Methodological Considerations for Using Hair Cortisol as a Biomarker Following No Measurable Effects of Tactile Massage in Adolescents With ADHD

Aims

Dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis has been proposed as a mechanism in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Tactile massage is suggested to influence long-term cortisol secretion in adolescents with ADHD, although it remains unclear whether such an effect occurs. This study examined whether tactile massage alters hair cortisol in adolescents with ADHD.