PREDICTORS OF CORTISOL AND 3-METHOXY-4-HYDROXYPHENYLGLYCOL RESPONSES IN THE ACUTE AFTERMATH OF RAPE

Background: Prospective studies of trauma survivors can provide inform ation about the relationship between rape characteristics and the deve lopment of subsequent symptoms. Methods: The present study examined th e relationship of prior assault, rape severity, posttraumatic stress d isorder (PTSD) symptoms following rape, and subsequent PTSD diagnosis, to the acute cortisol and 3-methoxy,-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG) res ponse to this traumatic event in 20 women. Results: Women with a histo ry of prior physical or sexual assault showed a significantly attenuat ed cortisol response to the acute stress of rape compared to women wit hout such a history. MHPG appeared to be associated with injury-relate d rape characteristics, and symptoms of active avoidance, but not prio r history. PTSD status at the 3-month follow-up was predicted by both a prior history of assault and high injury rape, but was not directly predicted by either cortisol or MHPG levels. MHPG and cortisol were no r correlated in the sample as a whole, but were correlated among indiv iduals who did not subsequently develop PTSD (p = .04). Conclusions: T he results suggest that different neuroendocrine systems may mediate d ifferent components of the response to traumatic stress. Published 199 8 Society of Biological Psychiatry.