Attention Deficit And Hyperactivity Disorder Diagnosis Research Articles

Development of a Multiple RGB-D Sensor System for ADHD Screening and Improvement of Classification Performance Using Feature Selection Method

Attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a mixed behavioral disorder that exhibits symptoms, such as carelessness and hyperactivity–impulsivity. To date, existing ADHD diagnosis methods rely on observations by observers, such as parents and teachers, which limits the ability to reflect objective evaluation. In this study, to overcome this limitation, we proposed a multiple RGB-D sensor system that can objectively measure the amount of action and attention of children playing a robot-led game. In addition, a classifier was developed to classify children into ADHD, ADHD risk, and normal groups using the multilayer perceptron and data obtained through sensors. The effectiveness of the developed system for ADHD screening was verified. In this study, the priority of abnormal behavior indicators designed for ADHD screening was measured, the features with the highest priority were selected using a feature selection method. Eight hundred and twenty-eight children participated and were classified into the ADHD, ADHD risk, and normal groups, and the results were compared with the diagnosis by clinicians. The proposed system achieved sensitivity of 97.06% and 100%, and specificity of 96.42% and 94.68% in the ADHD and ADHD risk groups, respectively.

Do prescription stimulants increase risk of Parkinson's disease among adults with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder? A retrospective cohort study.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disorder in older adults that is associated with neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and characterized by loss of dopaminergic cells. Illicit stimulants increase oxidative stress and are associated with increased risk of PD. Prescription stimulants are similar in mechanism to illicit stimulants, yet their influence on PD is not well described. This study aims to determine if prescription stimulants influence risk of PD among older adults with attention-deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). We implemented a retrospective observational cohort design utilizing the TriNetX database which sources from the electronic health records of 57 healthcare organizations. Inclusion criteria were ADHD diagnosis and age ≥50. Those exposed to stimulants and the unexposed controls were matched based on demographics and known risk factors for PD. The outcome of interest was the incidence of PD over a 30-year follow-up period. We utilized TriNetX software for hazard ratio (HR) analysis. Among the 59,471 individuals treated with prescription stimulants 131 of them developed PD, and there were 272 individuals who developed PD that were not prescribed stimulants. This analysis yielded a HR of 0.419 (HR = 0.419 [95% CI 0.34, 0.516], P = 0.0013). Illicit stimulants are associated with increased risk of PD, but this study suggests prescribed stimulants may not impart that same risk. The reduced risk in this cohort may be due to protection from illicit substance use and oxidative stress, however additional study exploring the relationship between prescription stimulants and PD is warranted.

The role of inflammation in the prospective associations between early childhood sleep problems and ADHD at 10 years: findings from a UK birth cohort study.

Several underlying mechanisms potentially account for the link between sleep and attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), including inflammation. However, studies so far have been cross sectional. We investigate (a) the association between early childhood sleep and probable ADHD diagnosis in childhood and (b) whether childhood circulating inflammatory markers mediate these prospective associations. Data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children were available for 7,658 10-year-old children. Parent-reported sleep duration, night awakening frequency and regular sleep routines were collected at 3.5 years. The Development and Wellbeing Assessment was administered to capture children with clinically relevant ADHD symptoms, or probable ADHD diagnosis. Blood samples were collected at 9 years, from which two inflammatory markers were obtained [interleukin-6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP)]. Logistic regression analyses were applied to investigate the associations between sleep variables at 3.5 years and probable ADHD diagnosis at 10 years. Further, path analysis was applied to examine the potential mediating role of inflammation at 9 years (as measured by CRP and IL-6) in the associations between early sleep and ADHD at 10 years. Less regular sleep routines (OR=0.51, 95% CI=0.28-0.93, p=.029), shorter nighttime sleep (OR=0.70, 95% CI=0.56-0.89, p=.004) and higher night awakening frequency (OR=1.27, 95% CI=1.06-1.52, p=.009) at 3.5 years were associated with higher odds of ADHD at 10 years. Further, IL-6 at 9 years, but not CRP, mediated the association between irregular sleep routines and ADHD (bias-corrected estimate, -0.002; p=.005) and between night awakening and ADHD (bias-corrected estimate, 0.002; p=.003). Several sleep problems in early childhood constitute a risk factor for probable ADHD diagnosis at 10 years. Further, these associations are partially mediated by IL-6 at 9 years. These results open a new research vista to the pathophysiology of ADHD and highlight sleep and inflammation as potential preventative targets for ADHD.

