Analysis of neurosteroid levels in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Neurosteroids are important neuroactive substrates with demonstrated involv ement in several neurophysiological and disease processes. Attention defici t hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has been associated with dysregulation of t he catecholaminergic and serotonergic systems, however its relationship to irregularities or changes in neurosteroid levels remains unknown. We examin ed the relationship between blood levels of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), its principal precursor pregnenolone and its principal metabolite dehydroep iandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS) in 29 young male subjects aged 7-15 years wi th DSM-lV criteria of ADHD. Subjects were evaluated by a specially designed scale, following which patients were divided into two groups according to severity of symptomatology. Results indicated significant inverse correlati ons between clinical symptomatology and levels of DHEA and pregnenolone in the total group. These inverse correlations were particularly evident in th e less severe group of subjects. Levels of DHEA and DHEAS were inversely co rrelated with the hyperactivity subscale. Furthermore, using median blood l evels as a cut-off indicator, higher blood levels of DHEA and DHEAS were as sociated with fewer ADHD symptoms, in particular hyperactivity symptomatolo gy. Our findings suggest a possible protective effect of various neurostero ids on the expression of ADHD symptomatology.