Early trauma moderates the link between familial risk for depression and post-stress DHEA/cortisol ratios in adolescents.

•Groups exhibited similar levels of DHEA/cortisol ratios at baseline and post-stress initiation.•Trauma exposure moderated this association after stress initiation but not at baseline.•High risk along with greater trauma had greater DHEA/cortisol ratios post-stress.•This association was not found for DHEA levels or cortisol levels alone.