Type Of ADHD Research Articles

Six-year follow-up study of combined type ADHD from childhood to young adulthood: Predictors of functional impairment and comorbid symptoms

BackgroundADHD in childhood is associated with development of negative psychosocial and behavioural outcomes in adults. Yet, relatively little is known about which childhood and adulthood factors are predictive of these outcomes and could be targets for effective interventions. To date follow-up studies have largely used clinical samples from the United States with children ascertained at baseline using broad criteria for ADHD including all clinical subtypes or the use of DSM III criteria. AimsTo identify child and adult predictors of comorbid and psychosocial comorbid outcomes in ADHD in a UK sample of children with DSM-IV combined type ADHD. MethodOne hundred and eighteen adolescents and young adults diagnosed with DSM-IV combined type ADHD in childhood were followed for an average of 6years. Comorbid mental health problems, drug and alcohol use and police contact were compared for those with persistent ADHD, sub-threshold ADHD and population norms taken from the Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Study 2007. Predictors included ADHD symptomology and gender. ResultsPersistent ADHD was associated with greater levels of anger, fatigue, sleep problems and anxiety compared to sub-threshold ADHD. Comorbid mental health problems were predicted by current symptoms of hyperactivity-impulsivity, but not by childhood ADHD severity. Both persistent and sub-threshold ADHD was associated with higher levels of drug use and police contact compared to population norms. ConclusionsYoung adults with a childhood diagnosis of ADHD showed increased rates of comorbid mental health problems, which were predicted by current levels of ADHD symptoms. This suggests the importance of the continuing treatment of ADHD throughout the transitional years and into adulthood. Drug use and police contact were more common in ADHD but were not predicted by ADHD severity in this sample.

Clinical Effects of ADHD Subtypes in Patients With Social Anxiety Disorder

Objective: Our aim in this study is to evaluate the impacts of inattentive and combined types of childhood ADHD (ADHD-I, ADHD-C) in patients with social anxiety disorder (SAD). Methods: A total of 142 adult outpatients with a primary diagnosis of SAD were included. All patients were assessed by using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders (SCID-I), Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School Age Children–Present and Lifetime Version (K-SADS-PL), ADHD module and a clinical and sociodemographic data form and scales were filled out. Results: Childhood ADHD comorbidity rates was found to be 88 (62%) in patients with SAD, and 63 of these patients had the diagnosis of ADHD-I. ADHD-I group had higher scores of social anxiety and avoidance and had earlier onset of SAD than the ADHD-C group. Conclusion: The inattentive subtype of ADHD may have a more specific relationship with SAD than ADHD-C.

Maternal Functioning Differences Based on ADHD Subtype

Objective: Maternal functioning differences in parenting stress, parental efficacy, and parenting behaviors were examined for mothers of children with ADHD. Method: Participants included 29 mothers of children with ADHD, Predominantly Inattentive Type (ADHD-I) and 38 mothers of children with ADHD, Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive or Combined Type (ADHD-HI/C). Results: Findings suggest that mothers of children with ADHD-HI/C reported significantly greater parenting stress and engaged in more negative parenting behaviors than mothers of children with ADHD-I. Conclusion: This study suggests that tailoring behavioral parent training based on ADHD subtype may be particularly helpful for parents of children with ADHD-HI/C.

Evaluation of the efficacy of ADHD treatment with the use of EEG-biofeedback method in comparison to methylphenidate

Aim of the studyThe purpose of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of the EEG-biofeedback (NF) method in ADHD treatment in each of the three basic DSM-IV-TR clinical types.Subject or material and methods85 patients aged 6 to 14 treated in an outpatient department and a day-care department (S) were qualified for the EEG-biofeedback therapy, whereas the control group consisted of 30 patients (C) who were treated with methylphenidate. For the purposes of evaluating the treatment efficacy, a structured interview on the presence of the ADHD symptoms was conducted. The S group patients participated in 20 NF therapy sessions throughout a six-month period. An analysis of electrophysiological parameters of EEG was additionally performed in group S - Th/SMR and Th/Beta ratios in C3 and C4 channels at three points in time (at the beginning, during the course of and at the end of the EEG-biofeedback therapy).ResultsBoth types of S and C group therapies significantly reduce (p < 0.01) the number of attention deficit, hyperactivity and impulsiveness symptoms in subgroups with attention deficit prevalence and mixed type. In all ADHD types, significant decrease in values of the examined Th/SMR and Th/Beta ratios was noted between the sessions 1 and 10.DiscussionThe NF method proved similarly effective as methylphenidate in reducing the number of symptoms, both in the type with prevalence of attention deficit and in the mixed type.ConclusionsThe results of the study are promising, since the EEG-biofeedback therapy was similarly effective as methylphenidate in reducing the aggravation of ADHD symptoms.

