How to determine the risk level of depression in a teenager by hair? Researchers have established a link between the content of cortisol in the hair and the propensity of its owner to certain types of mental disorders.
Depression affects not only adults, but also teenagers. The Ohio State University recently published the results of a study that could significantly impact the diagnosis of teen depression. According to the authors of the project, it is quite possible that the necessary information can be obtained from the hair.
stress hormone and depression
Scientists have identified a relationship between the concentration of the stress hormone cortisol in human hair and symptoms of teenage depression. The results were extremely interesting. They not only confirmed that high levels of cortisol correspond to high rates of possible depression, but also helped to find that low levels of the hormone indicate a struggle with mental disorders.
In the 2000s, many researchers identified a relationship between cortisol levels and the presence of mental illness. However, not many of them considered the possibility of diagnosing depression with this hormone.
“This experiment adds important results,” says Jody Ford, project leader, Ohio State University professor and nursing specialist. The results of the work of Jodi and her colleagues, which open up new perspectives in psychodiagnostics, were published in the trade journal on psychoendocrinology.
The scale of the problem
According to 2016 data, about one in eight teenagers had a depressive episode. Over the past decade, the percentage of young people suffering from manifestations of this disease has been growing. Suicide is the second leading cause of death for teenagers. Parents and other adults may miss signals that a young person is struggling with depression internally.
Attributing some manifestations to age-related features, parents and teachers sometimes do not notice a serious disorder. Better diagnostic methods will help doctors, parents, teachers, and teens themselves identify the problem before it’s too late.
How was the study
In a recent study, 432 adolescents aged 11 to 17 took part. At the same time, they were included in a larger study on age-related health and development. This long-term project examines the influence of social and other factors on the well-being of juveniles, and is organized by Ohio State University sociology professor Christopher Browning. He is also a colleague and co-author of Jody Ford’s study of cortisol and depression.
In search of mechanisms for the relationship between cortisol levels and depression, researchers asked adolescents to complete a nine-question questionnaire. Respondents needed to assess their level on some indicators – for example, how often it seemed to them that life was unsuccessful, or that people were unfriendly to them. In most cases, scientists examined a sample of a teenager’s hair – three centimeters was enough to determine the level of cortisol for the previous three months of the experiment participant’s life.
The results were carefully studied and verified for compliance with biochemical and mental parameters. As a result, to the surprise of the researchers, a trend was found: both low and high cortisol levels had a statistically significant relationship with depression.
New diagnostic method
Jody Ford comments: “Attempts to subjectively measure stress in children and adolescents do not always lead to unambiguous results. It would be ideal if we had a way to measure objectively.”
“The cost of such a simple test is relatively low – about $35. But it will not become widespread until researchers determine more precisely which indicators are considered the norm and which are the critical mark, ”said Ford.
It is likely that cortisol levels will not only become a diagnostic tool, but also help to see if therapy and medication are effective for a set period, or if the mental disorder is progressing, increasing the risk of teenage suicide.
In a clinical setting, a biomarker-based depression test will be in demand, especially in work with children and adolescents.
“Our study provides ample opportunity for new research in this area and proves that the relationship between cortisol levels and depression is not always linear. Average cortisol levels are normal. But too low and too high can be bad signs.
Without further experimentation, it is difficult to determine why this is the case. It is possible that in some people there is a blunting of the stress response, which reduces the amount of cortisol produced, or changes in its processing in the body. There is a possibility that in some cases the body does not use cortisol in the way that nature intended.”
An additional result of the study was evidence that family support significantly reduces the level of symptoms of depression in adolescents. Ford, who also runs the Nursing College’s Stress Science Lab, says, “It shows parents that their role in a child’s life is important. Their involvement and support can make a big difference.”
The scientists intend to conduct a longer-term and more extensive study, observing the development of the relationship between cortisol levels and teenage depression over time.