Browsing by Author "Hirvelä, Satu"

Objective: Depression and anxiety disorders are mood disorders which may result from a number of psychological, social and biological reasons. Dysregulation of HPA-axis, such as hypercortisolism and hypocortisolism, is thought to be connected to depression and anxiety. On the other hand depression and anxiety are also connected to the personality characteristics like high neuroticism. The aim of this study was to examine the connections of personality characteristics and evening cortisol to depression, anxiety and their comorbidity. These have not been previously studied together. Methods: This study used data from the second wave of the MIDUS (Midlife in the United States) longitudinal study. The data was collected by the Institute on Aging at the University of Wisconsin-Madison during 2004-2006. Personality characteristics were assessed by the short personality scale of MIDUS, where respondents assessed the suitability of 25 adjectives to themselves in a four-step scale. Depression and anxiety were measured by MASQ (Mood and Anxiety Symptom Questionnaire) which had been modified for MIDUS. Cortisol was measured from saliva at four different time points during four days. ANOVA, linear regression and multi-nominal logistic regression were used for data analysis. Results and conclusions: Low evening cortisol level appears to be predictive of anhedonic depression in low educated young people. The personality characteristics of high neuroticism and low conscientiousness predicted all symptom groups, which is in line with previous studies. High neuroticism was the biggest risk for comorbid depression and anxiety. In addition to high neuroticism and low conscientiousness, female sex, middle and low level education also predicted somatic anxiety and hypocortisolism, female sex, low extraversion and middle and low level education predicted anhedonic depression. Furthermore, a low level of education was positively associated with comorbidity. Neuroticism is a risk for mood disorders and understanding its development in childhood requires further research. Neuroticism should be taken in account in clinical practice. Psychotherapy might be effective to reduce neuroticism.