Hatzinger Martin, Brand Serge, Perren Sonja, von Wyl Agnes, von Klitzing Kai, Holsboer-Trachsler Edith
Psychiatric University Clinics (UPK), Depression Research Unit, Wilhelm Klein-Str. 27, CH-4025 Basel, Switzerland.
J Psychiatr Res. 2007 Nov;41(10):861-70. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2006.07.012. Epub 2006 Sep 18.
The current cross-sectional study investigated basal and stress-challenged hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) system function in 102 five-year old kindergarten children (59 boys, 43 girls) who had been assessed by a comprehensive psychological and behavioral test battery. Baseline HPA system activity was significantly increased in girls when compared to boys (p<0.001). Furthermore, basal HPA system activity predicted a high hormonal release during stress with--again--girls showing higher hormonal responses than boys (p<0.01). Importantly, increased HPA system activity (baseline and stress-challenged) was significantly associated with hyperactivity/impulsivity and emotional problems in boys and with positive emotions in girls (p<0.05). These results suggest an occurrence of neurobiological alterations early in development. The observed neurobiological changes are gender specific already at the age of 5 years. Prospective long-term follow up of the identified subjects with HPA axis alterations will clarify if these markers are predictive for the onset of psychiatric disorders.
当前的横断面研究调查了102名五岁幼儿园儿童（59名男孩，43名女孩）的基础及应激状态下下丘脑-垂体-肾上腺皮质（HPA）系统功能，这些儿童已通过一套全面的心理和行为测试进行了评估。与男孩相比，女孩的基础HPA系统活动显著增加（p<0.001）。此外，基础HPA系统活动预示着应激期间激素释放水平较高，同样，女孩的激素反应高于男孩（p<0.01）。重要的是，HPA系统活动增加（基础及应激状态下）与男孩的多动/冲动及情绪问题以及女孩的积极情绪显著相关（p<0.05）。这些结果表明在发育早期就出现了神经生物学改变。所观察到的神经生物学变化在5岁时就已具有性别特异性。对已确定的HPA轴改变的受试者进行前瞻性长期随访将阐明这些标志物是否可预测精神疾病的发病。
