Cortisol: Circadian Rhythm and Response to a Stressor

Cortisol is the primary hormone of the limbic-hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal system. Cortisol is essential to maintain homeostasis. Review and research literature obtained from databases (psychology, medicine, and nursing) and reference lists are the basis for this review. This paper includes a narrative review of the circadian rhythm of cortisol and the cortisol response to a stressor in newborns and infants. Moreover, this paper includes a review of research in which cortisol was an indicator of clinical intervention efficacy. Finally, implications for nursing research are discussed.