IntroductionChildhood trauma exposure is a risk factor for adult psychopathology in general.
The biological mechanisms mediating this increased risk involve the endogenous stress response
system, including the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, that undergoes trauma-induced
functional changes, which may persist later in life. Since an association between stressful life events
and the onset/course of anorexia nervosa (AN) or bulimia nervosa (BN) has been demonstrated, a
role for the HPA axis in their pathophysiology seems likely.
Objectives and AimsThe cortisol awakening response (CAR) is a useful method to assess
the functioning of HPA axis. Therefore, we conducted an explorative study aiming to examine
possible associations between childhood maltreatments and HPA axis functioning, as assessed by the CAR, in adult patients with AN or BN.
MethodsSaliva samples were collected in 24 patients with acute AN, 22 with acute BN and
31 healthy controls at wakening and after 15, 30 and 60 min. They filled in the Childhood Trauma
Questionnaire (CTQ), which assesses five specific forms of childhood maltreatment.
ResultsAs compared to control group, no-maltreated AN group exhibited an enhanced CAR
whereas no-maltreated BN group showed a normal CAR. Moreover, both AN and BN patients with
childhood maltreatment exhibited a statistically significant blunted CAR as compared to no-maltreated patients.
DiscussionPresent findings suggest that childhood adverse experiences may affect the CAR
in adults with AN or BN and this may represent a functional background of the endogenous stress
response system, which may have relevant implications in the pathophysiology of EDs.