Serum Neuropeptide Y and Ghrelin in Female Adolescents Exposed to Childhood Sexual Abuse with and Without Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Background: Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is a major risk factor for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but biological factors associated with differing clinical outcomes following CSA remain poorly understood. We compared serum neuropeptide Y (NPY) and ghrelin concentrations in female adolescents with CSA-related PTSD, CSA without PTSD, and healthy controls. Methods: The study included 111 postmenarcheal female adolescents aged 12–18 years: 37 with CSA + PTSD, 37 with CSA without PTSD, and 37 healthy controls. PTSD and other psychiatric disorders were assessed using the K-SADS-PL-DSM-5-T. Fasting morning serum NPY and ghrelin concentrations were measured by ELISA. Group comparisons were performed, and exploratory ROC analyses assessed within-sample discrimination between CSA-exposed adolescents with and without PTSD. Results: Serum NPY differed significantly across groups (F(2,108) = 43.63, p < 0.001, η2 = 0.447), with lower concentrations in the CSA + PTSD group than in both comparison groups; the CSA without PTSD and healthy control groups did not differ significantly. Ghrelin also differed significantly across groups (H(2) = 85.95, p < 0.001, ε2 = 0.777), showing a graded pattern with the highest concentrations in the CSA + PTSD group, intermediate concentrations in the CSA without PTSD group, and the lowest concentrations in healthy controls. Exploratory ROC analyses yielded AUCs of 0.896 for NPY and 0.881 for ghrelin within the CSA-exposed sample. Conclusion: Serum NPY and ghrelin showed distinct cross-sectional group patterns in female adolescents with and without CSA-related PTSD. These findings should not be interpreted as PTSD-specific or clinically validated diagnostic effects. Longitudinal studies in independent, more representative samples are needed to clarify their temporal and clinical significance.