Diurnal patterns of salivary cortisol and DHEA in adolescent anorexia nervosa

Figures & data

Table I.  Demographic, situational and EDI-3 characteristics for each group (mean ± SD).

	HC female adolescents (n = 41)	Female adolescents with anorexia (n = 8)	Group difference
Age in years	15.46 ( ± 1.53)	15.13 ( ± 1.64)	t = 0.56
BMI in kg/m^2	22.05 ( ± 3.54)	18.56 ( ± 1.09)	t = 5.30^*
Age of first menses in years	12.71 ( ± 1.10)	12.17 ( ± 1.17)	t = 1.12
Self-reported wake-time^†	07:00 h ( ± 41 min)	06:56 h ( ± 25 min)	t = 0.20
EDI-3 drive for thinness	26.29 ( ± 7.47)	48.00 ( ± 8.06)	t = 7.67*
EDI-3 bulimia	41.54 ( ± 4.91)	43.86 ( ± 4.09)	t = 7.67
EDI-3 body dissatisfaction	30.93 ( ± 6.96)	53.43 ( ± 4.39)	t = 7.67*
EDI-3 eating disorder risk	28.17 ( ± 6.21)	47.43 ( ± 5.62)	t = 7.67*
EDI-3 general psychological maladjustment	35.44 ( ± 5.75)	51.50 ( ± 7.12)	t = 6.21*

*p < 0.0005

^† mean of two study days.

Figure 1.  (a) Mean ( ± SEM) salivary cortisol and (b) DHEA concentrations (nmol/l) over the two sampling days for AN (n = 8) and HC (n = 41) groups (*p < 0.0005).