Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Group Research Articles

Cortical gray-white matter contrast abnormalities in male children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Presently, research concerning alterations in brain structure among individuals with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) predominantly focuses on entire brain volume and cortical thickness. In this study, we extend our examination to the cortical microstructure of male children with ADHD. To achieve this, we employ the gray-white matter tissue contrast (GWC) metric, allowing for an assessment of modifications in gray matter density and white matter microstructure. Furthermore, we explore the potential connection between GWC and the severity of disorder in male children by ADHD. We acquired 3DT1 sequences from the public ADHD-200 database. In this study, we conducted a comparative analysis between 43 male children diagnosed with ADHD and 50 age-matched male controls exhibiting typical development trajectories. Our investigation entailed assessing differences in GWC and cortical thickness. Additionally, we explored the potential correlation between GWC and the severity of ADHD. To delineate the cerebral landscape, each hemisphere was subdivided into 34 cortical regions using freesurfer 7.2.0. For quantification, GWC was computed by evaluating the intensity contrast of non-normalized T1 images above and below the gray-white matter interface. Our findings unveiled elevated GWC within the bilateral lingual, bilateral insular, left transverse temporal, right parahippocampal and right pericalcarine regions in male children with ADHD when contrasted with their healthy counterparts. Moreover, the cortical thickness in the ADHD group no notable distinctions that of control group in all areas. Intriguingly, the GWC of left transverse temporal demonstrated a negative correlation with the extent of inattention experienced by male children with ADHD. Utilizing GWC as a metric facilitates a more comprehensive assessment of microstructural brain changes in children with ADHD. The fluctuations in GWC observed in specific brain regions might serve as a neural biomarker, illuminating structural modifications in male children grappling with ADHD. This perspective enriches our comprehension of white matter microstructure and cortical density in these children. Notably, the inverse correlation between the GWC of the left transverse temporal and inattention severity underscores the potential role of structural and functional anomalies within this region in ADHD progression. Enhancing our insight into ADHD-related brain changes holds significant promise in deciphering potential neuropathological mechanisms.

Trastorno por déficit de atención e hiperactividad: perfil neuropsicológico y estudio de su impacto en las funciones ejecutivas y académicas

IntroductionThe aim of the study was to describe the neuropsychological profile of patients with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and the impact of the disorder on executive functioning and academic performance. Patients and methodsWe conducted a retrospective observational and analytical study. The sample consisted of 24 children with a diagnosis of ADHD (aged 6-15 years) without pharmacological treatment and 24 controls without ADHD (aged 7-15 years). A comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation was carried out, encompassing major cognitive domains, in addition to assessment of executive functioning and psychopathological symptoms through the administration of questionnaires to parents and teachers. ResultsThe cognitive profile of the ADHD group was characterized by overall scores (including executive functions and academic abilities) in the normal range (z scores between −1 and 1), although significantly lower compared to the control group. Over half of the patients with ADHD (58%) had associated specific learning disorders. Furthermore, teachers tended to report executive function difficulties more frequently in male students. ConclusionsIn the study sample, the group of patients with ADHD exhibited cognitive performance within the normal range, although with lower scores compared to controls. Behavioural rating scales provide valuable information about functioning outside the clinic, but may yield biased results on account of the focus on externalising symptoms. The neuropsychological evaluation is a useful tool that can facilitate the diagnosis of ADHD and an effective response to the needs and characteristics of patients and families.

