Associations of trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder with aldosterone in women

A randomized vagus nerve stimulation study demonstrates that serum aldosterone levels decrease with age in women, but not in men

In this randomized, sham-controlled study, we explored the effects of acute transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) on serum aldosterone in 20 younger (21-26 years) and 19 older (40-70 years) healthy participants. Blood samples were collected on two different days before and after a 20-min application of active tVNS at the inner tragus or sham stimulation of the earlobe. Irrespective of the stimulation mode, aldosterone levels decreased from pre- to post-stimulation in both the young (active: β = - 1.610 (- 2.855, - 0.365), p = 0.022; sham: β = - 0.857 (- 2.102, 0.388), p = 0.257) and the old cohort (active: β = - 1.969 (- 3.234, - 0.703), p = 0.005; sham: β = - 1.334 (- 2.600, - 0.069), p = 0.063). Although this decline was significant during active tVNS, the difference in estimated β-coefficients between active and sham stimulation was not statistically significant in either cohort. Nevertheless, aldosterone concentrations showed a significant interaction effect between sex and age (p = 0.001). Among all study participants, younger women (23.3 ± 1.6 years) had the highest mineralocorticoid levels (pre active: 172.1 ± 102.0 pg/ml, pre sham: 214.3 ± 82.3 pg/ml), whereas the lowest were observed in older females (59.4 ± 9.4 years) (pre active: 104.9 ± 85.8 pg/ml, pre sham: 81.1 ± 53.8 pg/ml). This post hoc analysis did not suggest that active auricular tVNS reduces serum aldosterone levels compared to sham stimulation in healthy subjects. However, serum aldosterone levels differed among subjects depending on their age and sex, irrespective of tVNS.

Psychological and biological mechanisms linking trauma with cardiovascular disease risk

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death and disability worldwide, and experiences of psychological trauma have been associated with subsequent CVD onset. Identifying key pathways connecting trauma with CVD has the potential to inform more targeted screening and intervention efforts to offset elevated cardiovascular risk. In this narrative review, we summarize the evidence for key psychological and biological mechanisms linking experiences of trauma with CVD risk. Additionally, we describe various methodologies for measuring these mechanisms in an effort to inform future research related to potential pathways. With regard to mechanisms involving posttraumatic psychopathology, the vast majority of research on psychological distress after trauma and CVD has focused on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), even though posttraumatic psychopathology can manifest in other ways as well. Substantial evidence suggests that PTSD predicts the onset of a range of cardiovascular outcomes in trauma-exposed men and women, yet more research is needed to better understand posttraumatic psychopathology more comprehensively and how it may relate to CVD. Further, dysregulation of numerous biological systems may occur after trauma and in the presence of posttraumatic psychopathology; these processes of immune system dysregulation and elevated inflammation, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, renin-angiotensin system dysregulation, and accelerated biological aging may all contribute to subsequent cardiovascular risk, although more research on these pathways in the context of traumatic stress is needed. Given that many of these mechanisms are closely intertwined, future research using a systems biology approach may prove fruitful for elucidating how processes unfold to contribute to CVD after trauma.

The neurobiology of childhood trauma-aldosterone and blood pressure changes in a community sample

OBJECTIVE

Childhood trauma is an important risk factor for the onset and course of psychiatric disorders and particularly major depression. Recently, the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, one of the core stress hormone systems, has been demonstrated to be modified by childhood trauma.

METHODS

Childhood trauma was obtained using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) in a community-dwelling sample (N = 2038). Plasma concentrations of renin and aldosterone were measured in subjects with childhood trauma (CT; N = 385) vs. subjects without this experience (NoCT; N = 1653). Multivariable linear regression models were calculated to assess the associations between CTQ, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, renin and aldosterone concentrations, and the ratio of aldosterone and systolic blood pressure (A/SBP).

RESULTS

CT subjects demonstrated higher plasma aldosterone (A) concentrations, a lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and a higher A/SBP. In addition, both aldosterone concentrations, as well as A/SBP, correlated with the severity of childhood trauma. These findings could not be attributed to differences in concomitant medication.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, childhood trauma was associated with neurobiological markers, which may impact the risk for psychiatric disorders, primarily major depression. The altered A/SBP ratio points to a desensitisation of peripheral mineralocorticoid receptor function, which may be a target for therapeutic interventions.