Diagnostic model optimization method for ADHD based on brain network analysis of resting-state fMRI images and transfer learning neural network.

Introduction: Attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common inherited disease of the nervous system whose cause(s) and pathogenesis remain unclear. Currently, the diagnosis of ADHD is mainly based on clinical experience and guidelines that have laid out some diagnostic standards. Our study aimed to apply a learning-based classification method to assist the ADHD diagnosis based on high-dimensional resting-state fMRI.Methods: Our study selected the ADHD-200 Peking dataset of resting-state fMRI, which has an ADHD patient (n = 142) group and a typically developing control (TDC) healthy control (n = 102) group. We first used Pearson and partial correlation coefficients to perform functional connectivity (FC) analysis between ROIs. Then, the Pearson and partial correlation coefficient matrices were concatenated into a dual-channel feature to build a dual data channel as input to the transfer learning neural network (TLNN) architecture. Finally, we transferred the pretrained model from the auxiliary domain to our target domain and fine-tuned it.Results: Based on the Pearson correlation coefficient, FC between ROIs was detected in 22 brain regions, including the fusiform gyrus, superior frontal gyrus, posterior superior temporal sulcus, inferior parietal lobule, anterior cingulate cortex, and parahippocampal gyrus. Based on the partial correlation coefficient, we found FC in the salient network, default network, sensory-motor network, dorsal attention network, and cerebellum network. With the TLNN architecture, we solved the problem of insufficient training data and improved the sensitivity of the classification method. When the VGG model (fine-tuned transfer strategy, 1,024 fully connected layers) was applied, the accuracy of TLNN classification ultimately reached 82%.Conclusion: Our study suggests that completing the training of the target domain by transferring the prior knowledge of the auxiliary domain is effective in solving the classification problem of small sample datasets. Based on prior knowledge of FC analysis, TLNN classification may assist ADHD diagnosis in a new way.

Long-term suicide risk of children and adolescents with attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder – a systematic review

IntroductionSeveral studies showed the high suicide risk of patients with attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), however most of these studies had cross-sectional design.ObjectivesThe aim of the current study was to review systematically those studies which investigated the suicide risk among ADHD patients with longitudinal design.MethodsThe systematic search was made on OVID Medline, PsychInfo, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. The search terms were (ADHD OR attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) AND (suicide OR suicidal OR suicidality) AND (follow-up OR longitudinal study OR prospective study). Inclusion criteria were: written in English; participants under 18 years at the baseline; longitudinal, prospective studies; ADHD population at the baseline and at the follow-up; suicide behavior as primary outcome. Exclusion criteria were: the study did not contain empirical data, and reviews/meta-analyses and studies which aimed to investigate the drug treatment efficacy of ADHD.Results18 papers were included in the systematic review. 10 articles were published in the last 5 years. 9 studies enrolled children aged under 12 at baseline. The follow-up periods varied between 2 and 17 years. 17 studies found a significant positive association between ADHD diagnosis at baseline and the future suicidal behavior and/or attempts at the follow-up. The affective comorbidity showed an association with the future suicide risk.ConclusionsThese results highlight the importance of screening suicidality in patient with ADHD and consider it during treatment. Further studies are needed to clarify the role of the treatment and comorbidities of ADHD in the increased suicide risk.DisclosureNo significant relationships.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in a Male Medium Secure Unit

