Cortisol secretion in children with symptoms of reactive attachment disorder

Abstract

Maltreated children with Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) have severe problems with social relationships and affect regulation. An association between early maltreatment and changes in the daily rhythm of cortisol secretion has already been reported for maltreated toddlers. We sought to find out whether such changes were apparent in school-age children with symptoms of RAD, who had experienced early maltreatment but were currently adopted in well functioning families. We recruited 66 children: 34 5-12 year old adopted children with an early history of maltreatment and with social difficulties such as indiscriminate friendliness; and 32 age-and sex-matched comparison children with no history of maltreatment or social difficulties. Daily rhythms of cortisol production were determined from saliva samples collected over two days.The adopted group had significantly lower absolute levels of cortisol compared to the control group, but a typical profile of cortisol secretion. There was no association between cortisol secretion and symptom scores for psychopathology.

Multidimensional assessment of neuroendocrine and psychopathological profiles in maltreated youth

“…The finding of significantly reduced basal cortisol levels in the ELS group in our study even after approximately 10 years within a stable family environment replicates previous findings in samples of children living foster care and adoption (Bruce et al 2009; Doom et al 2014; Dozier et al 2006; Kočovská et al 2013). This provides further evidence for the pervasive influence of early adversity on neuroendocrine functioning, which has been shown to persist into emerging adulthood (Hagan et al 2014).…”

“…Caregivers were instructed to place the Salivette cotton rolls into the child’s mouth and ensure that the cotton roll was chewed for at least 1 min until sufficient saturation with saliva before placing them back into the plastic vials. Caregivers were instructed to note the exact time and date on the vials and place samples in the refrigerator immediately after collection and either mail them to our lab via post or bring them to our lab within 48 h after collection (following the procedure of Kočovská et al 2013). After unfreezing, all saliva samples were centrifuged at 2000× g for 2 min to separate the saliva from the swab and were afterwards brought to the central laboratory of the University Hospital Aachen.…”

“…A majority of studies have identified lower basal cortisol levels in children in foster care and adoption (Bruce et al 2009; Doom et al 2014; Dozier et al 2006; Kočovská et al 2013; see Gunnar and Quevedo 2008 for a review). However, contrary findings have also been obtained.…”

Association between Reactive Attachment Disorder/Disinhibited Social Engagement Disorder and Emerging Personality Disorder: A Feasibility Study

“… The Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Assessment (CAPA-RAD) [ 11 ]: it is a 30-item semistructured parent/carer interview about RAD symptoms. Maltreatment checklist [ 12 ]: this is a checklist of different forms of abuse. Answers were obtained from case notes, so participants were not asked direct questions about maltreatment.…”

Apego, cortisol y estrés, en infantes: una revisión narrativa

“…En la misma línea, otro estudió comprobó el mismo patrón de hipocortisolismo en niños en régimen de acogida que cambiaban de casa, mientras que tales alteraciones analíticas no aparecían en aquellos sobre los que se intervenía psicoterapéuticamente para paliar el distrés (74). Igualmente, se pudo constatar un patrón de hipofunción corticoidea así como una morfología específica en la cur-va de secreción de cortisol en niños con trastorno reactivo del vínculo que habían sufrido graves experiencias de maltrato, en comparación con el grupo control (75).…”