Decreased dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate levels in adolescents with post-traumatic stress
disorder after single sexual trauma
Sammanfattning
Background: Recent evidence shows that the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis can be
dysregulated in chronic sexual abuse victims with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). We
hypothesized that PTSD in adolescents exposed to a single sexual trauma may function as a chronic
stressor leading to HPA-axis dysregulation. Aims: The objective of this study was to assess
dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEA-S) and cortisol levels in female adolescents |with single
sexual trauma-related PTSD compared to healthy controls. Method: We assessed 20 female
adolescent (age 12-18) single sexual trauma victims with PTSD from the Ondokuz Mayis University
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry between December 2013 and December 2014. PTSD
symptoms were assessed using the Child Depression Inventory (CDI) and Child Posttraumatic Stress
Reaction Index (CPSRI). Blood cortisol and DHEA-S were measured in 20 female adolescent sexual
abuse victims with PTSD and 20 healthy adolescents after 12-h fasting using the chemiluminescence
method. Results: Compared to age-matched controls, female adolescent sexual abuse victims with
PTSD had significantly lower DHEA-S levels (U = 70.00, Z = - 3.517, p = 0.01, r = 0.55). There was
also a significant negative correlation between DHEA-S and CDI scores (Spearman r = - 0.522, p <
0.01). Conclusions: Decreased DHEA-S levels and correlation with depressive symptoms are
evidence for a dysregulated HPA-axis in female adolescent single sexual trauma victims with PTSD.
Further research is now recommended with large patient groups in order to maximize
generalizations.