Risky driving behavior among individuals with Autism, ADHD, and typically developing persons

IntroductionMany individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) often experience difficulty with driving, including difficulty with obtaining a driver’s license as well as driving safely and efficiently. Such difficulties negatively impact their ability to function independently and participate in daily activities that require driving. ASD and ADHD commonly occur co-morbidly and share many overlapping clinical features. Few studies have directly compared the nature of difficulties in driving safety outcomes between ASD and ADHD. The overarching goal of the current study was to characterize and compare self-reported driving behavior among young autistic drivers, ADHD drivers, and typically developing (TD) drivers. MethodFifty-four participants (14 ASD, 20 ADHD, 20 TD); ages 16–30) completed the Autism Spectrum Quotient and ADHD Adult Rating scale as a method of screening of symptoms. All three groups then completed the Driving Behavior Questionnaire (DBQ), which measured self-reported driving violations, driving errors, and overall risky driving behavior. The three groups of ASD, ADHD, and TD individuals were then compared regarding symptomology and driving behavior differences. ResultsOne-way ANOVAs indicated group differences in DBQ total scores and DBQ errors. Drivers with ADHD reported significantly greater overall risky driving behaviors and driving errors compared to ASD and TD drivers. There were no significant differences between ASD and TD drivers in reported risky driving behaviors and errors. Linear regressions indicated that among all drivers, self-reported ADHD symptoms were significantly associated with higher levels of self-reported overall risky driving and driving errors, regardless of diagnostic group. DiscussionRisky driving and driving errors may be more closely related to symptoms that are characteristic of ADHD. This has implications for individuals with ADHD and autistic individuals who often show or report higher rates of ADHD symptoms. Future studies should compare driving skills of ASD and ADHD drivers using objective measures of driving performance, such as driving simulators or on-road tests.

Simulator Driving Abilities, Executive Functions, and Adaptive Behavior Among Adolescents With Complex Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Objective: To examines the driving skills, executive functions, and adaptive behavior of adolescents diagnosed with Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) combined with emotional difficulties and/or learning disabilities (complex ADHD), compared to adolescents without ADHD. Method: A cross-sectional study including 30 adolescents with complex ADHD and 33 adolescents without ADHD aged 15 to 18 years. Driving skills on a simulator, executive functions, and adaptive behavior were evaluated. Results: Adolescents without ADHD demonstrated significantly higher total scores on the driving simulator, indicating better driving performance compared to adolescents with complex ADHD. In the complex ADHD group, after controlling for different Conners Comprehensive Behavior Rating Scale-Self Report scales, driving simulator scores were partially correlated with executive functions. Conclusion: These findings emphasize the unique needs of adolescents with complex ADHD. Given the significance of driving in today’s society, it is crucial to consider the development of intervention programs to support this population’s driving skills.

The Relationship between Gene SLC6A3 Variable Number of Tandem Repeat (VNTR) and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.

Objective : This research investigates the alleles of Variable Number of Tandem Repeats (VNTR) intron 8 of the gene SLC6A3 with attention-deficit / hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children and adolescents. Method : The study's target population consisted of children and adolescents referred to the specialized clinic, as well as students attending school in Rasht city during 2021-2022. A sample of 95 children between the ages of 6 and 10 with ADHD was selected as the ADHD group, and 95 healthy children were selected as the control group using purposive sampling. The subjects completed the Child Symptom Inventory-4 (CSI-4) checklist after a clinical interview, and demographic information was collected. Genetic sampling was carried out through hair follicles. The sequence of interest was proliferated using the Polymerase Chain Reaction technique )PCR(; afterward, the samples were used for genotype identification on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Results: The chi-square test results indicated that the 5R / 5R genotype (P = 0.026, χ2 = 7.26) and the 5R allele (P = 0.002, χ2 = 9.35) had a higher frequency compared to the control group. Additionally, the odds ratio test indicated that, compared to other genotypes and alleles, the 5R / 5R genotype (OR = 2.75, 95% CI = 1.29-5.82, P = 0.01) and the 5R allele (OR = 2.02, 95% CI = 1.28-3.19, P = 0.002) increase the odds of developing ADHD by 2.7 and 2 times higher, respectively. Conclusion: The present study successfully showed the association between intron 8 gene polymorphism, which is responsible for encoding the dopamine transporter as well as ADHD in children and adolescents in Iran.

