The moderating role of sensory Overresponsivity in HPA activity: a pilot study with children diagnosed with ADHD.
OBJECTIVE
To determine if sensory overresponsivity (SOR) is a moderating condition impacting the activity of the Hypothalamic Pituitary Adrenal (HPA) Axis in children with ADHD.


METHODS
Participants were children with (n = 24) and without ADHD (n = 24). Children in the ADHD group were divided into SOR (ADHDs) and non-SOR (ADHDt) groups using the Sensory Over-Responsivity Inventory. All children participated in the Sensory Challenge Protocol. Salivary cortisol was used as a measure of HPA activity. Two prechallenge and seven postchallenge samples of saliva were taken. Cortisol patterns between groups were examined using a mixed-effects ANOVA.


RESULTS
There was a borderline significant difference found between the ADHDt and ADHDs group (p = .056) and a significant difference between ADHDt and the typical group (p = .014).


CONCLUSIONS
Preliminary results support the premise that SOR may be a moderating variable used to create subgroups in diagnostic populations such as ADHD. (J. of Att. Dis. 2010; 13(5) 468-478).
Virginia Commonwealth University, USA. reynoldsse3@vcu.edu
Stacey
S
Reynolds
Shelly J
SJ
Lane
Chris
C
Gennings
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000032:analysis*; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018579:Patient Selection; D010812:Physical Stimulation; D010865:Pilot Projects; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D006854:Hydrocortisone