Sex differences in cortisol levels in depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Front Neuroendocrinol
; 72: 101118, 2024 Jan.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38176541
ABSTRACT
Higher prevalence of depression in females might be associated with sex-specific cortisol levels. Evidence exists that cortisol levels differ between healthy females and males, however a sex-specific association in depression has not been systematically assessed. Thus, the current study quantifies the existing literature on different cortisol parameters, i.e., basal cortisol, hair cortisol, cortisol awakening response (CAR), and cortisol stress reactivity comparing depressed females and males as well as sex-specific comparisons with healthy controls. Following an extensive literature research, fifty original articles were included. Depressed females had significantly higher hair cortisol, higher CAR, and lower cortisol stress reactivity compared to depressed males. In comparison with sex-matched controls, female patients had significantly higher evening basal cortisol, higher CAR and lower cortisol stress reactivity, and male patients had significantly higher general, morning and evening basal cortisol. Overall, sex as a fundamental driver of cortisol levels in depression needs to be taken into account.
Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Hydrocortisone
/
Sex Characteristics
/
Hair
Type of study:
Risk_factors_studies
/
Systematic_reviews
Limits:
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
Language:
En
Journal:
Front Neuroendocrinol
Year:
2024
Type:
Article