Low serum allopregnanolone levels in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

İrem Şahin; Gökçe Nur Say; Bahattin Avcı; Neriman Kesim

doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2022.105923

Low serum allopregnanolone levels in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2022 Dec:146:105923. doi: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2022.105923. Epub 2022 Sep 8.

Authors

İrem Şahin¹, Gökçe Nur Say², Bahattin Avcı³, Neriman Kesim²

Affiliations

¹ Ondokuz Mayıs University, School of Medicine, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Samsun, Turkey. Electronic address: i.sahin9105@gmail.com.
² Ondokuz Mayıs University, School of Medicine, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Samsun, Turkey.
³ Ondokuz Mayıs University, School of Medicine, Department of Medical Biochemistry, Samsun, Turkey.

PMID: 36152454
DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2022.105923

Abstract

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has increasing evidence for the role of neurohormones in its etiopathogenesis. It has been suggested that the effects of neurosteroids on the brain in the early developmental period may predispose to neurodevelopmental pathologies. In our study, we examined serum dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), and allopregnanolone levels in children with ADHD and whether these neurosteroids differ in the presence of specific learning disorder (SLD) and oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) comorbidities (ADHD+SLD and ADHD+ODD). We also investigated the relationship between neurosteroid levels and the severity of ADHD symptoms. Thirty-five prepubertal children with ADHD and 33 prepubertal healthy children, all aged 6-10 years, were included in this study. The severity of ADHD symptoms was assessed with the parent-rated and teacher-rated Turgay DSM-IV Disruptive Behavior Disorders Rating Scale (T-DSM-IV-S). Serum allopregnanolone levels were significantly lower in the ADHD group compared to healthy controls. When analyzed according to comorbidity status, serum allopregnanolone levels were lower in ADHD+SLD and ADHD+ODD groups compared to healthy controls. However, when compared to healthy children, serum DHEA and DHEA-S levels in children with ADHD were not significantly different. Serum allopregnanolone levels were negatively associated with teacher-rated T-DSM-IV-S hyperactivity/impulsivity scores for all participants only. These findings suggest that allopregnanolone may play a role in the pathophysiology of ADHD, especially in the presence of ODD and SLD comorbidities.

Keywords: ADHD; Allopregnanolone; DHEA; Neurosteroid; Oppositional defiant disorder; Specific learning disorder.