Posttraumatic stress symptoms and salivary cortisol levels

Objective: This study assessed the relationship between posttraumatic stres s symptoms and salivary cortisol levels after a severe ice storm. Method: Posttraumatic stress symptoms (Impact of Event Scale scores) and sa livary cortisol levels were determined in 115 victims of an ice storm and i n 27 healthy comparison subjects 1 month and approximately 1 year after the ice storm. Results: One month after the storm, Impact of Event Scale scores for the vi ctims (mean=20.31, SD=15.23) exceeded those of the comparison subjects (mea n=5.30, SD=9.78) but were reduced approximately 1 year later (mean=14.01, S D=13.68). A quadratic relation was found to exist between Impact of Event S cale scores and cortisol levels. Conclusions: One month after the storm, cortisol levels were found to be el evated among the victims but were diminished among those with the highest I mpact of Event Scale scores. This relationship was found not to exist appro ximately 1 year later.