The cortisol awakening response in infants: Ontogeny and associations with development-related variables

Stalder, Tobias; Bäumler, Damaris; Miller, Robert; Alexander, Nina; Kliegel, Matthias; Kirschbaum, Clemens

doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2012.07.015

Cited by 42 publications

(42 citation statements)

References 46 publications

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“…The effect might partly reflect a reduction in the cortisol awakening response (CAR) as we did ask the parents to take the morning sample about 30 minutes after the child awoke. The CAR is present as early as infancy (Stalder et al, 2013) and we have previously shown it to be blunted in pre-pubertal children adopted from institutional care (Quevedo et al, 2012). Because collecting saliva samples the moment a child awakens and then again 30 minutes later is a heavy burden on parents, we did not attempt it in this study.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Social deprivation and the HPA axis in early development

Koss

Hostinar

Donzella

et al. 2014

Psychoneuroendocrinology

103

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Growing evidence suggests that early social deprivation impacts the activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis. Early adverse care in the form of institutional or orphanage care provides a human model for early social deprivation. The present study examined changes in diurnal cortisol during the transition to family care in the first two years post-adoption. Children adopted between 15 and 36 months from institutional care were examined four times during their first two years post-adoption (N=58). Comparison groups included same-aged peers reared in their birth families (N=50) and children adopted during their first year from overseas foster care (N=47). Children provided daily cortisol samples at roughly 2, 9, 17, and 25 months post-adoption. Post-institutionalized and post-foster care children exhibited less steep diurnal cortisol compared to non-adopted same-aged peers; these differences did not diminish across the two year period. For post-institutionalized children, lower social care quality in institutions was associated with less steep cortisol slopes. Lastly, shallower diurnal cortisol was a mediator between adoption status and increased behavioral problems two years post-adoption. Consistent with the non-human primate literature, early social deprivation may contribute to early programming of the HPA axis.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Social deprivation and the HPA axis in early development

Koss

Hostinar

Donzella

et al. 2014

Psychoneuroendocrinology

103

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“…Because the timing of samples is critical, studies sometimes employ track-cap methodology that time-date stamps when vials are opened to retrieve saliva sampling materials (Kudielka, Broderick, & Kirschbaum, 2003). Similarly, because morning levels are very dynamic in the first hour post awakening, actigraphy to assess sleep quality and awakening time is being used in some studies (e.g., Stalder et al, in press). …”

Section: Methods and Statisticsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stress physiology and developmental psychopathology: Past, present, and future

2013

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In the past 25 years research on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis has emerged as a vital area within the field of developmental psychopathology. Extensive animal research has provided knowledge of the substrates and physiological mechanisms that guide development of stress reactivity and regulation using methods that are not feasible in humans. Recent advances in understanding the anatomy and physiology of the HPA axis in humans and its interactions with other stress-mediating systems, including accurate assessment of salivary cortisol, more sophisticated neuroimaging methods, and a variety of genetic analyses, have led to greater knowledge of how psychological and biological processes impact functioning.A growing body of research on HPA axis regulation and reactivity in relation to psychopathology has drawn increased focus on the prenatal period, infancy, and the pubertal transition as potentially sensitive periods of stress system development in children. Theories such as the Allostatic Load Model have guided research by integrating multiple physiological systems and mechanisms by which stress can affect mental and physical health. However, almost none of the prominent theoretical models in stress physiology are truly developmental, and future work must incorporate how systems interact with the environment across the lifespan in both normal and atypical development. Our theoretical advancement will depend on our ability to integrate biological and psychological models. Researchers are increasingly realizing the importance of communication across disciplinary boundaries in order to understand how experiences influence neurobehavioral development. Importantly, knowledge gained over the past 25 years has been translated to both prevention and treatment interventions, and we look forward to the dissemination of interventions that promote recovery from adversity.

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“…The CAR is a response to awaking (Clow et al, 2010; Wilhelm et al, 2007). Compelling evidence exists that the CAR is affected by exposure to early adversity including prenatal maternal depression and anxiety (Antonini et al, 2000; Lee et al, 2014; O’Donnell et al, 2013; Stalder et al, 2013). Further, among children who were born preterm, postnatal glucocorticoid treatment is associated with a blunted CAR during adolescence (Ter Wolbeek et al, 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Antenatal glucocorticoid treatment is associated with diurnal cortisol regulation in term-born children

Edelmann

Sandman

Glynn

et al. 2016

Psychoneuroendocrinology

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Due to the rapid developmental changes that occur during the fetal period, prenatal influences can affect the developing central nervous system with lifelong consequences for physical and mental health. Glucocorticoids are one of the proposed mechanisms by which fetal programing occurs. Glucocorticoids pass through the blood-brain barrier and target receptors throughout the central nervous system. Unlike endogenous glucocorticoids, synthetic glucocorticoids readily pass through the placental barrier to reach the developing fetus. The synthetic glucocorticoid, betamethasone, is routinely given prenatally to mothers at risk for preterm delivery. Over 25% of the fetuses exposed to betamethasone will be born at term. Few studies have examined the lasting consequences of antenatal treatment of betamethasone on the regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. The purpose of this study is to examine whether antenatal exposure to betamethasone alters circadian cortisol regulation in children who were born full term. School-aged children prenatally treated with betamethasone and born at term (n=19, mean (SD) = 8.1 (1.2) years old) were compared to children not treated with antenatal glucocorticoids (n=61, mean (SD) = 8.2 (1.4) years old). To measure the circadian release of cortisol, saliva samples were collected at awakening; 30, 45, and 60 minutes after awakening; and in the evening. Comparison children showed a typical diurnal cortisol pattern that peaked in the morning (the cortisol awakening response) and gradually decreased throughout the day. In contrast, children exposed to antenatal betamethasone lacked a cortisol awakening response and had a flatter diurnal slope (p’s <0.01). These data suggest that antenatal glucocorticoid treatment may disrupt the circadian regulation of the HPA axis among children born at term. Because disrupted circadian regulation of cortisol has been linked to mental and somatic health problems, future research is needed to determine whether children exposed to antenatal synthetic glucocorticoids are at risk for poor mental and physical health.

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The cortisol awakening response in infants: Ontogeny and associations with development-related variables

Cited by 42 publications

References 46 publications

Social deprivation and the HPA axis in early development

Social deprivation and the HPA axis in early development

Stress physiology and developmental psychopathology: Past, present, and future

Antenatal glucocorticoid treatment is associated with diurnal cortisol regulation in term-born children

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