open access publication

Article, 2024

Hair cortisol concentrations in pregnant women with bipolar, depressive, or schizophrenic spectrum disorders

Archives of Women's Mental Health, ISSN 1435-1102, 1434-1816, Volume 27, 4, Pages 577-584, 10.1007/s00737-024-01434-4

Contributors

Nyström-Hansen, Maja 0000-0002-0504-303X (Corresponding author) [1] Andersen, Marianne Skovsager 0000-0002-4603-9504 [2] Davidsen, Kirstine Agnete 0000-0002-3262-6097 [3] [4] Roehder, Katrine [1] Trier, Christopher Høier [1] Nayberg, Emilie [1] Lyons-Ruth, Karlen [5] Harder, Susanne 0000-0003-2074-9097 [1]

Affiliations

  1. [1] University of Copenhagen
    2. [NORA names: KU University of Copenhagen; University; Denmark; Europe, EU; Nordic; OECD];
  2. [2] Odense University Hospital
    3. [NORA names: Region of Southern Denmark; Hospital; Denmark; Europe, EU; Nordic; OECD];
  3. [3] Region of Southern Denmark
    4. [NORA names: Region of Southern Denmark; Hospital; Denmark; Europe, EU; Nordic; OECD];
  4. [4] University of Southern Denmark
    5. [NORA names: SDU University of Southern Denmark; University; Denmark; Europe, EU; Nordic; OECD];
  5. [5] Harvard University
    6. [NORA names: United States; America, North; OECD]

Abstract

PurposeMaternal cortisol levels in pregnancy may support the growth of or adversely affect fetal organs, including the brain. While moderate cortisol levels are essential for fetal development, excessive or prolonged elevations may have negative health consequences for both the mother and the offspring. Little is known about predictors of altered hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis activity during pregnancy. This study examined maternal hair cortisol concentration (HCC) in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy in relation to severe psychopathology.MethodsHair samples were collected from 69 women, 32 with a lifetime diagnosis of severe mental disorders (bipolar I or II disorder, moderate or severe depressive disorder, schizophrenic spectrum disorder), and 37 non-clinical controls. Hair samples were collected during the 3rd trimester, and liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry was used for cortisol assessment. Psychiatric diagnosis and current level of symptomatic functioning were assessed using the structured clinical interview from the DSM-5 and the global assessment of functioning scale.ResultsWomen with a lifetime diagnosis of severe mental illness had significantly elevated HCC compared to controls. Poorer current symptomatic functioning was also significantly associated with elevated HCC in pregnancy.ConclusionsThe implications of alterations in HCC on both maternal and infant health need further study.

Keywords

ConclusionsThe, ConclusionsThe implications, DSM-5, Global Assessment of Functioning Scale, MethodsHair, MethodsHair samples, ResultsWomen, Structured Clinical Interview, activity, alterations, assessment, axis activity, bipolar, brain, clinical interview, concentration, consequences, control, cortisol, cortisol assessment, cortisol concentrations, cortisol levels, depression, development, diagnoses of severe mental disorders, diagnosis, diagnosis of severe mental illness, disorders, elevated hair cortisol concentrations, elevation, fetal development, fetal organs, function, global assessment, growth, hair, hair cortisol concentrations, hair samples, health, health consequences, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity, illness, implications, infant health, interviews, levels, lifetime, lifetime diagnosis, liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry, mass spectrometry, maternal hair cortisol concentration, mental disorders, mental illness, mothers, negative health consequences, non-clinical controls, offspring, organization, predictors, pregnancy, pregnant women, prolonged elevation, psychiatric diagnosis, psychopathology, samples, scale, schizophrenic spectrum disorders, severe mental disorders, severe mental illness, severe psychopathology, spectrometry, spectrum disorder, study, symptomatic functioning, tandem mass spectrometry, trimester, trimester of pregnancy, women

Funders

  • Danish Agency for Science and Higher Education
  • Health Foundation
  • Capital Region of Denmark

Data Provider: Digital Science

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