Impact of Biophilic Sounds on Students with ADHD Symptoms: Basis for Ambient Retreat for Concentration (ARC)

Treatment Controversies in Adult ADHD.

Objective: The first aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of childhood and current attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms in patients with fibromyalgia. The second aim is to assess the role of depression and anxiety on the relationship between childhood and adult ADHD symptoms with disease impact in this population.Methods: Sixty-four patients with fibromyalgia were compared to matched 58 healthy controls. All participants completed the Wender Utah Rating Scale (WURS), Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ).Results: Patients with fibromyalgia had significantly higher mean scores of depression (BDI), anxiety (BAI), childhood ADHD symptoms (WURS) and adult ADHD symptoms (ASRS total, ASRS hyperactivity/impulsivity subscale and ASRS attention deficit subscale) than the control group. Fibromyalgia impact (FIQ) was significantly correlated with depression (BDI; r = 0.57, p < .001), anxiety (BAI; r = 0.56, p < .001) and childhood ADHD symptoms (WURS; r = 0.41, p < .001) in fibromyalgia group. There was no significant correlation between fibromyalgia impact (FIQ) and adult ADHD symptoms (ASRS total or sub-scale scores). Hierarchical multiple regression indicated that childhood ADHD symptoms (WURS), anxiety (BAI) and depression (BDI) predicted fibromyalgia impact. Both anxiety (BAI) and depression (BDI) mediated the relationship between childhood ADHD symptoms (WURS) and fibromyalgia impact (FIQ).Conclusion: Childhood ADHD symptoms may be a contributory factor to poorer functioning in the patients with fibromyalgia. The relationship was more pronounced in the presence of depression and anxiety symptoms. Evaluation of childhood and adult ADHD symptoms in patients with fibromyalgia is important for recognition and treatment of ADHD comorbidity and also for attenuating the severity of the disease.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms and eating problems often coexist, but many of the previous studies have not taken into account key variables which may be important in this association. Thus, the goal of this study was to assess the association between ADHD symptoms and disordered eating, while taking into account of a variety of factors. This study used cross-sectional, nationally representative data from 7,403 people aged ≥16 years from England who participated in the 2007 Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey (APMS). ADHD symptoms were assessed with the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS) Screener. Questions from the five-item SCOFF screening instrument were used to identify possible ED. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted. The prevalence of possible eating disorder (ED) was much higher among those with ADHD symptoms (ASRS score ≥14) compared to those without ADHD symptoms (19.2 vs. 5.7%). ADHD symptoms were associated with possible ED (odds ratio [OR] = 3.48; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.56-4.72) after adjustment for age, sex, and ethnicity. After further adjustment for alcohol dependence, drug use, intelligence quotient, stressful life events, perceived stress, impulsivity, depression, anxiety disorder, and borderline personality disorder (BPD) traits, the OR was attenuated to 1.32 (95% CI = 0.82-2.13). Anxiety and BPD were the factors that led to the largest degree of attenuation. A high prevalence of disordered eating in individuals with ADHD was observed. Factors such as co-existing anxiety and BPD traits may be particularly important in this association. Future research should focus on the factors involved in the association between ADHD symptoms and disordered eating behavior.

The 2D:4D ratios in the mothers of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

ABSTRACTObjectives: To investigate the prevalence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) symptoms in adult patients with primary restless legs syndrome (RLS) and to determine the iron biological correlates of these comorbidities. Participants and Methods: We obtained demographic and clinical data from consecutive 105 outpatients with idiopathic RLS who answered validated questionnaires designed to assess the presence of ADHD and OCD symptoms. In these patients, iron blood parameters were routinely checked. Results: Of the total sample, 42.86% of the patients with RLS showed symptoms reminiscent either of ADHD or OCD. Prevalence of ADHD and OCD symptoms was 27.62% and 7.62%, respectively. Compared to other groups, a significantly higher percentage of RLS patients with ADHD symptoms was on antidepressant (p = 0.012); and women with ADHD symptoms, either alone or combined with OCD symptoms, showed significant reduced ferritin concentrations compared to men with either isolated ADHD symptoms or with combined ADHD and OCD symptoms (p = 0.028 and p = 0.025, respectively). Conclusions: Our findings highlight the high prevalence of ADHD and OCD symptoms in adult patients with primary RLS and independently of serum iron stores decrease, except for women with ADHD symptoms either alone or in combination with OCD symptoms. This may suggest an overlapping neurobiological dopaminergic and serotoninergic dysfunction in ADHD, OCD, and RLS, and question the expression of different RLS phenotypes. The efficacy of dopamine agonists in these groups of patients should be questioned in future studies.