AimsThe worldwide prevalence of Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in the adult population is estimated to be 2.5%. Prevalence studies have shown rates to be consistently around ten times higher in the prison population, but there is less known about secure psychiatric hospital populations. ADHD has relevance as a predictor for offending, for challenging behaviours when incarcerated, for lower quality of life and high costs for both the NHS and prison systems. This service evaluation aimed to establish estimated prevalence of ADHD within one male medium secure unit.MethodsA cross sectional review of computerised medical records for all service users on the male medium secure forensic unit took place, to identify those who met inclusion criteria. Service users who were too acutely unwell or had an established or pending diagnosis of ADHD were excluded.The Brief Barkley Adult ADHD Rating Scale (B-BAARS), a 5 minute screening questionnaire, was given to service users to complete. Anonymised responses were converted to electronic format and the compiled results analysed.ResultsThere were 125 service users at the time of information gathering, with 112 eligible according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. 2 of the excluded service users already had an ADHD diagnosis. 70 service users out of those approached, agreed to take part in the screening (62.5%). 2 out of 70 (2.9%) service users met criteria for a possible diagnosis of ADHD.ConclusionUsing the B-BAARS, 2.9% of service users on the male medium secure forensic unit reported clinically significant symptoms suggestive of a diagnosis of ADHD. This estimate is significantly lower than other studies in prison settings. When combined with the figure for service users with a pre-existing diagnosis, however, the figure is still higher than in the general population (5.5% compared to 2.5%), and illustrates that screening tools can have a useful function in forensic settings.There may have been methodological issues with this evaluation, including the self-reported nature of symptoms, the comparatively high level of functioning required to complete the questionnaire and the low response rate amongst the service users.This evaluation serves to increase awareness about ADHD in the forensic population in general. It also highlights the value of this simple screening tool, or one similar, to clinical teams on the forensic wards. The screening tool could be further utilised in low secure and women's services to establish if results are similar amongst these populations.

Effects of spectral features of EEG signals recorded with different channels and recording statuses on ADHD classification with deep learning.

Early diagnosis of attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) by experts is difficult. Some solutions using electroencephalography (EEG) signals have been presented in the literature to solve this problem. However, few studies have aimed to determine which recording statuses and which channels are effective for the diagnosis of ADHD. In this study, the effects of photic stimuli at different frequencies and on different channels on ADHD diagnosis were analysed. The main purpose of this study is to reveal the most effective channel and the most effective recording status for ADHD diagnosis. In this way, EEG data can be obtained from effective channels and recording statuses, and ADHD classification can be performed with fewer channels and higher accuracy. This can reduce the amount of data to be processed and the numbers of recording procedures. The dataset used in the experiments of this study was obtained using power spectral densities and spectral entropy values. These values were obtained from individuals with and without ADHD. When these data were applied to long short-term memory (LSTM), support vector machine (SVM), and artificial neural network classifiers, the highest accuracy was obtained with LSTM. The accuracy of LSTM was calculated as 88.88% on the "Fp1,F7" channel and 92.15% in the eyes-closed resting state. Spectral entropy was found to contribute positively to the accuracy. As a result, the potential difference between "Fp1,F7" electrodes in the eyes-closed resting state proved to be effective in diagnosing ADHD.

