Hair cortisol‑a stress marker in children and adolescents with chronic tic disorders? A large European cross‑sectional study

Abstract

Background There is clear evidence that tic disorders (TDs) are associated with psychosocial stress as well as emotional and behavioral problems. Studies have shown that individuals with TDs have higher acute physiological stress responses to external, single stressors (as refected by saliva cortisol). The aim of the present study was to examine a physiological marker of longer-term stress (as refected by hair cortisol concentration) in children and adolescents with TDs and unafected siblings of individuals with TDs. Methods Two samples of a European cohort were included in this study. In the COURSE sample, 412 children and adoles cents aged 3–16 years with a chronic TD including Tourette syndrome according to DSM IV-TR criteria were included. The ONSET sample included 131 3–10 years old siblings of individuals with TDs, who themselves had no tics. Diferences in hair cortisol concentration (HCC) between the two samples were examined. Within the COURSE sample, relations of HCC with tic severity and perceived psychosocial stress as well as potential efects and interaction efects of comorbid emotional and behavioral problems and psychotropic medication on HCC were investigated. Results There were no diferences in HCC between the two samples. In participants with TDs, there were no associations between HCC and tic severity or perceived psychosocial stress. No main efects of sex, psychotropic medication status and comorbid emotional and behavioral problems on HCC were found in participants with TDs. Conclusion A link between HCC and TDs is not supported by the present results.