The role of cortisol in PTSD among women exposed to a trauma-related stressor

► We compared cortisol in women with and without PTSD. ► Cortisol was examined in naturally occurring stressful and non-stressful conditions. ► PTSD was predictive of higher cortisol in the stressful condition only. ► No differences were found between groups in the non-stressful condition. ► The findings emphasize the moderating role of stress in the cortisol/PTSD relation.