Hair cortisol as a biomarker of stress in mindfulness training for smokers.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Stress is a well-known predictor of smoking relapse, and cortisol is a
primary biomarker of stress. The current pilot study examined changes in levels of
cortisol in hair within the context of two time-intensity matched behavioral smoking
cessation treatments: mindfulness training for smokers and a cognitive-behavioral
comparison group. PARTICIPANTS: Eighteen participants were recruited from a larger
randomized controlled trial of smoking cessation. OUTCOME MEASURES: Hair samples (3 cm)
were obtained 1 month after quit attempt, allowing for a retrospective analysis of
hair cortisol at preintervention and post-quit attempt time periods. Self-reported
negative affect was also assessed before and after treatment. INTERVENTION: Both groups
received a 7-week intensive intervention using mindfulness or cognitive-behavioral
strategies. RESULTS: Cortisol significantly decreased from baseline to 1 month after
quit attempt in the entire sample (d=-0.35; p=.005). In subsequent repeated-measures
analysis of variance models, time by group and time by quit status interaction effects
were not significant. However, post hoc paired t tests yielded significant pre-post
effects among those randomly assigned to the mindfulness condition (d=-0.48; p=.018)
and in those abstinent at post-test (d=-0.41; p=.004). Decreased hair cortisol correlated
with reduced negative affect (r=.60; p=.011). CONCLUSIONS: These preliminary findings
suggest that smoking cessation intervention is associated with decreased hair cortisol
levels and that reduced hair cortisol may be specifically associated with mindfulness
training and smoking abstinence. RESULTS support the use of hair cortisol as a novel
objective biomarker in future research.
Type
Journal articleSubject
AdultBiomarkers
Blood Pressure
Female
Hair
Humans
Hydrocortisone
Male
Middle Aged
Mindfulness
Retrospective Studies
Smoking Cessation
Stress, Psychological
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https://hdl.handle.net/10161/11687Published Version (Please cite this version)
10.1089/acm.2014.0080Publication Info
Goldberg, Simon B; Manley, Alison R; Smith, Stevens S; Greeson, Jeffrey M; Russell,
Evan; Van Uum, Stan; ... Davis, James M (2014). Hair cortisol as a biomarker of stress in mindfulness training for smokers. J Altern Complement Med, 20(8). pp. 630-634. 10.1089/acm.2014.0080. Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/10161/11687.This is constructed from limited available data and may be imprecise. To cite this
article, please review & use the official citation provided by the journal.
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Show full item recordScholars@Duke
James Davis
Associate Professor of Medicine
Dr. James Davis is a practicing physician of Internal Medicine, and serves as the
Medical Director for Duke Center for Smoking Cessation, Director of the Duke Smoking
Cessation Program and Co-Director of the Duke-UNC Tobacco Treatment Specialist Credentialing
Program. His research focuses on development of new pharmaceutical treatments for
smoking cessation. He is principal investigator on several trials including a study
on “adaptive” smoking cessation and several trials
Jeffrey Michael Greeson
Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
- Biological mechanisms linking emotion, stress and health (psychoneuroimmunology)
- Effects of mindfulness meditation on stress reduction, sleep quality, and cardiovascular
risk profile - Integrative medicine clinical outcomes research - Advanced statistical
modeling (e.g., SEM, HLM)
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