September 2025 in “International Journal of Molecular Sciences” In this review, researchers explored hair as a promising tool for identifying biomarkers in schizophrenia, highlighting its potential for supporting personalized medicine through ease of sampling, though acknowledging challenges like individual variability and methodological inconsistencies.
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January 2016 in “Brazilian Journal of Psychiatry” This study observed that drug-naïve first-episode psychosis patients had higher hair cortisol concentrations than healthy controls, and these concentrations correlated with the severity of psychopathology.
50 citations
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November 2020 in “Physiology & behavior” This review found that patients with depression generally have higher hair cortisol concentrations compared to healthy controls, while those with PTSD tend to have lower concentrations.
February 2026 in “Psychoneuroendocrinology” Hair cortisol concentration partly reflects HPA axis regulation but doesn't capture all its complexities.
December 2025 in “Neurobiology of Stress” This study found that individuals with a recent history of suicide attempts exhibited altered DHEA hair levels, suggesting possible dysregulation of the HPA axis as a biopsychosocial feature, and recommends further investigation into hair hormones as potential markers of suicidal crisis and vulnerability.