortisol and HARS scores (p = 0.03), was observed even after adjusting by gestational weeks (p = 0.004).

Conclusions

Our data support that the cortisol/DHEA-S index is higher in pregnant women with high anxiety levels as compared with healthy pregnant women.

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Title: Cortisol and DHEA-S levels in pregnant women with severe anxiety
Authors: Philippe Leff-Gelman
Mónica Flores-Ramos
Ariela Edith Ávila Carrasco
Margarita López Martínez
María Fernanda Sarabia Takashima
Fausto Manuel Cruz Coronel
Blanca Farfán Labonne
José Antonio Zorrilla Dosal
Paola Barriguete Chávez-Peón
Saul Garza Morales
Ignacio Camacho-Arroyo
Publication date: 01-12-2020
Publisher: BioMed Central
Keyword: Anxiety
Published in: BMC Psychiatry / Issue 1/2020
Electronic ISSN: 1471-244X
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-020-02788-6

2024 ASCO Annual Meeting

Springer Medicine

Cortisol and DHEA-S levels in pregnant women with severe anxiety

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

2024 ASCO Annual Meeting

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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