Association between DNA methylation and ADHD symptoms from birth to school age: a prospective meta-analysis

Attention-deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common childhood disorder with a substantial genetic component. However, the extent to which epigenetic mechanisms play a role in the etiology of the disorder is unknown. We performed epigenome-wide association studies (EWAS) within the Pregnancy And Childhood Epigenetics (PACE) Consortium to identify DNA methylation sites associated with ADHD symptoms at two methylation assessment periods: birth and school age. We examined associations of both DNA methylation in cord blood with repeatedly assessed ADHD symptoms (age 4–15 years) in 2477 children from 5 cohorts and of DNA methylation at school age with concurrent ADHD symptoms (age 7–11 years) in 2374 children from 9 cohorts, with 3 cohorts participating at both timepoints. CpGs identified with nominal significance (p < 0.05) in either of the EWAS were correlated between timepoints (ρ = 0.30), suggesting overlap in associations; however, top signals were very different. At birth, we identified nine CpGs that predicted later ADHD symptoms (p < 1 × 10–7), including ERC2 and CREB5. Peripheral blood DNA methylation at one of these CpGs (cg01271805 in the promoter region of ERC2, which regulates neurotransmitter release) was previously associated with brain methylation. Another (cg25520701) lies within the gene body of CREB5, which previously was associated with neurite outgrowth and an ADHD diagnosis. In contrast, at school age, no CpGs were associated with ADHD with p < 1 × 10−7. In conclusion, we found evidence in this study that DNA methylation at birth is associated with ADHD. Future studies are needed to confirm the utility of methylation variation as biomarker and its involvement in causal pathways.

Motor competence difficulties and attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) among secondary students

A high proportion of children with Attention problems (ADHD) experience motor competence problems. The present study sought to compare the motor competence between a group of ADHD students and a normative sample before and after controlling for motor coordination problems, and check if there are differences between the group with ADHD and the group with DT, depending on the presence or not of the DCD concurrent with the ADHD.&#x0D; A total of 22 children with ADHD combined type (ADHD-CT; 12–13 years, SD 0.7, 16 males, 6 females) and 23 age-matched typically developing children with no movement difficulties (12-13 years, SD 0.7 16 males, 7 females) participated in this study. Motor coordination was measured using the Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2nd Edition (MABC-2). ADHD symptoms were assessed by the school’s Department of Psychology.The ADHD diagnosis is based on diagnostic criteria established by the Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, fifth edition (DSM-5), and the application of the following behavioral scales and evaluation of executive functions have been followed: Child Behavior Checklist for ages; Behavior Ratting Inventory of Executive Functions (BRIEF); Scales for the Evaluation of ADHD (EDAH). Based on the MABC-2 score (percentile score ≤ 5th), ADHD children were classified into two groups: co-occurring DCD/ADHD and ADHD group. Results showed that children with ADHD and typically developing (TD) children showed big individual differences on all motor skill areas and on overall percentile scores. Thirteen children with ADHD were delayed, and three were at risk for motor delays. Only four TD children were at risk for motor delays. DCD/ADHD group scored significantly lower than the TD group across all motor skill areas, while ADHD group scored lower than the TD group only on manual dexterity.

Incidence of attention-deficit and hyperactivity disorder among school children in Riyadh city and its association with body burden of mercury leached from dental amalgam fillings: A cross-sectional study

Objectives: The objectives of this study are to determine the association between the incidence of attention-deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children of mothers with and without amalgam fillings. Design: The study design was a cross-sectional descriptive study. Setting: The study was conducted at a dental college's clinic in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Participants: In total, 869 children (512 males and 357 females) aged 6–12 years and 796 mothers were included. Children suffering from hearing impairment, language impairment, or learning disabilities or those diagnosed with mental health problems were excluded from the study. Primary and Secondary Outcome Measures: The primary outcome measures included the results of the Vanderbilt scale used for ADHD diagnosis in children and the mercury concentration in 1 ml saliva samples obtained from both the mother and the children. The secondary outcome measures included the number of dental amalgam restorations in the oral cavity determined through a dental examination of children and their mothers. Methodology: A consent form was signed by the mothers who agreed to participate in our study, they were all examined for amalgam presence and a saliva samples were collected and digested. Results: Children with ADHD showed significantly higher levels of mercury in saliva than did children without ADHD. The mothers who had dental amalgam fillings during pregnancy had significantly higher mercury levels than did the mothers who did not have dental amalgam fillings. Conclusion: Prenatal mercury exposure is associated with a higher risk of ADHD behavior. Further research can be carried out to identify the toxic effects of mercury on different body organs owing to dental amalgam fillings. The study scale can be further increased to obtain a more accurate percentage of ADHD cases in Saudi Arabia.

