Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and autonomic nervous system activity in disruptive children and matched controls

Objectives: To investigate whether a pattern of lower autonomic nervous sys tem (ANS) and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity is found i n children with disruptive behavior disorders (DBD) under nonstressful and stressful conditions, and whether such a pattern would correspond with thei r feelings of control and negative emotionality. Method: The effects of str ess were studied by comparing cortisol response, heart rate (HR), skin cond uctance level (SCL), and subjective feelings of 26 children with DBD and 26 matched normal controls. An additional 12 normal control children were stu died in a nonstress control condition. Results: Baseline HR and SCL but not cortisol were lower in the DBD group. Stress significantly affected cortis ol, HR, SCL, and negative moods, although children with DBD showed a weaker HPA stress response and the difference between the groups was greater unde r stress. Conclusions: Children with DBD are characterized by lower ANS act ivity and HPA axis responsivity, but higher levels of emotional arousal. It is possible that in children with DBD the HPA axis and ANS, on the one han d, and their emotional arousal, on the other, are less well coordinated. It is speculated that this could be due to differences in genetic makeup or t o stressful conditions during pre- or postnatal life.