A comparative study of sustained attentional bias on emotional processing in ADHD children to pictures with eye-tracking.

ADHD children have anomalous and negative behavior especially in emotionally related fields when compared to other. Evidence indicates that attention has an impact on emotional processing. The present study evaluates the effect of emotional processing on the sustained attention of children with ADHD type C. Sixty participants form two equal groups (each with 30 children) of normal and ADHD children) and each subject met the required selected criterion as either a normal or an ADHD child. Both groups were aged from 6-11-years-old. All pictures were chosen from the International Affective Picture System (IAPS) and presented paired emotional and neutral scenes in the following categories: pleasant-neutral; pleasant-unpleasant; unpleasant-neutral; and neutral-neutral. Sustained attention was evaluated based on the number and duration of total fixation and was compared between the groups with MANOVA analysis. The duration of sustained attention on pleasant in the pleasant-unpleasant pair was significant. Bias in duration of sustained attention on pleasant scenes in pleasant-neutral pairs is significantly different between the groups. Such significant differences might be indicative of ADHD children deficiencies in emotional processing. It seems that the highly deep effect of emotionally unpleasant scenes to gain the focus of ADHD children's attention is responsible for impulsiveness and abnormal processing of emotional stimuli.

Comparisons of Intelligence and Behavior in Children With Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and ADHD

Objective: Children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) can easily be misdiagnosed as having ADHD. Method: A total of 164 children were compared on cognitive and behavioral measures for four groups of children: FASD, ADHD, FASD + ADHD, and other neuropsychological disorders. Results: The ADHD group was not significantly different from the “other diagnosis” group on any of the measurements. The children with FASD were found to perform significantly worse than ADHD on externalizing problems, Full-Scale IQ, and indices of Verbal Comprehension, Perceptual Reasoning, and Working Memory. The comorbid FASD + ADHD group was significantly weaker than ADHD on verbal comprehension measures. The FASD children demonstrated significantly higher levels of atypicality and aggression relative to ADHD, and the FASD + ADHD group demonstrated significantly higher levels of hyperactivity and withdrawal relative to ADHD. Conclusion: These results indicate that children with FASD display a differential behavioral and cognitive profile that is significantly poorer than children with ADHD and other types of neuropsychological disorders.

Self- and Parent-Rated Quality of Life of a Treatment Naïve Sample of Children With ADHD: The Impact of Age, Gender, Type of ADHD, and Comorbid Psychiatric Conditions According to Both a Categorical and a Dimensional Approach

Objective: Our aim was to evaluate the Quality of Life (QoL) of treatment naïve children with ADHD. Method: Data from 178 parent–child dyads were analyzed using multiple regression to assess the relationships between QoL, and characteristics of ADHD and comorbid psychopathology. Results: Lower self-reported QoL was associated with female gender, higher age, more symptoms of anxiety and trauma-related disorders in dimensional approach, and with the comorbid diagnoses of trauma-related disorders and oppositional defiant disorder (ODD)/conduct disorder (CD) in categorical approach. Lower parent-reported QoL was related to older age and increasing number of symptoms of mood and anxiety disorders on one hand, and any diagnosis of mood and anxiety disorders and ODD/CD on the other. Conclusion: Our results draw the attention to the importance of taking into account age, gender, and both self- and parent reports when measuring QoL of children with ADHD and both dimensional and categorical approaches should be used.

Pharmacological Test Confirming the Diagnosis: Responding to Stimulants Neuropsychiatric ADHD

ADHD is a neurodevelopmental life time high prevalence disorder. Many individuals who suffer from ADHD benefit from treatment. For a significant subgroup of patients with the diagnosis ADHD, medication is important for treatment. Diagnostic criteria however as yet are not pathognomonic. A specific test to diagnose the type of ADHD that responds to medication has so far not been promoted as such. This article postulates that many individuals presenting with ADHD syndrome are likely to benefit from such a test. Here such a test is described.

