Publications by authors named "Cassiers Laura"

Article Synopsis
  • There is evidence suggesting that the HPA axis may not function properly in people with chronic tinnitus, but previous studies have shown mixed results, possibly due to varied clinical factors.
  • This study compares salivary cortisol levels in tinnitus sufferers and healthy controls to investigate the effects of childhood trauma and anxiety on HPA-axis functioning.
  • The results indicate that individuals with tinnitus who experienced childhood trauma have lower cortisol awakening responses, suggesting trauma impacts HPA function, while anxiety did not significantly affect any outcomes.
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Objective: Tinnitus can be regarded as a chronic stressor, leading to dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. There is important comorbidity with anxiety, particularly panic, potentially associated with differences in HPA axis functioning and methylation patterns of HPA axis-related genes. This study examines DNA methylation of the glucocorticoid receptor gene ( NR3C1 ) exon 1F in adults with chronic subjective tinnitus and the possible differential effect of panic.

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The dysregulation of the inflammatory and neuroendocrine systems seen in major depressive disorder (MDD) may persist after remission and this is associated with a higher risk of relapse. This vulnerable subgroup may be characterized by a history of childhood trauma. In a single-blind randomized placebo-controlled crossover study, 21 women with remitted recurrent MDD and 18 healthy controls were exposed to psychosocial stress (Trier social stress test) or inflammatory stress (typhoid vaccine), or both, to investigate the effects of childhood trauma on the neuroendocrine and inflammatory responses.

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Childhood trauma subtypes sexual abuse, physical abuse, emotional maltreatment, and neglect may have differential effects on the brain that persist into adulthood. A systematic review of neuroimaging findings supporting these differential effects is as yet lacking. The present systematic review aims to summarize the findings of controlled neuroimaging trials regarding long-term differential effects of trauma subtypes on the human brain.

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