The ability to maintain rhythm is predictive of ADHD diagnosis and profile

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most prevalent neuropsychiatric disorder in the world. Currently, the diagnosis is based mainly on interviews, resulting in uncertainties in the clinical assessment. While some neuropsychological tests are used, their specificity and selectivity are low, and more reliable biomarkers are desirable. Previous research indicates that ADHD is associated with morphological changes in the cerebellum, which is essential for motor ability and timing. Here, we compared 29 children diagnosed with ADHD to 96 age-matched controls on prism adaptation, eyeblink conditioning, and timed motor performance in a finger tapping task. Prism adaptation and timing precision in the finger tapping task, but not performance on eyeblink conditioning, differed between the ADHD and control groups, as well as between children with and without Deficits in Attention, Motor control, and Perception (DAMP) – a more severe form of ADHD. The results suggest finger tapping can be used as a cheap, objective, and unbiased biomarker to complement current diagnostic procedures.

Gaze measurements during viewing human dialogue scenes in adults with ADHD: Preliminary findings.

Eye gaze measurement to human dialogue scenes in adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) was investigated. We examined whether eye gaze measurement might be a biological marker of ADHD. Twenty-two individuals with ADHD (mean age, 34.5 years) attending the outpatient clinic of Showa University Karasuyama Hospital were included in the study, and 26 healthy individuals (mean age, 32.6 years) with no history of mental disorders were used as the control group. For the participants, intellectual functioning was estimated using the Japanese Adult Reading Test, and mental symptoms were assessed using the Autism Spectrum Quotient and Conner's Adult ADHD Rating Scale. We extracted human dialogue scenes from two classic movies as visual stimuli and recorded the participant's gaze while watching these scenes using Tobii's eye tracker. For gazing time, repeated measures analysis of variance showed no significant main effect of "group" and no significant interaction effect between "group" and areas of interest "(AOI)." In the normal group, gazing time at the eyes was significantly longer than those at the mouth, body, and background; in the ADHD group, gazing time at the eyes was significantly longer than only that at the background. Given the different results obtained in the past in ASD, these results suggest that it would be necessary to directly compare the two groups to determine whether the gaze measurement shows significant differences in ASD and ADHD.

Are decreased cocaine- and amphetamine regulated transcript and Agouti- related peptide levels associated Eating behavior in medication-free children with attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder?

This study aimed to investigate plasma levels of cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART), agouti-related protein (AgRP), cholecystokinin (CCK) and peptide YY (PYY) and their relationship with eating behaviors among children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and healthy controls. A total of 94 medication-free children with ADHD and 82 controls aged 8–14 years were included in this study. The Plasma levels of CART, AgRP, CCK and PYY were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. The Children's Eating Behavior Questionnaire (CEBQ) was used to assess eating behaviors in children. CART and AgRP levels were found to be significantly lower in the ADHD group than in the control group, while CCK levels were found to be significantly higher in the ADHD group than in the control group. However, there was no significant difference in PYY levels between the groups. Compared to controls, those with ADHD demonstrated significantly higher scores on the CEBQ subscales of food responsiveness, emotional overeating, desire to drink, enjoyment of food, and food fussiness, and significantly lower scores on the slowness of eating subscale. CART was significantly correlated with emotional overeating and enjoyment of food scores, while AgRP was significantly correlated with emotional undereating scores. Covariance analysis was performed by controlling potential confounders such as body mass index, age and sex, and the results were found to be unchanged. It was concluded that CART, AgRP, and CCK may play a potential role in the pathogenesis of ADHD.

