title: Eight-month test-retest agreement in morning salivary cortisol, self- and parent-rated anxiety in boys with an Autism Spectrum Disorder.
abstract: The agreement over time in morning salivary cortisol concentrations and also self- and parent-rated anxiety was investigated in a sample of 16 boys with an ASD. Cortisol and anxiety data were collected eight months apart. Results indicated that there were significant correlations between each pair of measures from the two occasions, suggesting that cortisol concentrations and anxiety did not vary much at all over that time, challenging the assumption that cortisol needs to be measured over multiple days to obtain reliable data from children with an ASD. Implications for research into the ways these children respond to chronic stressors are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Autism Spectrum Disorders, Bond University, Robina, Queensland, Australia; Brain-Behaviour Research Group, University of New England, Armidale, New South Wales, Australia. Electronic address: csharpl3@une.edu.au.
authors.forename: Christopher F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Sharpley
authors.affiliation: Centre for Autism Spectrum Disorders, Bond University, Robina, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Vicki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bitsika
authors.affiliation: Brain-Behaviour Research Group, University of New England, Armidale, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Linda L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Agnew
authors.affiliation: Brain-Behaviour Research Group, University of New England, Armidale, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Nicholas M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Andronicos
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001007:Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents; D017440:Photoperiod; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism*; D012647:Self-Assessment; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D006854:Hydrocortisone
keywords: Anxiety; Autism; Cortisol