Research Review: The role of obstetric and neonatal complications in childhood attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder - a systematic review.

Attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a developmental disorder characterized by an inability to sustain attention, activity levels and impulse control, and, according to the latest studies, the prevalence is about 8%and in some countries less than 1%. Currently, it is well-known that complications during the perinatal period have significant implications on child's physical and mental health. Purpose of the present paper is to review the literature about the association between perinatal complications and future risk of an ADHD diagnosis. A research in the main database sources has been conducted to obtain a systematic review on the perinatal risk factors of ADHD. Among perinatal complications, available data indicate low birth weight (LBW) (Cohen's d effect size range: 0.31-1.64-small effect size) and preterm birth (PB) (range d: 0.41-0.68) as the most important factors associated with a future diagnosis of ADHD. PB and LBW children should be carefully monitored for an early diagnosis of ADHD limiting the impact of the disease in life span. A systematic review focusing on these risk factors have not been published until now, in the next future preventive strategies should be developed in order to minimize ADHD onset.

Comorbidity Of Adult Attention Deficit And Hyperactivity Disorder With Panic Disorder

The comorbidity of panic disorder with other psychiatric disorders is prevalent. This study aims to investigate the comorbid Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) with panic disorder (PD) in adults.In this study 65 people with a diagnosis of panic disorder and 65 healthy volunteers who admitted to outpatient psychiatry clinic were included. In order to determine the disease severity and current clinical state Panic Agoraphobia Scale was used. Sociodemographic information form, Wender Utah Rating Scale (WURS) and Adult ADHD Diagnosis and Assessment Scale was used. Diagnosis of PD was significantly higher in women. Also it was observed that unemployment was statistically higher in PD group. There was no difference observed in between mean ages, marital status and education level. In patients diagnosed with panic disorder ADHD comorbidity rate was 15,4%. In comorbidity cases subgroups of ADHD was found as; 60% mixed, 20% hyperactivity and impulsivity, 20 % attention deficit dominant type showing statistical significance. In all cases with agoraphobia it was associated with ADHD comorbidity. It was observed that PD comorbid with ADHD was associated with less work continuity than ADHD without PD comorbidity. There was no significant difference in alcohol use among ADHD diagnosed patients in both groups. ADHD diagnosis wasn’t observed in individuals over 40 years of age. In our study comorbidity of PD with ADHD was shown to be high. In all patients with Agorophobia ADHD comorbidity was detected.

Peer influence as a potential magnifier of ADHD diagnosis

The prevalence of Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is growing in America, but its cause is unclear. Scholars have identified many environmental factors that can cause or confound ADHD diagnosis, but epidemiological studies that try to control for confounding factors still find evidence that rates of ADHD diagnosis are increasing. As a preliminary explanation to ADHD's increasing prevalence, this article examines whether core ADHD diagnostic traits are subject to peer influence. If ADHD diagnosis can be confounded by peer influence, there are several mechanisms that could have caused increased rates of diagnosis. With data drawn from two schools across three waves in the National Longitudinal Survey of Adolescent Health (n = 2193), the author uses a stochastic actor oriented model to estimate the effect of peer influence on inattention, controlling for alternative network and behavioral causes. Results indicate that respondents have a strong likelihood to modify their self-reports of inattention, a core ADHD trait, to resemble that of their friends.

Early-life exposure to ambient benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene and ADHD-related behaviors and diagnosis among a nationally-representative sample of kindergarten children.