The Effect of Methylphenidate on Cognition in Patients with Comorbid Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Amphetamine Use Disorder: An Exploratory Single-Blinded within-Subject Study

Introduction: Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) with co-occurring substance use disorder (SUD) is associated with poor treatment outcomes. Two randomized controlled trials, utilizing robust doses of stimulants, demonstrated a significant effect on treatment outcomes in patients with ADHD/SUD. This study aimed to investigate differences in executive functioning and explore the dose-dependent effect of OROS-methylphenidate (MPH) in patients with comorbid ADHD and amphetamine use disorder (ADHD+AMPH) and patients with ADHD only. Methods: Three groups (ADHD+AMPH, ADHD only, and healthy controls) were assessed repeatedly with a neuropsychological test battery. An exploratory within-subject single-blinded design was employed where the ADHD only group received a maximum dose of 72 mg OROS-MPH, the ADHD+AMPH group a maximum dose of 180 mg, whereas the healthy subjects did not receive any study medication. Both ADHD groups received the same dose titration up to 72 mg OROS-MPH. Results: The ADHD+AMPH group demonstrated a significantly poorer motor inhibition and spatial working memory and reported more severe ADHD symptoms compared to the ADHD only group. 180 mg OROS-MPH was associated with a significant improvement in executive functioning in the dual diagnosis group. However, the exploratory study design and recruitment issues do not allow for any conclusion to be drawn regarding the effect of 180 mg OROS-MPH. Conclusion: Patients with ADHD+AMPH present with more severe neurocognitive deficits compared to ADHD only. The effect of 180 mg OROS-MPH on cognition in patients with ADHD+AMPH was inconclusive. Future studies should consider recruitment issues and high drop-out rates in this study population.

Neuro-ophthalmologic and blood biomarker responses in ADHD following subconcussive head impacts: a case–control trial

IntroductionThis clinical trial aimed to determine the influence of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) on neuro-ophthalmologic function and brain-derived blood biomarkers following acute subconcussive head impacts.MethodsThe present trial consisted of age- and sex-matched samples with a ratio of 1:1 between two groups with a total sample size of 60 adults (age ± SD; 20.0 ± 1.8 years). Soccer players diagnosed with and medicated daily for ADHD were assigned into an ADHD group (n = 30). Soccer players without ADHD were assigned into a non-ADHD group (n = 30). Participants performed 10 soccer headers with a soccer ball projected at a velocity of 25mph. King-Devick test (KDT), near point of convergence (NPC), and serum levels of NF-L, tau, GFAP, and UCH-L1 were assessed at baseline (pre-heading) and at 2 h and 24 h post-heading.ResultsThere were no statistically significant group-by-time interactions in outcome measures. However, at baseline, the ADHD group exhibited lower neuro-ophthalmologic functions compared to the non-ADHD group (NPC: p = 0.019; KDT: p = 0.018), and persisted at 2 h-post (NPC: p = 0.007; KDT: p = 0.014) and 24 h-post heading (NPC: p = 0.001). NPC significantly worsened over time in both groups compared to baseline [ADHD: 2 h-post, 1.23 cm, 95%CI:(0.77, 1.69), p < 0.001; 24 h-post, 1.68 cm, 95%CI:(1.22, 2.13), p = 0.001; Non-ADHD: 2 h-post, 0.96 cm, 95%CI:(0.50, 1.42), p < 0.001; 24 h-post, 1.09 cm, 95%CI:(0.63, 1.55), p < 0.001]. Conversely, improvements in KDT time compared to baseline occurred at 2 h-post in the non-ADHD group [−1.32 s, 95%CI:(−2.55, −0.09), p = 0.04] and at 24 h-post in both groups [ADHD: −4.66 s, 95%CI:(−5.89, −3.43), p < 0.001; Non-ADHD: −3.46 s, 95%CI:(−4.69, −2.23), p < 0.001)]. There were no group-by-time interactions for GFAP as both groups exhibited increased levels at 2 h-post [ADHD: 7.75 pg./mL, 95%CI:(1.41, 14.10), p = 0.019; Non-ADHD: 7.91 pg./mL, 95%CI:(1.71, 14.14), p = 0.015)] that returned to baseline at 24 h-post. NF-L levels increased at 2 h-post heading in the ADHD group [0.45 pg./mL, 95%CI:(0.05, 0.86), p = 0.032], but no significant NF-L changes were observed in the non-ADHD group over time.DiscussionTen soccer headers elevated GFAP levels and NPC impairment in both groups. However, persisting group difference in NPC, blunted KDT performance, and increased NF-L levels in the ADHD group suggest that ADHD may reduce neuro-ophthalmologic function and heighten axonal response to soccer headers.Clinical trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov, identifier ID: (NCT04880304).