Background: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by symptoms of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity. Previous studies had reported a significantly higher lifetime risk for psychoactive substance use disorders in the ADHD adults than the non-ADHD adults. The current study aimed to examine the correlation between ADHD symptoms and substance use among engineering college students. Methodology: This cross-sectional survey included a sample of undergraduate engineering students (N=711). The college students were screened using the Alcohol, Smoking and substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST) version 3.0. The ADHD symptoms such as inattention and hyperactivity were assessed by the Adult ADHD self-report scale, Symptom Checklist (ASRS-v1.1) and impulsivity by the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11). Results: The symptoms of ADHD were found to be higher in students with substance use. The pattern of substance use in the study sample: tobacco (12.8%), alcohol (19.3%), marijuana (3.1%), sedatives (2.0%), cocaine (1.3%), opioid (0.7%), amphetamine (0.6%), inhalant (0.6%) and hallucinogens (0.4%). Conclusion: With the bidirectional data on ADHD and substance use disorder (SUD), the present study shows a significant relationship between the symptoms of ADHD and substance use in students.

This cross-sectional epidemiological internet survey assessed whether attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) symptoms are associated with pain chronicity and intensity and explored the relationship between developmental disorder symptoms and pain. Participants were 4028 adults aged 20–64 years who experienced pain, assessed using an 11-point numerical rating scale (NRS), in any body part in the previous 4 weeks. ADHD and ASD symptoms were assessed using the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS) and autism spectrum quotient, respectively. Problems with mental health (PMH) were assessed using the shortened Profile of Mood States. Pathway analyses were performed to examine the association between ADHD symptoms and pain. The chronic pain symptoms (CP) group (N = 1465) scored higher than the non-CP group (N = 2563) for all ASRS variables. ASRS positivity was associated with CP symptoms and increased with increasing NRS score; the CP group showed particularly high positivity (38.3%) with extreme pain. ADHD symptoms were more strongly associated with CP symptoms and intensity than was PMH (0.26 vs. 0.09). ADHD symptoms, but not ASD symptoms, were associated with CP symptoms. ADHD medications reportedly improve coexisting CP; therefore, ADHD screening and treatment may be important for patients with CP, especially those with extreme pain.

Introduction and Aims: Knowledge of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms among patients in opioid maintenance treatment (OMT) is important for treatment optimization and yet limited. We investigated the prevalence of ADHD symptoms, and factors associated with high ADHD symptom burden in a group of Norwegian OMT patients. Methods: We interviewed individuals entering OMT across Norway in 2 steps between 2012 and 2016. ADHD symptoms were measured by the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS; n = 175). We compared 2 groups of individuals who scored above or below the clinical cutoff score. Mental distress was measured with the General Symptom Index (GSI) of the Hopkin’s Symptom Check-List-25. Results: A total of 33% of the OMT patients screened positively for ADHD on the ASRS. Participants who scored above the clinical cutoff were younger, and reported more severe substance use and mental distress. When controlling for other significant variables in a logistic regression analysis, scoring above cutoff on the ASRS was associated with higher GSI (OR 1.61; 95% CI 1.03–2.50) and use of stimulants (OR 2.55; 1.13–5.76). Conclusions: ADHD symptoms were common in these OMT patients. High ADHD symptom burden was associated with higher mental distress and use of stimulants. This underlines a need of more systematic focus on ADHD in OMT to plan treatment accordingly.

Background and aimsOur goal was to examine the association between attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms and gambling problems, and to identify potential mediating factors of this association.MethodsThis study used cross-sectional, community-based data from 7,403 people aged ≥16 years who participated in the Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey 2007. ADHD symptoms were assessed using the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS) Screener. Problem gambling was assessed using a questionnaire based on the 10 DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for pathological gambling. Respondents were classified as having no problem, at-risk, or problem gambling. Logistic regression and mediation analyses were conducted to analyze the association between ADHD symptoms (i.e., ASRS score ≥14) and problem gambling and the role of several variables in this association.ResultsThe prevalence of at-risk (5.3% vs. 2.4%) and problem gambling (2.4% vs. 0.6%) was higher in individuals with ADHD symptoms than in those without ADHD symptoms. ADHD symptoms were significantly associated with both at-risk (OR = 2.15; 95% CI = 1.22–3.79) and problem gambling (OR = 3.57; 95% CI = 1.53–8.31) when adjusted for age, sex, and ethnicity. Common mental disorders (CMDs; i.e., depression and anxiety disorders) (mediated percentage = 22.4%), borderline personality disorder (BPD) traits (22.1%), stressful life events (13.2%), stress at work or home (12.6%), alcohol dependence (11.8%), and impulsivity (11.2%) were significant mediators in the ADHD–gambling association.Discussion and conclusionsOverall, ADHD symptoms were positively associated with problem gambling. CMDs, BPD traits, and stressful life events were important mediators in this relationship.

