Table 3.
Mean and Standard Deviation of Salivary Cortisol Levels (nmol/L) Before and After the Stress Task
| Time | Group | Mean±SD | Comparisons | t | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CORT-1 | Control | 9.12±4.91 | ADHD-I vs. control | 1.30 | 0.20 |
| Inattentive | 7.99±3.63 | ADHD-C vs. control | 1.27 | 0.21 | |
| combined | 7.84±4.70 | ADHD-I-vs. ADHD-C | 0.17 | 0.87 | |
| CORT-2 | Control | 10.02±7.10 | ADHD-I vs. control | 1.35 | 0.18 |
| Inattentive | 10.41±5.54 | ADHD-C vs. control | 1.27 | 0.21 | |
| combined | 8.34±4.61 | ADHD-I-vs. ADHD-C | 1.45 | 0.15 | |
| CORT-3 | Control | 9.97±7.29 | ADHD-I vs. control | 0.56 | 0.58 |
| Inattentive | 13.68±10.62 | ADHD-C vs. control | 0.56 | 0.58 | |
| combined | 9.03±5.44 | ADHD-I-vs. ADHD-C | 2.54 | 0.01** | |
| CORT-4 | Control | 8.76±5.49 | ADHD-I vs. control | 0.96 | 0.38 |
| Inattentive | 11.12±5.49 | ADHD-C vs. control | 0.96 | 0.34 | |
| combined | 7.31±4.45 | ADHD-I-vs. ADHD-C | 2.43 | 0.01** | |
| CORT-5 | Control | 6.68±3.63 | ADHD-I vs. control | 0.50 | 0.61 |
| Inattentive | 8.56±7.05 | ADHD-C vs. control | 0.50 | 0.62 | |
| combined | 6.13±3.34 | ADHD-I-vs. ADHD-C | 2.154 | 0.03* | |
| CORT-6 | Control | 6.02±2.43 | ADHD-I vs. control | 0.56 | 0.60 |
| Inattentive | 7.27±5.64 | ADHD-C vs. control | 0.56 | 0.58 | |
| combined | 5.51±2.95 | ADHD-I-vs. ADHD-C | 1.946 | 0.06 |
Abbreviations: ADHD, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; CORT-1, basal before stress task; CORT-2, 0 minutes after TSST; CORT-3, 15 minutes after TSST; CORT-4, 30 minutes after TSST; CORT-5, 45 minutes after TSST; CORT-6, 60 minutes after TSST.
The results of the t test and the significance level of salivary cortisol between the inattentive and combined ADHD subtypes and the healthy controls at each time point are also presented.
* P < .05; ** P < .01.