Anxiety: An overlooked confounder in the characterisation of chronic stress-related conditions?

Abstract

Although anxiety disorders are among the most prevalent of psychiatric disorders, childhood trauma-related studies seldom consider anxiety proneness as distinct aetiological contributor. We aimed to distinguish between trauma-and anxiety-associated physiological profiles. South African adolescent volunteers were categorised for trauma exposure (CTQ, mean score 39±11) and anxiety proneness (AP)(CASI, mean score 37±7, STAI-T, mean score 41 ±8). Circulating hormone and leukocyte glucocorticoid receptor levels, as well as leukocyte functional capacity, were assessed. AP was associated with lower DHEAs (P<0.05) and higher leukocyte GR expression (P<0.05). DHEAs was also negatively correlated with anxiety sensitivity (CASI, P<0.05). In conclusion, AP may have more predictive power than trauma in terms of health profile. Increased glucocorticoid sensitivity previously reported after trauma, may be a unique function of anxiety and not trauma exposure per se. DHEAs concentration was identified as potentially useful marker for monitoring progressive changes in HPA-axis sensitivity and correlated with psychological measures of anxiety.

Variations in Salivary Stress Biomarkers and Their Relationship with Anxiety, Self-Efficacy and Sleeping Quality in Emergency Health Care Professionals

“…Viljoen et al [53] indicate that DHEA has significant predictive power in the context of propensity to anxiety and propose it as a biomarker to monitor progressive changes related to anxiety in the HPA axis. In this context, we observed that the levels of cortisol decreased together with the anti-stress hormone DHEA as well [54,55].…”

Candidate Biological Markers for Social Anxiety Disorder: A Systematic Review

“…Fourth, SAD is often unrecognized and diagnosed as another affective disorder [151], making it difficult to collect reliable samples of patients. Finally, different studies did not take into account confounding factors such as environmental variables [152], psychiatric and medical comorbidities [153] and medications [154]. Nevertheless, most studies were rated as of moderate quality [32].…”

The Role of Microbiota Pattern in Anxiety and Stress Disorders—A Review of the State of Knowledge

“…In individuals with a propensity for anxiety, there is an increase in the expression of glucocorticoid receptors and lower levels of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), a hormone with anti-anxiety properties. Moreover, anxious and traumatized individuals exhibit reduced production of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 [18]. Anxiety symptoms often co-occur with deficits in emotional attention control.…”