Abstract

STUDY OF TESTOSTERONE LEVELIN A COHORT OF HYPERACTIVE SCHOOL CHILDRENVERSUS SCHOOL CHILDREN WITH PRO-SOCIAL TRAITS IN IRAQI PROVINCE

Shatha Q. Jawad, Amina N. Al-Thwaini, *Salwa SH. Abdul-Wahid

Abstract

Background: The various childhood problems that are often subsumed under the heading of "hyperactivity" occur in various combinations and, apparently, for various reasons. Objective: To assess the association between testosterone concentrations, among primary school children with attention deficient hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), versus control school children with pro-social traits. Subjects & Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted for the period from the first of April- 2013 to the 31 April-2014. The study sample was one hundred primary school children diagnosed with behavioral disorders including ADHD with or without conduct disorder, in comparison with (100) control school children characterized with pro-social traits. Assessment of behavioral disorders (ADHD, and conduct) depend on Rutter child behavioral Questionnaire (RCBQ), as a scale used by teachers for assessment of school children behavior, including disorders in behavior, (ADHD and conduct or antisocial behavior), versus pro-social behavior. Measurement of serum testosterone levels was done to the school children with ADHD with or without aggressive behavior and to the controls, prosocial character. Result: Testosterone levelhighly increase 0.6506 ±0.654 ng/ml for male's school children with ADHD than its level in pro-social control group 0.4492 ± 0.4198 ng/ml. On the other hand ADHD, comorbid aggression group had higher testosterone levels (0.8786±0.8421) ng/ml), than non-aggressive ADHD group (0.4316±0.25689 ng/ml) with a highly significant differences (p<0.01). Eight (24.2%) of 33 ADHD non aggressive males had abnormal testosterone levels but in the aggressive comorbid group 11/33(34.4%) had abnormal levels. In contrast testosterone level for control group was abnormal in 5/65 (7.7%), with a highly significant differences (p<0.01) between the disorder types in males and hormone levels. In regard to females it is found that 9/18 (50%), 3(17.6%) of 17 had abnormal testosterone levels for ADHD, and in aggressive comorbid with ADHD. There was no significant differences between the disorder types in females and the hormone levels. Testosterone levels highly increased in ADHD non Aggressive group (06575±0.5518ng/ml),(0.8467±0.999ng/ml), for the age 9, 10 years. And 11 years respectively, with significant statistical difference (p<0.05). Conclusion:Generally without concentration on the age, it seemed that testosterone levels is more in aggressive children than who have ADHD in comparison with the pro-social children.

Keywords: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD); Testosterone hormone; conduct disorder; Pro-social behavior; Anti-social behavior, Rutter child behavior questioner; Rutter teacher behavior scale.