BACKGROUND Previous studies have shown associations between obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity (HPA). We aimed to investigate the association between obsessive-compulsive (OC) symptoms and HPA axis functionality in a non-clinical sample and to explore whether there are sex differences in this relationship. METHODS One hundred eighty-three healthy individuals without any psychiatric diagnosis (80 men, 103 women; mean age 41.3 ± 17.9 years) were recruited from the general population. The Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory Revised (OCI-R) was used to assess OC symptoms. State-trait anxiety, perceived stress, and stressful life events were also assessed. Saliva cortisol levels were determined at 6 time points (awakening, 30 and 60 min post-awakening, 10:00 a.m., 23:00 p.m. and 10:00 a.m. the following day of 0.25 mg dexamethasone intake [that occurred at 23:00 p.m.]). Three HPA axis measures were calculated: cortisol awakening response (CAR), cortisol diurnal slope, and cortisol suppression ratio after dexamethasone (DSTR). Multiple linear regression analyses were used to explore the association between OC symptoms and HPA axis measures while adjusting for covariates. Our main analyses were focused on OCI-R total score, but we also explored associations with specific OC symptom dimensions. RESULTS No significant differences were observed between males and females in OC symptoms, anxiety measures, stress, or cortisol measures. In the multiple linear regression analyses between overall OC symptoms and HPA axis measures, a female sex by OC symptoms significant interaction (standardized beta = - 0.322; p = 0.023) for the CAR (but not cortisol diurnal slope nor DSTR) was found. Regarding specific symptom dimensions, two other sex interactions were found: a blunted CAR was associated with obsessing symptoms in women, whereas a more flattened diurnal cortisol slope was associated with ordering symptoms in men. CONCLUSIONS There are sex differences in the association between OC symptoms and HPA axis measures in healthy individuals.

中文翻译：

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健康个体中皮质醇苏醒反应和强迫症之间的性别特异性关联。

背景技术以前的研究表明强迫症（OCD）和下丘脑-垂体-肾上腺轴活动（HPA）之间的关联。我们旨在调查非临床样本中强迫症（OC）症状与HPA轴功能之间的关联，并探讨这种关系中是否存在性别差异。方法从一般人群中招募了183名没有任何精神病诊断的健康个体（男性80例，女性103例；平均年龄41.3±17.9岁）。强迫症量表修订版（OCI-R）用于评估OC症状。还评估了人格特质焦虑，感知的压力和紧张的生活事件。在6个时间点（觉醒，觉醒后30和60分钟，上午10:00，下午23:00和上午10:00）确定唾液皮质醇水平 第二天摄入0.25毫克地塞米松[发生在23:00 pm]。计算了三个HPA轴测度：皮质醇苏醒反应（CAR），皮质醇昼夜斜率和地塞米松治疗后皮质醇抑制率（DSTR）。多元线性回归分析用于探讨OC症状与HPA轴测度之间的关联，同时调整协变量。我们的主要分析集中在OCI-R总评分上，但我们也探讨了与特定OC症状维度的相关性。结果男性和女性在OC症状，焦虑测量，压力或皮质醇测量方面均未观察到显着差异。在总体OC症状和HPA轴测度之间的多元线性回归分析中，女性通过OC症状显着相互作用（标准化的beta =-0.322; p = 0。023）的CAR（但未发现皮质醇的昼夜斜率或DSTR）。关于特定症状的维度，发现了另外两个性别交互作用：女性钝性CAR与强迫症状有关，而昼夜皮质醇斜率更平坦与男性有序症状有关。结论健康个体的OC症状与HPA轴测量之间的关联存在性别差异。