Utilizing artificial intelligence-based eye tracking technology for screening ADHD symptoms in children.

To explore the potential of using artificial intelligence (AI)-based eye tracking technology on a tablet for screening Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms in children. We recruited 112 children diagnosed with ADHD (ADHD group; mean age: 9.40 ± 1.70 years old) and 325 typically developing children (TD group; mean age: 9.45 ± 1.59 years old). We designed a data-driven end-to-end convolutional neural network appearance-based model to predict eye gaze to permit eye-tracking under low resolution and sampling rates. The participants then completed the eye tracking task on a tablet, which consisted of a simple fixation task as well as 14 prosaccade (looking toward target) and 14 antisaccade (looking away from target) trials, measuring attention and inhibition, respectively. Two-way MANOVA analyses demonstrated that diagnosis and age had significant effects on performance on the fixation task [diagnosis: F(2, 432) = 8.231, ***p < 0.001; Wilks' Λ = 0.963; age: F(2, 432) = 3.999, *p < 0.019; Wilks' Λ = 0.982], prosaccade task [age: F(16, 418) = 3.847, ***p < 0.001; Wilks' Λ = 0.872], and antisaccade task [diagnosis: F(16, 418) = 1.738, *p = 0.038; Wilks' Λ = 0.938; age: F(16, 418) = 4.508, ***p < 0.001; Wilks' Λ = 0.853]. Correlational analyses revealed that participants with higher SNAP-IV score were more likely to have shorter fixation duration and more fixation intervals (r = -0.160, 95% CI [0.250, 0.067], ***p < 0.001), poorer scores on adjusted prosaccade accuracy, and poorer scores on antisaccade accuracy (Accuracy: r = -0.105, 95% CI [-0.197, -0.011], *p = 0.029; Adjusted accuracy: r = -0.108, 95% CI [-0.200, -0.015], *p = 0.024). Our AI-based eye tracking technology implemented on a tablet could reliably discriminate eye movements of the TD group and the ADHD group, providing a potential solution for ADHD screening outside of clinical settings.

Do ADHD and SLD children differ in executive functions and behavioural problems? A comparative study

AbstractIt is well‐known that children with attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and specific learning disorder (SLD) often exhibit behavioural and emotional problems. However, little is known about how these problems compare between the two groups of children. This study sought to fill this gap in knowledge by comparing the executive functions and behavioural–emotional problems of children with ADHD, SLD and typically developing children. For this study, 94 children were recruited through purposeful sampling (ADHD = 23, SLD = 30 and TD = 41). All participants were screened based on WISC‐IV. Subsequently, participants were administered executive functions and behavioural problems questionnaires. The analysis of the data using MANOVA and Scheffe post hoc pairwise shows that children with ADHD and SLD had significantly higher scores on measures of executive function impairment than typically developing children. Our study revealed that children in the ADHD group scored significantly higher in social problems, aggressive behaviours, AD/HD problems, ODD, conduct problems and externalizing problems sub‐tests. Conversely, the LD group demonstrated higher scores in the anxiety problems sub‐test. Furthermore, Our study demonstrated that children in the ADHD group scored significantly higher in the following sub‐tests: metacognition, inhibit, shift, bri, shift and emotion control. In contrast, the LD group exhibited higher scores in the initiate sub‐test. In addition, the two groups of children with disorders also exhibited more behavioural–emotional problems than typically developing children. These findings suggest that ADHD and SLD are associated with impaired executive function and increased behavioural–emotional problems. These findings have implications for the assessment and treatment of these disorders.

