Persistence of anxiety disorders and concomitant changes in cortisol

In a clinical sample of 116 children and adolescents we studied the relation between the course of an anxiety disorder during treatment and the concomitant changes in cortisol levels. Assessments at baseline, after three months, and at one-year follow-up were performed with the Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule. When we compared cortisol levels at baseline and one-year follow-up, persistence of the anxiety disorder was associated with both increased daytime cortisol production (F = 3.2, p = 0.04) and a trend towards a decreased cortisol morning rise (F = 2.4, p = 0.09). At one-year follow-up daytime cortisol production was lowest in the early remitters (109.7 ± 29.2 h mmol/l), higher in the late remitters (121.0 ± 40.0 h mmol/l) and highest in the non-remitters (131.1 ± 48.9 h mmol/l). Early remitters had the highest cortisol morning rise (1.1 ± 1.5 h mmol/l), followed by the late remitters (0.8 ± 1.8 h mmol/l), the non-remitters had the lowest cortisol morning rise (0.07 ± 1.7 h mmol/l).Persistence of an anxiety disorder may thus lead to changes in HPA-axis functioning, underscoring the importance adequate treatment of anxiety disorders.

► We studied a clinical sample of 116 children and adolescents with anxiety disorders.
► We determined cortisol levels before and at 1 year follow-up after treatment of the anxiety disorder.
► Persistence of the disorder was associated with increased daytime cortisol production.
► Persistence was associated with a trend towards decreased morning rise as well.
► Results underscore importance of early and adequate treatment of anxiety disorders.