Introduction: Benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene and xylene (BTEX) are a group of volatile organic compounds previously linked to adverse birth outcomes and cognitive development. This study aimed to determine if early-life exposure to BTEX in the ambient air was associated with behaviors suggestive of attention-deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Methods: Using residential ZIP Code at 9 months of age, annual average estimates of BTEX compounds from the 2002 U.S. EPA’s National Air Toxics Assessment were linked to parent and teacher interviews for 4,900 children who participated in the Early Child Longitudinal Study, Birth Cohort (ECLS-B). The ECLS-B is a nationally-representative sample of U.S. children born in 2001 and followed from 9 months of age through kindergarten. Kindergarten teachers rated children on six behaviors related to ADHD symptomology using a 5-point likert scale. After summing across the six behavior scales, children with summary scores in the bottom decile were classified as displaying behaviors suggestive of ADHD symptomology. Multivariable logistic regression models, accounting for the complex study design and adjusted for maternal race, age, marital status, household language, socioeconomic status, a neighborhood deprivation index, and home environment were constructed. Results: Children exposed to the upper quartile of benzene had 1.45 times the odds of displaying behaviors suggestive of ADHD-related symptomology than children with lower levels of exposure (95% confidence interval, CI, 1.11, 1.89). No associations were observed with other BTEX compounds or with parent-reported behaviors. Only 2.4% of children had a parent-reported diagnosis of ADHD, but children exposed to the highest quartile for all BTEX compounds had 1.88 times the odds of having an ADHD diagnosis than other children (95% CI 1.03, 3.42). Conclusions: These findings add to a growing literature that air pollution may impact children’s neurobehavioral development.

EPA-0386 – Execution, activation and blood flow hemoencephalography in children with and without adhd: a structural equation model

Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is one of the problems that most affects academic performance in childhood and adolescence. Current research raises the existence of certain patterns of cortical activation and executive control, which could help to identify more objectively ADHD diagnosis. These studies consist on recording brain activation in central and prefrontal cortex areas through electroencephalographic measures using Q-EEG, and blood flood activity or hemoencephalography with nir-HEG. Moreover, executive control, evaluated with Continuous Performance Tests (CPTs), has been widely used to verify the incidence of brain activation levels on performance. This research aims to analyze the interaction between brain activation (nir-HEG and Q-EEG) and executive control (CPT) variables in a sample of 499 students (174 females and 325 males) aged 8 to 16, 256 (51.3%) with and 243 (48.7%) without ADHD. To accomplish this, a causal modelwas testedusing Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) analyses with AMOS.Results indicated that: a) activation measures influence different types of executive pattern, b) the relation between activation variables (nir-HEG and Q-EEG) depends on which brain areais studied and, c) with a good fit, both models (with and without ADHD), show important differences in variables correlation. These results highlight the utility of cortical activation and executive control measures for the differential diagnosis of ADHD, as well as from the standpoint of intervention, providing useful clues to delineate more adapted treatments.

Does ADHD Matter? Examining Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder on the Likelihood of Recidivism Among Detained Youth

There is limited research regarding attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) among youth in the juvenile justice system, but the existing research demonstrates higher rates of difficulties, including substance abuse, parental dysfunction, and school issues. There is, however, little knowledge regarding the impact of detainment on delinquent youth with an ADHD diagnosis, which is the focus of this study. The main research question is if detained youth diagnosed with ADHD are more likely to be rearrested and/or reconvicted, while considering the impact of the type of detention facility to which the individual youth is assigned (treatment or a traditional facility). The findings indicate that there is a statistically significant relationship between an ADHD diagnosis, the interaction between ADHD and the type of detention facility, and reconviction. Offenders with ADHD were more likely to recidivate than non-ADHD youth and the youth with ADHD detained in the treatment center appear to have a negative outcome. The research points to the difficulties that juveniles with ADHD face as they attempt to navigate successfully through the juvenile justice system and considers a number of treatment protocol factors to reflect on when working with ADHD youth.