Aldosterone secretion during the day: Salivary aldosterone awakening response and daytime levels

BACKGROUND

The mineralocorticoid hormone aldosterone is a key regulator of the sodium-potassium balance and blood pressure. In excess, aldosterone relates to hypertension and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Here, we systematically investigated aldosterone secretion during the day in terms of salivary aldosterone awakening response (AldAR) and salivary aldosterone daytime levels (AldDay) under controlled conditions in participants' natural environment including assessment of potential confounding variables.

METHODS

In 40 healthy young men, saliva samples for AldAR were collected immediately after awakening and 15, 30, 45, and 60 min thereafter. AldDay levels were measured in 1 h intervals from 9:00-22:00 h. Analyses were complemented by salivary cortisol assessment. Fluid and food intake was standardized and as potential confounders, we assessed awakening time and sleep duration, age, BMI and MAP, as well as chronic stress.

RESULTS

Awakening was followed by significant increases in salivary aldosterone (p = .004, f= 0.31), returning to baseline levels > 60 min later. Longer sleep duration was associated with lower AldAR (p < .001, f= 0.36). Over the course of the day we observed a continuous decrease of AldDay (p < .001, f= 0.45). Longer sleep duration (p = .097, f= .21), later time of awakening (p < .001, f= .29), and higher chronic stress (p = .041, f= .23) were associated with AldDay characteristics. Circadian aldosterone secretion was positively associated with most cortisol measures.

CONCLUSIONS

We observed an awakening response in salivary aldosterone and could confirm a decrease in aldosterone levels during the day, comparable to cortisol. Significant confounders were sleep-related variables and chronic stress. Clinical implications of circadian aldosterone secretion with respect to CVD risk remain to be elucidated.

Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system in adulthood PTSD and childhood maltreatment history

Accumulated evidence shows that psychological trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are associated with dysfunction in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Besides the HPA axis hormones, recent evidence suggests that the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone (RAA) system and genetic factors may be involved in trauma/PTSD as well as in HPA axis regulation. This study attempted to better understand the HPA axis function in relation to PTSD and childhood maltreatment by simultaneously examining RAA system and genetic polymorphisms of candidate genes. Here we studied 69 civilian women with PTSD and 107 healthy control women without DSM-IV-based traumatic experience. Childhood maltreatment history was assessed with the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire. PTSD severity was assessed with the Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale. Functional disability was assessed with the Sheehan Disability Scale. HPA axis was examined by measuring blood levels of cortisol, adrenocorticotropic hormone, and dehydroepiandrosterone-sulphate (DHEA-S). RAA system was examined by measuring blood renin and aldosterone levels. The FKBP5 rs1360780 and CACNA1C rs1006737 polymorphisms were genotyped. No significant differences were seen between patients and controls in any of the five hormone levels. DHEA-S levels were significantly negatively correlated with overall PTSD severity (p = 0.003) and functional disability (p = 0.008). A two-way analysis of variance with diagnostic groups and genotypes as fixed factors revealed that patients with the rs1006737 A-allele had significantly lower DHEA-S levels than patients with the GG genotype (p = 0.002) and controls with the A-allele (p = 0.006). Childhood maltreatment history was not significantly correlated with any of the five hormone levels. These results were generally unchanged after controlling for the potentially confounding effect of age, depression, and anxiety. Our findings suggest that lower DHEA-S levels could indicate more severe subtype of PTSD, the association of which might be partly modified by the CACNA1C polymorphism.

Pain-related disability, PTSD symptoms, and mood among a comorbid chronic pain and PTSD sample prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic

There is a knowledge gap when treating comorbid chronic pain and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Addressing this gap, 169 individuals (57.4% female), aged 39.8 years were recruited based on levels of pain-related disability and PTSD symptoms. Participants were assessed prior to, and during, the COVID-19 pandemic. Improvements in pain-related disability were marginally attenuated for the comorbid group, compared to the chronic pain group. Results show that some condition-specific symptoms may not have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Cautious interpretation is warranted due to only two time points and the lack of a diverse sample.