Enhanced Cortisol Response to Stress in Children in Autism
Open accessAbstract
Children with Autism often show difficulties in adapting to change. Previous studies of cortisol, a neurobiologic stress hormone reflecting hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity, in children with autism have demonstrated variable results. This study measured cortisol levels in children with and without Autism: (1) at rest; (2) in a novel environment; and (3) in response to a blood draw stressor. A significantly higher serum cortisol response was found in the group of children with autism. Analysis showed significantly higher peak cortisol levels and prolonged duration and recovery of cortisol elevation following the blood-stick stressor in children with autism. This study suggests increased reactivity of the HPA axis to stress and novel stimuli in children with autism.
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A generalized increase in the stress response is characteristic of those with ASD relative to typically-developing individuals.
“Furthermore, a generalized increase in the stress response is also characteristic of those with ASD relative to typically-developing individuals (Ming et al., 2005; Mazurek et al., 2013; Spratt et al., 2012).”
From Associations between cytokines, endocrine stress response, and gastrointestinal symptoms in autism spectrum disorder (2016) · cites this paper as Spratt et al., 2012
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References 35 · Cited by 222
- Authors
- Spratt, E. G., Nicholas, J. S., Brady, K. T., Carpenter, L. A., Hatcher, C. R., Meekins, K. A., Furlanetto, R. W., & Charles, J. M.
- Affiliations
- Medical University of South Carolina (US)
- Quest Diagnostics (United States) (US)
- Corresponding author
- Spratt, Eve G.
- Venue
- Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
- Published
- 2011-03-22
- Volume
- 42
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 75-81
- ISSN
- 0162-3257 (ISSN-L)
- 1573-3432
- PMC
- PMC3245359
- OpenAlex
- W1989812280
- Cited by
- 222
- References
- 35
- Citations by year
- 2026: 10 · 2025: 19 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 19 · 2022: 19 · 2021: 29 · 2020: 17 · 2019: 14 · 2018: 12 · 2017: 13 · 2016: 14 · 2015: 10 · 2014: 15 · 2013: 10 · 2012: 7
- FWCI
- 4.14
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institutes of Health (UL1TR000062)
- National Institute of Mental Health (K23MH064111)
- National Institute on Drug Abuse (K24DA00435, P50DA016511, K24DA000435)
- National Center for Research Resources (UL1RR029882, TL1RR029881)
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
- Keywords
- autism spectrum disorder, cortisol, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, stress response, children, novel environment, cortisol recovery
- MeSH terms
- Autistic Disorder, Child, Child, Preschool, Female, Humans, Hydrocortisone, Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System, Male, Pituitary-Adrenal System, Saliva, Stress, Physiological, Stress, Psychological
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