Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal reactivity in prepubertal children with social phobia

Background m of this study was to investigate whether a different pattern of HPA axis activity is found between children with social phobia (SP) and healthy control children. s l of 50 prepubertal subjects (25 children with SP and 25 healthy control subjects) were studied. The effects of stress were studied by comparing cortisol responses to a psychosocial stressor, consisting of a public speaking task. s en with SP showed an elevated cortisol response to the psychosocial stressor as compared with healthy controls. Trait but not state anxiety levels are associated with higher HPA axis activity. tions d sample size. sions sults indicate that a higher cortisol responsivity to stress may be a neurobiological marker for prepubertal children with SP. Directions for future research and clinical implications are discussed.