Influence of treatment for disruptive behavior disorders on adrenal and gonadal hormones in youth.

Abstract

The study examined whether psychosocial intervention for children diagnosed with a disruptive behavior disorder (DBD; n = 84) changed concentrations of cortisol and testosterone across a 3-year follow-up when compared to a matched, nonclinical, healthy comparison (HC; n = 69) group. Boys and girls (6-11 years) with a DBD were randomly assigned to one of two arms of a multimethod intervention. Hierarchical linear modeling revealed that children undergoing psychosocial intervention for a DBD experienced a significant decline in diurnal cortisol change over time (p < .05) when compared to the HC condition. Boys with a DBD diagnosis had significantly lower mean cortisol concentrations prior to treatment (p < .05) and showed a significantly steeper increase in mean cortisol over time (p < .05) when compared to HC boys. Treatment effects for diurnal cortisol change were replicated in the boys-only analysis. No treatment effects were noted for testosterone in either analysis.

• Authors: Lorah D Dorn, David J Kolko, Chad E Shenk, Elizabeth J Susman, Oscar Bukstein
• Journal: Journal of clinical child and adolescent psychology : the official journal for the Society of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, American Psychological Association, Division 53 (J Clin Child Adolesc Psychol) Vol. 40 Issue 4 Pg. 562-71 ( 2011) ISSN: 1537-4424 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 21722028 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)

Chemical References

• Testosterone
• Hydrocortisone

Topics

• Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders (blood, physiopathology, therapy)
• Child
• Circadian Rhythm
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
• Female
• Humans
• Hydrocortisone (analysis)
• Male
• Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
• Saliva (chemistry)
• Testosterone (analysis)
• Treatment Outcome