Predominantly Inattentive Type of ADHD Is Associated With Social Anxiety Disorder

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of childhood ADHD comorbidity in patients with social anxiety disorder (SAD), and the influence of this comorbidity on various demographic and clinical variables in SAD. Method: A total of 130 patients with SAD were assessed with K-SADS-PL’s (Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children—Present and Lifetime Version) behavioral disorders module to determine the childhood diagnosis of ADHD. Patients with or without a comorbid childhood ADHD were compared in terms of clinical characteristics and rating scores. Results: The mean age at onset of SAD was lower, and lifetime major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder (BD) comorbidity were higher in the SAD–ADHD group than in the SAD–without ADHD group. Conclusion: We have found high ADHD comorbidity in patients with SAD. Presence of comorbid ADHD was associated with increased severity, functional impairment, and BD comorbidity.

EPA-0384 – Anxiety and selective attention in adhd subtypes

One of the disorders that most affects school and social performance is attention deficit disorder associated with hyperactivity or impulsivity (ADHD). The criteria established by DSM-IV-TR edition distinguish three subtypes: inattentive, hyperactive-impulsive and combined. There are other factors that increase the severity of the disorder. These factors have to do with different associated psychopathologies such as learning difficulties, depression, oppositional defiant disorder, behavior disorder, anxiety disorders and mood disorders. Mean comorbidity of ADHD with anxiety disorders is estimated at 20–25%. The main goal of this investigation is to determine whether there are differential patterns of attention (selective and concentration using D-2 attention test) and anxiety (trait and state anxiety using State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children) for these three types of ADHD. The sample was made up of 220 children (6–12 years): 56 in the control group, 54 with predominantly attention deficit disorder, 53 with predominantly hyperactivity-impulsivity disorder and 57 with combined inattentive-hyperactive disorder. We used a design of four groups, three corresponding to the ADHD subtypes and a control group without ADHD. The results obtained show that the four groups of subjects were significantly different in the two attentional variables and in trait and state anxiety. The combined subtype presents higher trait anxiety, whereas the inattentive subtype shows higher levels of state anxiety. The results reveal a new path of great interest concerning objective and reliable diagnostic assessment, and pharmacological and behavioral intervention adapted to each specific situation.

Smaller splenium in children with nonverbal learning disability compared to controls, high-functioning autism and ADHD

The current study investigated morphological differences in the corpus callosum in children ages 8 to 18 years old with nonverbal learning disability (NLD; n = 19), high-functioning autism (HFA; n = 23), predominantly inattentive ADHD (ADHD:PI; n = 23), and combined type ADHD (ADHD:C; n = 25), as well as those demonstrating typical development (n = 57). Midsagittal area of the corpus callosum and five midsagittal anterior-to-posterior corpus callosum segments were examined using magnetic resonance imaging. Controlling for midsagittal brain area and age, no group differences were found for total corpus callosum area. This finding indicates that higher functioning children on the autistic spectrum do not have smaller corpus callosi as has been found in previous research with heterogeneous samples. Following segmentation of the corpus callosum, the NLD group was observed to have significantly smaller splenia compared to all other groups. Smaller splenia in the NLD group was associated with lower WASI PIQ scores but not WASI VIQ scores. Children with HFA were observed to have larger midbody areas than children with NLD and neurotypically developing children. Children with HFA and NLD demonstrated behavioral symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity similar to the ADHD groups indicating that corpus callosum differences seen in the NLD and HFA groups are not related to these behaviors.

