Cocaine addicts with conduct disorder are typified by decreased cortisol responsivity and high plasma levels of DHEA-S.
There is evidence that children with antisocial behaviors have increased plasma levels of the adrenal androgen dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) and either a decreased level of another adrenal steroid, cortisol, or a decreased cortisol responsivity to stress. Low levels of cortisol have also been reported in antisocial adults but their levels of DHEA-S have not been studied. The present study was designed to perform in adult cocaine addicts simultaneous assessments of DHEA-S and cortisol as a function of a diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder (adult symptoms) and of a retrospective diagnosis of conduct disorder (CD). Basal cortisol and DHEA-S were determined in the plasma samples of 40 hospitalized men. The patients' cortisol responsivity was also assessed while they were being exposed to a stressful situation. Patients who had a retrospective CD diagnosis had significantly increased DHEA-S levels and secreted less cortisol when stressed. Comparisons between patients who did and did not meet the antisocial personality disorder adult criteria did not reveal any significant difference in DHEA-S or in cortisol responsivity. This could be attributed to the nature of the criteria used to define the adult disorder, which focus mostly on a failure to conform to social norms, whereas a number of CD criteria involve displays of some degree of violence. In conclusion, adults who retrospectively qualified for a CD diagnosis had increased DHEA-S levels and a decreased cortisol reactivity, confirming observations made in children and indicating that mechanisms underlying adrenal steroid alterations in childhood could still be at play in adulthood.
New York Harbor Healthcare System, Brooklyn Campus, Brooklyn, N.Y., USA. lbuydens@worldnet.att.net
Laure
L
Buydens-Branchey
Marc
M
Branchey
D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D019955:Conduct Disorder / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000097:blood
D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D006854:Hydrocortisone