A systematic review and meta-analysis on the ocular characteristics in children and adolescents with neurodevelopmental disorders

To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of the association between children and adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and ocular characteristics. Systematic review with meta-analysis. Six databases (PubMed, Scopus, APA PsycInfo, Embase, EBSCOhost, and Cochrane library) were selected for a systematic literature search from database inception to July 2022. The observational studies assessing and reporting at least one outcome regarding ocular characteristics in children and adolescents with ADHD or ASD aged 6–17 were included. Studies in languages other than English, studies of adult or elderly human populations, and animal studies were excluded. The results were analyzed following the PRISMA guideline 2020. The findings of 15 studies, including 433 participants with ADHD, 253 participants with ASD, and 514 participants with typical development (TD), revealed that there were no significant differences in retinal nerve fiber layer, ganglion cell complex, and macular thickness between the ADHD group and the TD group. In subgroup analysis, significant differences in inferior ganglion cell (MD = − 3.19; 95% CI = [− 6.06, − 0.31], p = 0.03) and nasal macular thickness (MD = 5.88; 95% CI = [− 0.01, 11.76], p = 0.05) were detected between the ADHD group and the TD group. A significant difference in pupillary light reflex (PLR) was also observed between the ASD group and the TD group (MD = 29.7; 95% CI = [18.79, 40.63], p < 0.001). Existing evidence suggests a possible association between children and adolescents with ADHD or ASD and ocular characteristics. Given the limited number of studies, further research on a larger cohort is necessary to claim a possible diagnosis of ADHD or ASD through ocular characteristics.

Differences in Electroencephalography Power and Asymmetry at Frontal Region in Young Adults with Attention-deficit/hyperactivity Disorder: A Quantitative Electroencephalography Study.

: Diagnosing attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adults is often hard. This study aimed to determine differences in absolute EEG power and frontal asymmetry between individuals with ADHD and non-ADHD in young adults aged 18-30 years. : Young adult (age: 18-30 years) outpatients (n = 103) including ADHD patients (n = 51) and non-ADHD patients (n = 52) were enrolled. QEEG was performed for both groups for each region of the brain. The absolute power of each frequency measured in three frontal regions (Lt., Mid., Rt.) of the scalp area was compared between the two groups. Differences between the two groups including theta/beta ratio were compared. Frontal asymmetries were also evaluated for prefrontal (Fp2-Fp1), middle frontal (F4-F3), lateral frontal (F8-F7) pairs at all frequencies. Correlation analysis was performed for absolute powers, frontal asymmetry, and Stroop tests. : Demographic data, neuropsychological tests, and psychiatric symptoms were not significantly different between the two groups. Delta band was significantly increased while beta band was decreased in the middle frontal area of the ADHD group as compared with those of the non-ADHD group. For frontal asymmetries, all frequencies in the middle frontal area were more rightward in ADHD patients than in non-ADHD patients. Absolute powers in delta, beta band, and frontal asymmetry in all frequencies had correlations with Stroop tests. : This study revealed that ADHD patients had significant differences in absolute powers in delta, beta bands, and frontal asymmetries in all frequencies. Our findings suggest that QEEG can be a helpful tool for diagnosing ADHD in psychiatric patients.

Reduced gaze-cueing effect with neutral and emotional faces in adults with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder

This study examined whether gaze shift of neutral and emotional faces triggers reflexive attention orienting in 45 adults with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and 45 age-, sex-, and intelligence quotient-matched typically developing (TD) adults. The cues changed from neutral to anger, fearful, or happy expressions under the emotional face condition. Participants were asked to detect a target that appeared to the left or right of the cue stimuli, as rapidly and accurately as possible. The results revealed a gaze-cueing effect, where the reaction time to the target was shorter under the “gaze-at-target” condition than under the “non-gaze-at-target” condition in both groups. Facial expressions did not modulate the gaze-cueing effect in either group. However, the magnitude of the gaze-cueing effect was smaller in the ADHD group than in the TD group. Contrary to our expectations, a larger gaze-cueing effect was observed in individuals with ADHD who exhibited more severe inattention. Our results suggest that adults with ADHD ineffectively orient their attention toward another's gaze. Moreover, difficulty with sustained and selective attention may be associated with a larger influence of gaze direction; this difficulty may play a role in social interaction problems.

