Further evidence of HPA-axis dysregulation and its correlation with depression in Autism Spectrum Disorders: Data from girls

Christopher F. Sharpley; Vicki Bitsika; Nicholas M. Andronicos; Linda L. Agnew

doi:10.1016/j.physbeh.2016.09.003

Further evidence of HPA-axis dysregulation and its correlation with depression in Autism Spectrum Disorders: Data from girls

Christopher F. Sharpley^*, Vicki Bitsika, Nicholas M. Andronicos, Linda L. Agnew

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review

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Abstract

To further describe Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis activity in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), the Diurnal Fluctuation (DF) and Cortisol Awakening Response (CAR) were investigated in a sample of 39 high functioning girls with ASD. Although group mean data conformed to the DF and CAR models, over half of the participants showed inverse CAR and over 14% had inverted DF cortisol concentrations. Examination of three potential sets of predictor factors (physiological, ASD-related, and mood) revealed that only self-reported Major Depressive Disorder was significantly associated with CAR status, and that the girls' concern about dying or suicide was the most powerful contributor to the variance in CAR status. These findings add to the literature regarding the HPA axis dysfunction in children with ASD.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	110-117
Number of pages	8
Journal	Physiology and Behavior
Volume	167
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physbeh.2016.09.003
Publication status	Published - 1 Dec 2016

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title = "Further evidence of HPA-axis dysregulation and its correlation with depression in Autism Spectrum Disorders: Data from girls",

abstract = "To further describe Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis activity in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), the Diurnal Fluctuation (DF) and Cortisol Awakening Response (CAR) were investigated in a sample of 39 high functioning girls with ASD. Although group mean data conformed to the DF and CAR models, over half of the participants showed inverse CAR and over 14% had inverted DF cortisol concentrations. Examination of three potential sets of predictor factors (physiological, ASD-related, and mood) revealed that only self-reported Major Depressive Disorder was significantly associated with CAR status, and that the girls' concern about dying or suicide was the most powerful contributor to the variance in CAR status. These findings add to the literature regarding the HPA axis dysfunction in children with ASD.",

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AU - Sharpley, Christopher F.

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AU - Agnew, Linda L.

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AB - To further describe Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis activity in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), the Diurnal Fluctuation (DF) and Cortisol Awakening Response (CAR) were investigated in a sample of 39 high functioning girls with ASD. Although group mean data conformed to the DF and CAR models, over half of the participants showed inverse CAR and over 14% had inverted DF cortisol concentrations. Examination of three potential sets of predictor factors (physiological, ASD-related, and mood) revealed that only self-reported Major Depressive Disorder was significantly associated with CAR status, and that the girls' concern about dying or suicide was the most powerful contributor to the variance in CAR status. These findings add to the literature regarding the HPA axis dysfunction in children with ASD.

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Further evidence of HPA-axis dysregulation and its correlation with depression in Autism Spectrum Disorders: Data from girls

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