title: HPA-axis activity as a predictor of future disruptive behaviors in young adolescents.
abstract: Low HPA-axis activity has been proposed as a risk factor for disruptive behaviors. However longitudinal data on this topic are practically lacking. In the present study we investigated if low HPA-axis activity predicted future disruptive behaviors. We included 1,399 boys and girls from the Dutch general population, initially aged 10-12 years. At the first assessment, basal cortisol levels were assessed. At the first assessment and at follow-up 2 years later disruptive behaviors were assessed with parent and self-report questionnaires. The results suggest that the association between low cortisol levels at 8.00 p.m. and future disruptive behaviors according to the parents was only present for boys. More importantly however, the results suggest that low HPA-axis activity is not a good predictor for disruptive behaviors, but could be valuable to identify those with a poor prognosis, once disruptive behaviors are present in preadolescence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Frouke E P L
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Sondeijker
authors.forename: Robert F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Ferdinand
authors.forename: Albertine J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Oldehinkel
authors.forename: Henning
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tiemeier
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ormel
authors.forename: Frank C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Verhulst
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D019540:Area Under Curve; D019958:Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000378:metabolism; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000502:physiology*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D010912:Pituitary-Adrenal Function Tests; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000502:physiology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012923:Social Class
chemical_list: D006854:Hydrocortisone