cortisol level test (awakening response)

The Cortisol Level Test, also known as the Cortisol Awakening Response (CAR), accurately evaluates the levels of DHEAS and Cortisol hormones at six different points throughout the day in men and women. The CAR provides valuable insights into adrenal hormone/HPA Axis dysfunction by revealing detailed clues. This hormone testing is particularly beneficial for individuals with PTSD, major depression, chronic fatigue syndrome, and other severe stress-related conditions. A normal cortisol awakening response involves a 50% increase in adrenal hormone levels within the first 30 minutes after waking, followed by a gradual decline throughout the afternoon and evening. To accurately capture this response, three-morning saliva collections are necessary to plot the diurnal cortisol curve.

Associations between the cortisol awakening response and patient-evaluated stress and mood instability in patients with bipolar disorder: an exploratory study, International Journal of Bipolar Disorders

The cortisol awakening response after sleep deprivation: Is the cortisol awakening response a “response” to awakening or a circadian process? - Ivan Vargas, Nestor Lopez-Duran, 2020