Self-reported Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder symptoms among university students in Eldoret, Kenya

To determine the prevalence of self-reported attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms among university students in Eldoret, Kenya. A cross-sectional descriptive study of all students who gave consent to participate in the study. Moi University's Town Campus, comprising the Schools of Medicine, Dentistry and Public Health. Four hundred and fifty eight undergraduate students, with a mean age of 23.7 years (17-46, S.D. 4.1), of whom 236 (51.5%) were male. Presence of ADHD symptoms as measured by the adult ADHD self-report scale (ASRS versus 1.1). The prevalence rate of self-reported ADHD symptoms was 21.8%. This was significantly associated with belonging to a younger age-group (17-20 years) compared to the older age-groups (p<0.05). The prevalence was higher among females (25.2%) than among males (18.6%), but this was not statistically significant. There was no significant association between a positive ASRS screen and course of study. Using a modification of ASRS full symptom checklist to approximate a DSM IV TR ADHD diagnosis yielded a prevalence of ADHD symptoms of 9.2% in this cohort. The prevalence rate of ADHD symptoms among university students in Eldoret, Kenya is significantly higher than that reported in other studies. Further studies are needed to generate more information about this condition in the low-income countries, especially in college and university populations.

Avaliação clínica e neuropsicológica da atenção e comorbidade com TDAH nas epilepsias da infância: uma revisão sistemática

INTRODUÇÃO: As comorbidades psiquiátricas em epilepsia, tais como o Transtorno do Déficit de Atenção e Hiperatividade (TDAH), podem comprometer o desempenho acadêmico e o funcionamento social, ocasionando sofrimento psíquico adicional e reduzindo a qualidade de vida dos pacientes, independente do controle adequado das crises. OBJETIVO: Abordar aspectos epidemiológicos e diagnósticos do TDAH e problemas de atenção em crianças e adolescentes com epilepsia, revisando a literatura sobre o tema. METODOLOGIA: Revisão sistemática a partir de artigos obtidos do banco bibliográfico MEDLINE e LILACS. RESULTADOS: Estudos demonstram a relevância epidemiológica de TDAH em crianças e adolescentes com epilepsia, sendo sua prevalência maior do que na população normal. O problema de atenção ocorre mais frequentemente na epilepsia, independente da presença de TDAH. Há falta de uniformidade nas amostras estudadas, dificultando avaliar a natureza do déficit atentivo, dada a multicausalidade do mesmo nas epilepsias e a real prevalência do TDAH. CONCLUSÃO: Há necessidade de maior atenção ao diagnóstico de TDAH nas crianças com epilepsia para a abordagem clínica adequada.

ADHD frequency and characteristics in students suffering from learning disabilities

Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a common disorder, estimated to occur in 4-6% of the adult population. Learning disabilities (LD) are a group of heterogenic disorders that manifest in significant difficulties in acquisition and use of various learning abilities. LD were found in 10-20% of the general population. ADHD and LD share many common dysfunction characteristics in all daily activities. Studies show an overlap of 20-30% between the two disorders, and more psychometric disabilities, as well as a higher comorbidity rate and a lower SES status in adults who suffer from both than from LD alone. Yet, studies dealing with ADHD and LD comorbidity and its implication are few.We wanted to examine ADHD frequency among students diagnosed as suffering from LD, and its correlation with other comorbidities, as well as to evaluate the efficacy of an ADHD screening questionnaire, and to estimate the rate of preliminary ADHD diagnosis and/or treatment in this group.Methods:Population included 100 students, male and female, all aged 18 years old and above, studying in a specific center for LD. All students were diagnosed in the past as suffering from LD. No selection criteria had been administered. Methods were divided: 1) Screening questionnaire 2) ADHD assessment including: a structured interview (SCID), the Wender Utah Rating Scale (WURS), the adult ADHD self report scale (ASRS) and Test Of Variables of Attention (TOVA) with and without methylphenidate (MPH) challenge.Results will be presented later