The potential role of psychoimmunological and psychoendocrine processes in the comorbidity of atopic eczema and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

A growing number of epidemiological data indicate a comorbidity of atopic eczema (AE) and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Recently, we could demonstrate that children with AE have a 1.5 fold increased risk for ADHD in later life. The underlying pathophysiological mechanisms of a link between AE and ADHD are unknown. The specific goal of the proposed research project is to investigate (a) whether stress and a dysfunctional biological stress response is a common pathologically relevant factor in AE and ADHD and (b) whether allergic inflammatory processes can trigger or exacerbate ADHD symptomatology.Patients with AE and patients with AE and ADHD were studied before (t1), during acute exacerbation (t2) as well as after treatment of AE (t3). Inflammatory cytokine levels, executive cognitive functions and attention were assessed on t1, t2 and t3. Further, cortisol responses to psychosocial stress (Trier Social Stress Test for Children; TSST-C) and cortisol in hair were determined. As control groups, healthy subjects and and patients with ADHD are investigated.The results of the proposed study are of heuristic and clinical relevance. They may elucidate (a) the impact of dysfunctional endocrine and immunological processes on brain regions involved in executive functions and attention and (b) whether AE-specific inflammatory processes and/or stress may be relevant factors in the comorbidity of AE and ADHD.