Childhood Trajectories of Hyperactivity/Inattention Symptoms and Diurnal Cortisol in Middle Adolescence: Results from a UK Birth Cohort.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE\nChildren with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) show hypoactivity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Whether the association between hyperactivity/inattention symptoms with HPA axis dysfunction holds in the general child population too is not clear.\n\n\nMETHOD\nWe assessed associations between longitudinal trajectories of hyperactivity/inattention symptoms during ages 4 to 13\u2009years and basal cortisol profiles at age 15 in a British general population cohort.\n\n\nRESULTS\nAdolescents with persistently high levels of hyperactivity/inattention symptoms since childhood showed lower total morning cortisol and a smaller diurnal decline, even after adjusting for confounders. No associations were found between any of the symptom trajectories and cortisol awakening response, diurnal slope or daily output of cortisol.\n\n\nCONCLUSION\nThis study provides evidence for hypocortisolism among adolescents with chronic hyperactivity/inattention symptoms in the general population.