22939
Individual Differences in HPA Axis Activity in Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Relations to Stress, Anxiety, Social Responsiveness and Adaptive Skills
Theorists speculate that individual differences in the reactivity and regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis may provide clues as to the determinants of risk and resilience. Developmental science champions salivary cortisol to operationalize individual differences in the activity of the HPA axis (Granger et al., 2012). More than three decades of research reveals links between salivary cortisol and atypical behavior in youth (e.g., Granger et al., 1994; 1996; Gordis et al., 2006; Chen et al., 2014). Taken together, studies link salivary cortisol to distress, negative affect, and social anxiety, and show that variation in the expression of cortisol-behavior relationships is highly dependent on social contextual forces. Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) may show variable dysregulation of diurnal patterns (e.g. Corbett 2008; Gabriels et al., 2013). Surprisingly, the depth of our knowledge about the association between environmentally sensitive physiological systems, such as the HPA axis, and adjustment in youth with ASD is very shallow. Advancing our understanding of the correlates and concomitants of HPA axis activity in ASD may have implications for individual differences in developmental trajectory or treatment effectiveness, or both.
Objectives:
This study evaluated the association between activity of the HPA axis and stress, anxiety, and social responsiveness in youth with ASD.
Methods:
Saliva (later assayed for cortisol) was sampled three times a day (waking, 30 minutes post wake, and before dinner) for two consecutive days in 20 participants (19 males; 7-17 years; Parent report of the children’s social responsiveness, anxiety and stress were obtained respectively using the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS), Spence Children’s Anxiety Scale (SCAS), and Stress Survey Schedule for Persons with Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities (SSS) (Essau 2002, Constantino 2012, Goodwin 2013).
Results:
The cortisol diurnal decline was associated with SRS social cognition raw score (r = 0.53, p=0.016 ), SCAS panic agoraphobia (r = 0.55, p=0.015) and three SSS subscales: anticipation (r=0.46, p=0.047, positive (r=0.46, p=0.045), and rituals (r =0.48, p=0.037). Figure 1 presents the scatter plot and linear regression line.
Conclusions:
This preliminary study suggests that individual difference in the diurnal decline of cortisol in ASD patients may be associated with anxiety, stress and social responsiveness.
