Clinical correlates of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis measures in individuals at risk for psychosis and with first-episode psychosis.

•We studied the clinical correlates of cortisol measures in early psychosis.•We assessed at-risk mental states, first-episode psychosis and healthy controls.•Cortisol awakening response, diurnal slope and dexamethasone suppression test were assessed.•Cortisol measures did not differ between diagnostic groups.•A flatter cortisol slope was associated with negative symptoms in ARMS subjects.