Frequency of Structural Brain Abnormalities among Adult Diagnosed with Attention – Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Although ADHD is known as a childhood disorder, it is prevalent among adults as well. Several studies have been conducted on the etiology of this disorder and its neurobiological and neuroanatomical manifestations in children, but the knowledge of adult ADHD is not enough. The present research was aimed at studying the structural brain abnormalities in adult ADHD cases. Fifteen adult patients diagnosed with ADHD, developed during their childhood, were selected for this study. In addition to clinical interview and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), all the participants were asked to fill the (ASRS-VI.I). The results indicated that about 40 % of adults with ADHD suffer from structural brain abnormalities. The results of MRI showed that 100% of the individuals with inattentive and combined types of ADHD were structurally damaged but MRI results did not reveal any structural brain abnormalities in hyperactive participants. The results of the present study are somewhat consistent with the results of previous studies. In general, any brain injury in the region related to cognitive processes (such as attention, memorization, and prevention) and brain circuits related to motor functions and motivation can contribute a role to the induction of ADHD symptoms. It is recommended to conduct more researches in the future with larger samples using other methods that are capable of assessing brain performance and the level and mechanism of the functions of neurotransmitters and neuronal modulators.

ADHD and Hyperkinetic Disorder Symptoms in Australian Adults

Objective: ADHD and Hyperkinetic Disorder (HKD) have the same 18 symptoms, covering inattention (IA), hyperactivity (HYP), and impulsivity (IMP). This study was aimed at providing descriptive scores for the different symptom groups in these disorders and how these scores varied by age and gender, the percentages of individuals meeting the symptom thresholds for the different ADHD types and HKD, the factor structure, and gender invariance of these symptoms in adults. Method: To accomplish this, 852 adults provided self-ratings for a scale comprising the 18 ADHD/HKD symptoms. Results: The findings showed that age and gender had minimal effects on the ADHD symptoms. Also, in terms of symptom counts, 2% had HKD and 6.3% had ADHD (inattentive = 1.6%, hyperactive-impulsive = 2.7%, and combined type = 2.0%). Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) provided most support for the three-factor HKD model, involving separate factors for the IA, HYP, and IMP symptoms. This model showed full measurement invariance across gender. Conclusion: The theoretical and clinical implications of the findings are discussed.

Dispositional Trait Types of ADHD in Young Children

Objective: This study evaluated a novel person-centered approach to parsing ADHD heterogeneity using dispositional traits. Method: Participants were one hundred nine 3- to 6-year-olds, and their primary caregivers and day care providers/teachers who completed a multi-informant diagnostic procedure with longitudinal follow-up. Results: Based on latent profile analysis, young children with ADHD could be divided into low control, high surgency, and high negative affect subgroups. The low control and high surgency groups exhibited increased parent- and teacher-rated hyperactive-impulsive and oppositional-defiant disorder (ODD) symptoms. Although the low control group exhibited the worst response inhibition, the high surgency group exhibited the worst working memory. Furthermore, the high surgency group exhibited high aggression and increasing levels of hyperactivity-impulsivity and ODD symptoms over time. Conclusion: A subgroup of young children with ADHD with high surgency may be at particular risk for comorbid psychopathology and longitudinal worsening of symptoms.

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in patients with premature ejaculation: a pilot study

The etiology of both adult-type ADHD and PE is not completely understood, but the studies revealing common etiologic factors for both conditions suggest a high likelihood of coexistence. We aimed to find out the prevalence of ADHD among adult males with lifetime PE. The patients with lifetime PE were included in the study. Both patients and controls were evaluated with the 10-item premature ejaculation index of Althof and Rosen for premature ejaculation, Wender Utah rating scale (WURS) and Conner's adult ADHD rating scales (CAARS) for determining the presence of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder syndrome. A total of 38 patients and 27 controls were included in the study. Patient and control groups were similar in terms of age and (p < 0.878), but different IELT (p < 0.001). ADHD was detected in 16 (42.1 %) of patients with PE, while ADHD symptoms were detected in only 1 (3.7 %) of control patients. Distribution of patients in the study group according to ADHD types was as follows: Type 1, Type 2, Type 3 in 2 (5.3 %), 4 (10.5 %), and 10 (26.3 %) patients, respectively. ADHD is significantly more frequent among patients with PE than controls. The close relationships between these two diseases must be examined by prospective studies.

