eh si lo so.
così ho ottenuto qualcosa:
Codice PHP:
if ($_SERVER['REQUEST_METHOD'] == "POST" && isset($_POST['azione']) == "changeSel") {
    selectCategory();
}
....
<script type="text/javascript">
    function changeSelect() {
        document.articoli.azione = 'changeSel';
        document.articoli.submit();
    }
</script>
<fieldset>
    <legend>Aggiungi articolo</legend>
    <table>
        <form action="<?php $_SERVER['PHP_SELF']; ?>" method="post" name="articoli">
            <tr>
                <td>Titolo:</td>
                <td><input type="text" name="titolo" value="" /></td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
                <td>
                </td>
                <td>
                    <textarea id="testo_articolo" name="testo" rows="40" cols="80">
                    </textarea>
                    <script type="text/javascript">
                        CKEDITOR.replace(
                        'testo_articolo',
                        {
                            language : 'it'
                        }
                    );
                    </script>
                </td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
                <td>Sezione:</td>
                <td>
                    <select name="sezione" onchange="changeSelect();">
                        <option value="*">*</option>
                        <?php
                        
foreach (selectSection () as $rowSection) {
                            echo 
"<option value='" $rowSection['sezione_id'] . "'>" $rowSection['sezione_nome'] . "</option>";
                        }
                        
?>
                    </select>
                </td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
                <td>Categoria:</td>
                <td>
                    <select name="categoria" id="categoria">
                        <option value="*">*</option>
                        <?php
                        
foreach (selectCategory () as $rowCat) {
                            echo 
"<option value='" $rowCat['categoria_id'] . "'>" $rowCat['categoria_nome'] . "</option>";
                        }
                        
?>
                    </select>
                </td>
            </tr>
.........
adesso la seconda select è popolata ma ad ogni submit mi ricarica la prima select e riprende il primo valore.