[Function of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder].

Objective: To study the function of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Methods: One hundred and twenty-eight boys with ADHD at ages of 6 to 14 years were enrolled. The diagnosis and grouping of ADHD were based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV): ADHD-predominantly inattention type (ADHD-I, n=44), ADHD-predominantly hyperactive impulsivetype (ADHD-HI, n=32) and ADHD-combined type (ADHD-C, n=52).