Salivary oxytocin levels, empathy, and executive functions in Egyptian children with ADHD: a case–control study

Abstract

Objective: This case–control study was to compare the salivary oxytocin levels of ADHD in children and typically developing children (TDC) and to examine the correlation between executive functions, empathy, and salivary oxytocin levels in ADHD in children and TDC. Method: We recruited a consecutive specimen of 60 Egyptian ADHD children and 30 TDC. The following instruments were employed to evaluate the participants: Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-III), Griffith Empathy Measure (GEM), the Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children (K-SADS-PL), Conner’s Parent Rating Scale (CPRS-R), Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST), and salivary oxytocin analysis via ELISA. Results: Salivary oxytocin levels were significantly greater in ADHD cases (mean = 83.68 ± 37.3 pg/ml) compared to controls (mean = 68.00 ± 48.6 pg/ml; p = 0.031). However, correlations between salivary oxytocin, empathy, and executive functions were not statistically significant. Conclusions: Salivary oxytocin levels were higher in ADHD in children (mean = 83.68 ± 37.3 pg/ml) compared to controls (mean = 68.00 ± 48.6 pg/ml with p-value = 0.031), but did not correlate with empathy or executive functions.