Decreased cortisol levels in adolescent girls with conduct disorder.
BACKGROUND
Female adolescent antisocial behavior is increasing, but little is known about the neuroendocrinologic aspects of this disorder. On the basis of reports of decreased cortisol levels in antisocial males, we investigated morning plasma cortisol levels in adolescent girls with conduct disorder (CD).


METHODS
Three plasma samples for cortisol levels were taken every 20 minutes between 8 and 9 AM in 47 adolescent girls with CD (mean +/- SD age, 16.5 +/- 0.9 years) and 37 normal control girls (mean age, 16.0 +/- 0.8 years). All blood was drawn within 72 hours after the onset of menstrual flow.


RESULTS
Girls with CD had significantly lower cortisol levels than girls in the normal control group at all 3 sampling times. This finding was not due to procedural factors, demographic characteristics, or the use of medications. The girls with CD who had no other psychiatric problems had lower cortisol levels than girls with other disorders or those in the normal control group. In the multiple regression analysis, having CD predicted 10% of the variance in cortisol levels.


CONCLUSIONS
Morning plasma cortisol levels were significantly diminished in adolescent girls with CD. Decreased cortisol levels appear to be most strongly associated with antisocial girls who do not have other psychiatric disorders.
Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 3811 O'Hara St, Suite 430, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. pajerka@msx.upmc.edu
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Pajer
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Gardner
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Rubin
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Perel
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Neal
D000293:Adolescent; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology; D015415:Biomarkers; D015897:Comorbidity; D019955:Conduct Disorder / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors
D015415:Biomarkers; D006854:Hydrocortisone