An exploratory study of salivary cortisol changes during chamomile extract therapy of moderate to severe generalized anxiety disorder

source extracted confidence: high 2026-04-09
#anti-anxiety-agents #anxiety-disorders #biomarkers #chamomile #female

An exploratory study of salivary cortisol changes during chamomile extract therapy of moderate to severe generalized anxiety disorder

Keefe et al., 2018 | J Psychiatr Res | Rct

Citation

Keefe John R, Guo Wensheng, ... Mao Jun J. An exploratory study of salivary cortisol changes during chamomile extract therapy of moderate to severe generalized anxiety disorder. J Psychiatr Res. 2018-Jan;96:189-195. doi:10.1016/j.jpsychires.2017.10.011

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Dysfunctions in stress biology are hypothesized to contribute to anxiety disorders, and to be ameliorated during successful treatment, but limited clinical data exist to support this hypothesis. We evaluated whether increases in morning cortisol and the diurnal cortisol slope, markers of stress biology, are associated with clinical response to chamomile therapy among subjects with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). METHODS: Among 45 subjects with DSM-IV diagnosed GAD in an open-label clinical trial of chamomile, salivary cortisol was assessed for three days each pre- and post-treatment, at 8am, 12pm, 4pm, and 8pm. Mixed model analyses assessed whether GAD symptom change predicted the degree to which cortisol levels changed during treatment. RESULTS: Symptom improvement during treatment was significantly associated with pre-to-post treatment changes in cortisol. Subjects who experienced more symptomatic improvement experienced significant increases in their morning salivary cortisol (β = 0.48, p < 0.001), and a greater decrease in cortisol from morning to the rest of the day (β = 0.55, p < 0.001). In addition, at baseline a lower cortisol level (β = -0.24, p = 0.023) and a lesser decrease in cortisol after morning (β = 0.30, p = 0.003) were associated with greater symptomatic improvement. CONCLUSION: Increases in morning salivary cortisol and the diurnal cortisol slope are associated with symptom improvement in chamomile treatment of GAD. Response to treatment for GAD could partially stem from normalization of stress biology dysfunction, but further work involving establishing abnormalities within-sample, ruling out of confounds (e.g., sleep), and a placebo control is necessary to conclude an amelioration effect. REGISTRATION CODE: NCT01072344. URL: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01072344.

Key Findings

Symptom improvement during treatment was significantly associated with pre-to-post treatment changes in cortisol. Subjects who experienced more symptomatic improvement experienced significant increases in their morning salivary cortisol (β = 0.48, p < 0.001), and a greater decrease in cortisol from morning to the rest of the day (β = 0.55, p < 0.001). In addition, at baseline a lower cortisol level (β = -0.24, p = 0.023) and a lesser decrease in cortisol after morning (β = 0.30, p = 0.003) were

Outcomes Measured

  • anxiety
  • cortisol levels

Population

Field Value
Population generalized anxiety disorder
Sample Size 45
Age Range See abstract
Condition sleep

MeSH Terms

  • Anti-Anxiety Agents
  • Anxiety Disorders
  • Biomarkers
  • Chamomile
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Hydrocortisone
  • Interview, Psychological
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Photoperiod
  • Phytotherapy
  • Plant Extracts
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
  • Saliva
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome

Evidence Classification

  • Level: Rct
  • Publication Types: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Vertical: chamomile-anxiety

Provenance

Source extracted via PubMed E-utilities API on 2026-04-09