Low hair cortisol concentration and emerging attention‐deficit/hyperactivity symptoms in preschool age

• Published in: Developmental psychobiology 2018-09, Vol.60 (6), p.722-729
• Main Authors: Schloß, Susan, Ruhl, Isabelle, Müller, Viola, Becker, Katja, Skoluda, Nadine, Nater, Urs M., Pauli‐Pott, Ursula
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity - metabolism; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity - physiopathology; attention deficits hyperactivity disorder; Child, Preschool; externalizing behavior problems; Female; Hair - chemistry; HPA axis activity; Humans; Hydrocortisone - metabolism; Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System - metabolism; Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System - physiology; Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System - physiopathology; Male; Pituitary-Adrenal System - metabolism; Pituitary-Adrenal System - physiology; Pituitary-Adrenal System - physiopathology; preschool age; Prognosis; Sex Factors
• ISSN: 0012-1630; 1098-2302
• DOI: 10.1002/dev.21627

Previous research demonstrated hypoactivity of the HPA axis in children with attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or externalizing symptoms. We analyzed the predictive association between the long‐term HPA axis activity and increasing symptoms of ADHD in the preschool period. The sample consisted of n = 125 4‐year‐old children and their families (including n = 64 children with elevated ADHD symptoms). ADHD symptoms were assessed by a structured clinical interview with the mother and by parent‐ and teacher‐report questionnaires. The long‐term HPA axis activity was assessed by the hair cortisol concentration (HCC) (over a 3‐month period). After controlling for potential confounders, low HCC predicted an increase in ADHD symptoms between the age of 4 and 5 years. Exploration of gender effects revealed that cross‐sectional and predictive associations were significant in boys but not in girls. Low HCC might thus be regarded as an early marker of a possibly gender‐related developmental pathway to ADHD.