The relationship of ADHD symptoms to gambling behaviour in the USA: results from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health

The study utilizes data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health) to test the extent to which retrospectively reported ADHD symptoms are associated with gambling behaviour in young adults. Results from linear probability and logistic regression models using data from 6145 survey respondents indicate that youths who reported symptoms consistent with Hyperactive-Impulsive type ADHD in childhood were significantly more likely than other youths to report clinical characteristics of disordered gambling, large past-year losses and/or multiple forms of gambling as young adults. The Combined type ADHD had no significant relationship to the gambling indicators, while the Inattentive type ADHD symptoms have a significant negative relationship to the gambling indicators. These findings provide preliminary support in a large, nationally representative sample for the relationship of ADHD and gambling and underscore the importance of addressing gambling-related issues in education, prevention and intervention efforts with youths with ADHD and/or problems with impulse control.

The new forest parenting programme, a tailored, timely programme for children with preschool type ADHD problems

The new forest parenting programme, a tailored, timely programme for children with preschool type ADHD problems

Norepinephrine and Dopamine Modulate Impulsivity on the Five-Choice Serial Reaction Time Task Through Opponent Actions in the Shell and Core Sub-Regions of the Nucleus Accumbens

Impulsive behavior is a hallmark of several neuropsychiatric disorders (eg, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, ADHD). Although dopamine (DA) and norepinephrine (NE) have a significant role in the modulation of impulsivity their neural loci of action is not well understood. Here, we investigated the effects of the selective NE re-uptake inhibitor atomoxetine (ATO) and the mixed DA/NE re-uptake inhibitor methylphenidate (MPH), both with proven clinical efficacy in ADHD, on the number of premature responses on a five-choice serial reaction time task, an operational measure of impulsivity. Microinfusions of ATO into the shell, but not the core, sub-region of the nucleus accumbens (NAcb) significantly decreased premature responding whereas infusions of MPH in the core, but not the shell, sub-region significantly increased premature responding. However, neither ATO nor MPH significantly altered impulsive behavior when infused into the prelimbic or infralimbic cortices. The opposing effects of ATO and MPH in the NAcb core and shell on impulsivity were unlikely mediated by ancillary effects on behavioral activation as locomotor activity was either unaffected, as in the case of ATO infusions in the core and shell, or increased when MPH was infused into either the core and shell sub-region. These findings indicate an apparently ‘opponent' modulation of premature responses by NE and DA in the NAcb shell or core, respectively, and suggest that the symptom clusters of hyperactive-impulsive type ADHD may have distinct neural and neurochemical substrates.

School Success and Cognitive Instruction for Students with ADHD

NOTICE TO NON-PROFESSIONALS The information contained in this newsletter is not intended as a substitute for consultation with health care professionals. In 2003, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, analyzing the National Survey of Children’s Health, found that approximately 4.4 million U.S. children between the ages of 4t and 17 had been given a diagnosis of ADHD. The American Psychological Association estimated that this number constitutes 3% to 5% of the school-aged population. To put it another way: in a typical classroom, it is likely that at least one student will have ADHD. The difficulties associated with ADHD are extensive. However, often unrecognized are the underachievement and school difficulties common among students with ADHD (DuPaul & Eckert, 1998). In comparison to their peers, children with ADHD are at a greater risk for academic and social failures within the school setting (Barkley, 2006). Additionally, children with either the primarily inattentive or combined type of ADHD have significant weaknesses on cognitive and achievement tests, lower grades, and need to use special education resources more often than their peers within the general population (Todd et al., 2002). In fact, it is estimated that the majority of children with ADHD have related school struggles. Students with ADHD have higher lifetime rates of dysfuncOur 20th Year—With Much Gratitude to Our Subscribers

Distinct ADHD Symptom Clusters Differentially Associated With Personality Traits

Objective: ADHD has been linked to various constructs, yet there is a lack of focus on how its symptom clusters differentially associate with personality, which this study addresses. Method: The current study examines the relationship between impulsive and inattentive ADHD traits and personality, indexed by the Revised NEO Personality Inventory (NEO-PI-R) and the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory (MCMI-III), in a sample of undergraduates. Results: Impulsivity was associated with NEO-PI-R and MCMI-III traits characterized by emotional distress, interpersonal problems, and disruptive behavior, whereas inattention was associated only with focus-oriented constructs. Conclusion: ADHD-related inattention is a relatively modest predictor of personality traits, as compared with hyperactivity-impulsivity. These findings have implications regarding the distinctiveness and etiology of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed., text rev.; DSM-IV-TR) ADHD types.