Social psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology
-
Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol · May 2012
Comparative StudyAssociations between DSM-IV diagnosis, psychiatric symptoms and morning cortisol levels in a community sample of adolescents.
Dysfunction of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis (HPA-axis) is implicated in a variety of psychiatric and emotional disorders. In this study, we explore the association between HPA-axis functioning, as measured by morning cortisol, and common psychiatric disorders and symptoms among a community sample of adolescents. ⋯ Except in relation to conduct symptoms, dysregulation of morning cortisol levels seems unrelated to any psychiatric disorder or symptoms. However, the relationship between cortisol and conduct symptoms is moderated by both gender and mood symptoms. Findings are compatible with the recent work suggesting research should concentrate on the moderated associations between gender, internalising and externalising symptoms and cortisol, rather than any simple relationship.
-
Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol · May 2012
Comparative StudyRisk and protective factors for psychological distress among adolescents: a family study in the Nord-Trøndelag Health Study.
The study aimed to investigate potential adolescent and parental psychosocial risk and protective factors for psychological distress among adolescents and, in addition, to examine potential gender and age differences in the effects of risk factors on adolescent psychological distress. ⋯ Academic achievement and being bullied at school were the psychosocial factors most strongly associated with psychological distress among adolescents. Parental factors had an indirect effect on adolescent psychological distress, through adolescents' psychosocial factors.