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Tonon AC, Ramos-Lima LF, Kuhathasan N, Frey BN. Early Life Trauma, Emotion Dysregulation and Hormonal Sensitivity Across Female Reproductive Life Events. Curr Psychiatry Rep 2024:10.1007/s11920-024-01527-y. [PMID: 39187611 DOI: 10.1007/s11920-024-01527-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/14/2024] [Indexed: 08/28/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW To explore the relationship between early life trauma, hormonal sensitivity, and psychiatric disorders across female-reproductive life events, with a focus on the neurobiological mechanisms. RECENT FINDINGS Childhood trauma significantly increases the risk of subsequent mood disorders during periods of intense hormonal fluctuation such as premenstrual, pregnancy, postpartum, and perimenopause. Neurobiological changes resulting from early trauma influence emotion regulation, which emerges as a key predisposing, exacerbating, and perpetuating factor to hormonal sensitivity and subsequent psychiatric symptoms. We identified altered stress response and allopregnanolone imbalance, bias in cognitive processing of emotions, neuroimage correlates and sleep disturbances as potential underlying neurobiological mechanisms. This review integrates cumulative findings supporting a theoretical framework linking early life trauma to hormonal sensitivity and mood disorders. We propose that some women might be more susceptible to such hormonal fluctuations because of emotion dysregulation following significant early life trauma.
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Affiliation(s)
- André C Tonon
- Mood Disorders Program and Women's Health Concerns Clinic, St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, 100 West 5th Street, Hamilton, ON, L8N 3K7, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, 100 West 5th Street, Hamilton, ON, L8N 3K7, Canada
| | - Luis Francisco Ramos-Lima
- Mood Disorders Program and Women's Health Concerns Clinic, St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, 100 West 5th Street, Hamilton, ON, L8N 3K7, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, 100 West 5th Street, Hamilton, ON, L8N 3K7, Canada
| | - Nirushi Kuhathasan
- Mood Disorders Program and Women's Health Concerns Clinic, St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, 100 West 5th Street, Hamilton, ON, L8N 3K7, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, 100 West 5th Street, Hamilton, ON, L8N 3K7, Canada
| | - Benicio N Frey
- Mood Disorders Program and Women's Health Concerns Clinic, St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, 100 West 5th Street, Hamilton, ON, L8N 3K7, Canada.
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, 100 West 5th Street, Hamilton, ON, L8N 3K7, Canada.
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Domes G, Linnig K, von Dawans B. Gonads under stress: A systematic review and meta-analysis on the effects of acute psychosocial stress on gonadal steroids secretion in humans. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2024; 164:107004. [PMID: 38471257 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2024.107004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
Animal research has shown that the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis is inhibited by (chronic and/or severe) stress, which can lead to impaired fertility and reproductive functioning, presumably caused by the inhibition of gonadal steroid secretion and in interactions with glucocorticoids. However, what has not been clarified is how acute psychosocial stress modulates gonadal steroid secretion in humans. Here we summarize the experimental research on the acute effects of stress on the secretion of gonadal steroids in humans. A systematic literature search revealed 21 studies (with N=881 individuals) measuring testosterone, progesterone or estradiol in response to a standardized acute laboratory stressor in healthy humans. Both our literature review and quantitative meta-analysis suggest that in humans, acute stress stimulates rather than inhibits HPG axis activity, although there is a considerable heterogeneity in the reported methods and results. Increased gonadal steroids in response to acute stress contrasts with many animal studies reporting the opposite pattern, at least regarding severe and/or chronic stressors. We discuss methodological issues and challenges for future research and hope to stimulate experimental studies within this area. A better understanding of these mechanisms is needed, and may have important implications for health and disease, as well as the modulation of various behaviors by acute stressors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregor Domes
- Department of Biological and Clinical Psychology, University of Trier, Germany; Institute for Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, University of Trier, Germany.
