Anxiety : an overlooked confounder in the characterisation of chronic stress-related conditions?
Date
2020-04-16
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Public Library of Science
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.
Description
CITATION: Viljoen, M., et al. 2020. Anxiety : an overlooked confounder in the characterisation of chronic stress-related conditions?. PLoS ONE, 15(4):e0230053, doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0230053.
The original publication is available at https://journals.plos.org/plosone/
Publication of this article was funded by the Stellenbosch University Open Access Fund
The original publication is available at https://journals.plos.org/plosone/
Publication of this article was funded by the Stellenbosch University Open Access Fund
Keywords
Anxiety, Anxiety in adolescence -- Psychological aspects, Trauma, Glucocorticoids -- Receptors, Chronic stress
Citation
Viljoen, M., et al. 2020. Anxiety : an overlooked confounder in the characterisation of chronic stress-related conditions?. PLoS ONE, 15(4):e0230053, doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0230053