Elevated fingernail cortisol levels in major depressive episodes.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

The extent to which cortisol levels are elevated in major depressive episodes (MDE), and hence could act as a biomarker of illness, remains unclear. Although patient characteristics may explain some of this variation - for example elevated cortisol being more often found in patients with severe, psychotic or melancholic depression - problems with the methods used to measure cortisol may also have contributed to the inconsistent findings. Fingernails are a novel sample that can be used to assess aggregate cortisol concentrations over a 15-day period, and may provide a more accurate reflection of longer term cortisol level changes in MDE and help clarify this issue. This methodology has not yet been utilised in MDE.

METHODS:

Cortisol levels reflecting a period of 15days were measured using fingernails in a group of 26 subjects experiencing a major depressive episode (MDE) and in an age and gender matched group of 45 healthy controls.

RESULTS:

Depressed subjects showed significantly higher mean cortisol levels measured in fingernails when compared with control subjects. Higher levels of cortisol were associated with higher depression severity scores, a diagnosis of non-reactive depression, and more prominent melancholic symptoms. Conversely, fatigue was negatively correlated with cortisol levels.

CONCLUSION:

There is elevated cortisol in MDE when assessed using an aggregate measure over two weeks.Alterations in fingernail cortisol correlate with key clinical symptoms and subtypes of depression.

• Authors: Andres Herane-Vives, Susanne Fischer, Valeria de Angel, Toby Wise, Eric Cheung, Kia-Chong Chua, Danilo Arnone, Allan H Young, Anthony J Cleare
• Journal: Psychoneuroendocrinology (Psychoneuroendocrinology) Vol. 88 Pg. 17-23 (02 2018) ISSN: 1873-3360 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 29153629 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Biomarkers
• Hydrocortisone

Topics

• Adult
• Biomarkers
• Depression (metabolism)
• Depressive Disorder, Major (metabolism)
• Female
• Humans
• Hydrocortisone (analysis, chemistry)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Nails (chemistry)