| | - Katrin Linnig
- Department of Biological and Clinical Psychology, University of Trier, Germany; Institute for Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, University of Trier, Germany
| | - Bernadette von Dawans
- Department of Biological and Clinical Psychology, University of Trier, Germany; Institute for Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, University of Trier, Germany
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Hamidovic A, Davis J, Soumare F. Blunted Cortisol Response to Acute Psychosocial Stress in Women With Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol 2024; 27:pyae015. [PMID: 38451747 DOI: 10.1093/ijnp/pyae015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite being considered a stress-related condition, it is not known whether the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is dysfunctional in response to acute psychosocial stress in premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). This is problematic because many women with PMDD report that they are not able to control their stress levels, and a blunted cortisol output has been identified in women with related psychiatric conditions, such as anxiety and depression. The present study is a part of the Premenstrual Hormonal and Affective State Evaluation (PHASE) project, and it aimed to characterize the cortisol trajectory in response to an acute psychosocial stress challenge. METHODS Women with PMDD and healthy controls with confirmed ovulatory cycles underwent the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) procedure in the mid-late luteal phase of the menstrual cycle, throughout which we collected serum samples of cortisol that we analyzed using ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. RESULTS The linear mixed model analysis indicated a significant time*diagnosis interaction (P = .008) such that women with PMDD displayed significantly lower serum cortisol levels at +40 through +90 minutes from the time of stress induction. CONCLUSION This is the first study to show that women with PMDD have a blunted cortisol response to psychosocial stress. Combined with our earlier finding showing a greater parasympathetic nervous system withdrawal on heart oscillations in PMDD during acute stress, these and other results show that the dysregulated processing of stress in PMDD may be captured using objective study measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ajna Hamidovic
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - John Davis
- School of Public Health/Psychiatric Institute (SPHPI), Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Fatimata Soumare
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
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Hantsoo L, Jagodnik KM, Novick AM, Baweja R, di Scalea TL, Ozerdem A, McGlade EC, Simeonova DI, Dekel S, Kornfield SL, Nazareth M, Weiss SJ. The role of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in depression across the female reproductive lifecycle: current knowledge and future directions. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1295261. [PMID: 38149098 PMCID: PMC10750128 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1295261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The aim of this narrative review is to consolidate knowledge on the role of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in depression pathophysiology at different reproductive stages across the female lifespan. Despite growing evidence about the impact of gonadal hormones on mood disorders, no previous review has examined the interaction between such hormonal changes and the HPA axis within the context of depressive disorders in women. We will focus on HPA axis function in depressive disorders at different reproductive stages including the menstrual cycle (e.g., premenstrual dysphoric disorder [PMDD]), perinatally (e.g., postpartum depression), and in perimenopausal depression. Each of these reproductive stages is characterized by vast physiological changes and presents major neuroendocrine reorganization. The HPA axis is one of the main targets of such functional alterations, and with its key role in stress response, it is an etiological factor in vulnerable windows for depression across the female lifespan. We begin with an overview of the HPA axis and a brief summary of techniques for measuring HPA axis parameters. We then describe the hormonal milieu of each of these key reproductive stages, and integrate information about HPA axis function in depression across these reproductive stages, describing similarities and differences. The role of a history of stress and trauma exposure as a contributor to female depression in the context of HPA axis involvement across the reproductive stages is also presented. This review advances the pursuit of understanding common biological mechanisms across depressive disorders among women. Our overarching goal is to identify unmet needs in characterizing stress-related markers of depression in women in the context of hormonal changes across the lifespan, and to support future research in women's mental health as it pertains to pathophysiology, early diagnosis, and treatment targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liisa Hantsoo
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Kathleen M. Jagodnik
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Andrew M. Novick
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Ritika Baweja
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, Penn State Health, Hershey, PA, United States
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Penn State Health, Hershey, PA, United States
| | - Teresa Lanza di Scalea
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Dell Medical School, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States
- Department of Women’s Health, Dell Medical School, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States
| | - Aysegul Ozerdem
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Erin C. McGlade
- Department of Psychiatry, Huntsman Mental Health Institute, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake, UT, United States
- Department of Veterans Affairs, Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC), Salt Lake, UT, United States
| | - Diana I. Simeonova
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Brain Health Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Goizueta Business School, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Sharon Dekel
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Sara L. Kornfield
- Center for Women’s Behavioral Wellness, Psychiatry Department, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Michelle Nazareth
- Department of Neuroscience, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Sandra J. Weiss
- Department of Community Health Systems, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
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Sommovigo V, Tavolucci S, Filosa L, Rosa V, Carnevali L, Ottaviani C, Alessandri G. Daily cortisol variations are predicted proximally by self-efficacy beliefs at work and indirectly by perceived self-regulatory abilities in managing negative emotions. Int J Psychophysiol 2023; 193:112244. [PMID: 37716442 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2023.112244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Revised: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/18/2023]
Abstract
In the present ecological study, we analyzed the relations of a set of self-efficacy beliefs at work to parameters of diurnal cortisol variation. Specifically, using data collected during two consecutive working days from 166 workers, we tested a mediation model positing social and work-related self-efficacy beliefs as mediators of the relations between self-regulatory emotional self-efficacy beliefs in managing negative emotions and cortisol indicators. Results from the multilevel mediation analyses supported the proposed model for work-related self-efficacy, which resulted as a significant mediator of the relation between self-regulatory emotional self-efficacy beliefs in managing negative emotions and the overall cortisol daily production indexed by computing the area under the curve with respect to the ground. Findings suggest the importance of self-efficacy beliefs for workers' physiological adjustment. Theoretical and practical contributions of the findings are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Sommovigo
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza, University of Rome, Via dei Marsi, 78, 00185 Rome, Italy.
| | - Simone Tavolucci
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza, University of Rome, Via dei Marsi, 78, 00185 Rome, Italy.
| | - Lorenzo Filosa
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza, University of Rome, Via dei Marsi, 78, 00185 Rome, Italy.
| | - Valentina Rosa
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza, University of Rome, Via dei Marsi, 78, 00185 Rome, Italy.
| | - Luca Carnevali
- Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze, 11/a, 43124 Parma, Italy.
| | - Cristina Ottaviani
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza, University of Rome, Via dei Marsi, 78, 00185 Rome, Italy.
| | - Guido Alessandri
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza, University of Rome, Via dei Marsi, 78, 00185 Rome, Italy.
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