ADHD symptoms as risk factor for PTSD in inpatients treated for alcohol use disorder

Prospective Follow-up Studies of ADHD: Helping Establish a Valid Diagnosis in Adults

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine how attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms play an interaction effect on the association between psychosocial work environments and health (psychological distress/work engagement) among workers.Methods: This is a cross-sectional study of 2,693 employees at a pharmaceutical company using a self-administered questionnaire evaluating ADHD symptoms (Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale Screener), psychosocial work environments (job demands, job control and social support), and health outcomes (psychological distress; K6, and work engagement; Utrecht Work Engagement Scale). Multiple regression analyses were applied to assess the interaction between ADHD symptoms and psychosocial work environments on health outcomes.Results: The prevalence of workers with ADHD symptoms was 5.9% (n = 159). Significant interaction effects of ADHD symptoms × job control and ADHD symptoms × social support were observed (β = −0.067, p < 0.01 and β = −0.052, p < 0.01, respectively) on psychological distress after adjustment of age, sex, occupation and education. The interaction effect of ADHD symptoms × each psychosocial work environment was not observed on work engagement.Conclusions: Job control and social support were more influential factors that were related to psychological distress in accordance with ADHD symptoms. This study also found no difference of the interaction between psychosocial work environments and ADHD symptoms on work engagement. To the best of our knowledge, this study was first to clarify the effect of ADHD symptoms on the association between psychosocial work environments and health outcomes (psychological distress/work engagement). These findings can aid employers how to arrange better work environments for workers with ADHD symptoms.

Introduction This study aims to assess whether electroencephalogram (EEG) spectral power change scores (e.g. task spectral power subtracted from resting state spectral power) across three different frequency bands, alpha (8–12 Hz), theta (4–7 Hz), and beta (13–30 Hz), predicts self-reported attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms using the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS) over and above self-reported executive function (EF) abilities using the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF-A) Global Executive Composite (GEC) T-scores for adults. Methods Data were collected at a rural, mid-sized southeastern university (N = 52) and participants received course credit for participation. Participants self-reported ADHD symptoms and EF abilities before completing eyes open resting state and the attention network test (ANT), a common flanker task that measures ability to orient attention, stay alert, and resolve conflict (i.e. distractor arrows) while recording EEG spectral power at electrodes F3 and F4. Bivariate correlations determine associations between EEG measures and self-reported ADHD symptoms and EF abilities. Linear regressions were used to assess whether EEG change scores were predictive of ADHD symptoms over and above EF abilities. Results High correlation coefficients were found only when comparing the ASRS and BRIEF-A GEC T-scores (r = .822, p <.001). Regression analyses produced significant results indicating EEG spectral change scores were predictive of ADHD symptoms, over and above GEC T-Scores, for the alpha band but not the theta and beta bands. Additionally, we found an inverse relationship when comparing change scores in the alpha band across the right (F4) and left (F3) hemispheres supporting the theory of frontal asymmetry for individuals with increased ADHD symptoms. Conclusion This study is the first to assess the predictive ability of EEG spectral power change scores in predicting ADHD symptoms, which are not solely explained by deficits in executive control. Past research has indicated significant differences when comparing task and resting state spectral power indicating change scores might have some utility in measuring cognitive load, specifically in the alpha band, which has been associated with inhibition, working memory, and anticipation of stimuli. Further research should be conducted to assess the utility change scores might have in providing an objective measure related to a clinical population with ADHD.

Although high rates of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms have been observed among internationally adopted children, research on these symptoms in Polish adoptees is lacking. Therefore, we examined ADHD symptoms in Polish adoptees and their relationship to pre-adoptive risk factors, that is, time in institutional care, early deprivation, and prenatal alcohol exposure. We further compared the association patterns and gender distribution of ADHD symptoms in children adopted from Poland to those reported in the literature for ADHD symptoms in non-adopted children. Dutch adoptive parents of 121 Polish adoptees (52% boys; Mage = 10.9 years, range 6.2–15.6; Mageadoption = 3.0 years, range 0.8–6.9) completed questionnaires regarding ADHD symptoms, pre-adoptive risk factors, attachment problems, conduct problems, and executive functioning deficits. Bayesian evaluation of informative hypotheses showed that Polish adoptees had increased levels of ADHD symptoms, compared to Dutch children in the general population. Time in institutional care, early deprivation, and prenatal alcohol exposure were not associated with ADHD symptoms. ADHD symptoms in Polish adoptees were more strongly associated with attachment problems and executive functioning deficits, but less strongly with conduct problems, compared to ADHD symptoms in non-adoptees. Furthermore, ADHD symptoms were more equally distributed among boys and girls than they are in non-adopted children. The findings indicate that Polish adoptees and their adoptive parents need special attention and support. The dissimilarities between ADHD symptoms in Polish adoptees and non-adoptees might indicate a different underlying causal mechanism, which may have important implications for clinical practice.

FIGURE 1. Changes in cortical thickness provide one measure of brain maturation. A large longitudinal study found that for most areas of cortex, children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) reach peak cortical thickness several years later than typically developing children, supporting presence of developmental delay. The rate of cortical thinning also differed between the group who continued to meet diagnostic criteria into adulthood (persistent ADHD) and those who did not (remitted ADHD). Areas of cortex in which the rate of thinning correlated with adult symptom level (green, more symptoms associated with more thinning) are approximated on medial and lateral simplified representations of cortex. An earlier study also identified multiple areas in which cortex was thinner in adults with persistent ADHD compared with controls (orange). In addition, this study noted some areas of thicker cortex in remitted ADHD when compared with persistent ADHD (blue).