Differences in Cortisol Levels in Depressed Adolescents Who Engage in Non-Suicidal Self-Injury

Abstract

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is one of the most common mental disorders affecting the adolescent population, which is in part due to the excessive vulnerability of that particular age group. A subgroup of those who suffer from depression also engage in non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), which is the act of causing harm to one’s body without the intent of suicide. Prior research suggests an underlying mechanism of NSSI is its relationship to the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, where stress hormones such as cortisol are regulated and released throughout the body in response to stress. Depressed adolescents engaging in NSSI have shown blunted reactivity to stress in the HPA axis by producing lower levels of cortisol, and elevated levels for the cortisol awakening response (CAR). This study explores differences in HPA axis functioning, by way of cortisol levels, in depressed adolescents who have or have not engaged in NSSI. Results showed that participants who have engaged in NSSI had an elevated CAR, particularly 30 minutes post-awakening, although no significant differences were found in cortisol reactivity to stress. These results add to the prior literature suggesting that HPA axis functioning is impaired in depressed adolescents who engage in NSSI, which can allow future research to further explore this association on a larger scale.