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Abstract: Central dopaminergic activity is critical to the functioning of both motor and cognitive systems. Based on the therapeutic action of dopaminergic agents in treating attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), ADHD symptoms may be related to a reduction in central dopaminergic activity. We tested the hypothesis that dopaminergic activity, as reflected by plasma homovanillic acid (pHVA), may be related to dimensional aspects of ADHD in adults. Subjects were 30 healthy volunteer and 39 personality disordered subjects, in whom morning basal pHVA concentration and a dimensional measure of childhood ADHD symptoms (Wender Utah Rating Scale: WURS) were obtained. A significant inverse correlation was found between WURS Total score and pHVA concentration in the total sample. Among WURS factor scores, a significant inverse relationship was noted between pHVA and history of “childhood learning problems”. Consistent with the dopaminergic dysfunction hypothesis of ADHD and of cognitive function, pHVA concentrations were correlated with childhood history of ADHD symptoms in general and with history of “learning problems” in non-ADHD psychiatric patients and controls. Replication is needed in treated and untreated ADHD samples to confirm these initial results. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We examined the relationship between the cortisol response to stress and aggression in patients with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Based on a report stating that only some of the patients with ADHD retain their hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis reactivity to stress, we separately analyzed the relationship between aggression and the cortisol response to stress in two groups according to their reactivity to stress. Using psychological testing as an indicator of stress, we measured the cortisol level in the saliva before and after administering a psychological test. Behavioral problems, including aggression, were assessed using the Korean version of the Child Behavior Checklist (K-CBCL). The increase of the cortisol level was inversely correlated with aggression in patients who retained their reactivity to stress. The absolute value of the decrease was negatively correlated with the attention score of the CBCL for the patients who showed decreases in cortisol after stress. For the patients who showed increases in their concentration of cortisol in reaction to stress, cortisol may play a protective role against aggression. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]