The Limbic System in Children and Adolescents With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Longitudinal Structural Magnetic Resonance Imaging Analysis

BackgroundDuring childhood and adolescence, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is associated with changes in symptoms and brain structures, but the link between brain structure and function remains unclear. The limbic system, often termed the “emotional network,” plays an important role in a number of neurodevelopmental disorders, yet this brain network remains largely unexplored in ADHD. Investigating the developmental trajectories of key limbic system structures during childhood and adolescence will provide novel insights into the neurobiological underpinnings of ADHD. MethodsStructural magnetic resonance imaging data (380 scans), emotional regulation (Affective Reactivity Index), and ADHD symptom severity (Conners 3 ADHD Index) were measured at up to 3 time points between 9 and 14 years of age in a sample of children and adolescents with ADHD (n = 57) and control children (n = 109). ResultsCompared with the control group, the ADHD group had lower volume of the amygdala (left: β standardized [β_std] = −0.38; right: β_std = −0.34), hippocampus (left: β_std = −0.44; right: β_std = −0.34), cingulate gyrus (left: β_std = −0.42; right: β_std = −0.32), and orbitofrontal cortex (right: β_std = −0.33) across development (9–14 years). There were no significant group-by-age interactions in any of the limbic system structures. Exploratory analysis found a significant Conners 3 ADHD Index-by-age interaction effect on the volume of the left mammillary body (β_std = 0.17) in the ADHD group across the 3 study time points. ConclusionsChildren and adolescents with ADHD displayed lower volume and atypical development in limbic system structures. Furthermore, atypical limbic system development was associated with increased symptom severity, highlighting a potential neurobiological correlate of ADHD severity.

40 Metamemory performance of children with ADHD in comparison to typically developing children.

Objective:Metamemory is an aspect of metacognition that is one's knowledge of memory and understanding of their own memory performance (Kreutzer et al., 1975). Executive function skills are foundational skills required for the development of metamemory in early school-age children (Lockl &amp; Schneider, 2007; Lecce et al., 2015). Previous studies have suggested children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) may have weaker study and organizational strategies, suggesting weaker metamemory skills (O'Neill &amp; Douglas, 1991; Voelker et al., 1989). The current study aimed to examine the metamemory knowledge of typically developing (TD) children and children with ADHD on a novel declarative metamemory questionnaire. We hypothesized that the ADHD group would have worse metamemory performance than the TD group and that executive functioning skills would be significantly associated with metamemory for all groups.Participants and Methods:The current study recruited a total of 93 English-speaking children between the ages of 6 to 12 years old, including 70 typically developing (TD) children (M age=9.1+1.92; females 49%), and 23 children with diagnoses of ADHD (M age=9.56+1.27; females 57%). Fifty-seven percent of the ADHD group reported daily use of stimulant medication, but no participants took medication on the day of testing. The participant groups did not significantly differ regarding age or sex. Participants completed the Measure of Metamemory (MoM-10) which included 10 multiple choice questions (i.e., Accuracy) and asked participants to explain their multiple-choice answer (i.e., Explanation). This provided three scores: Accuracy (max 10 points), Explanation (max 20 points), and Total (max 30 points). Additionally, participants' parents completed the 12-item Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function, 2nd Edition (BRIEF-2) Screening form, evaluating the child's executive functioning, which provided a percentile based on age and sex.Results:Within the ADHD group, BRIEF-2 percentiles and MoM-10 scores did not differ between those who were medicated and those who were not. As previous literature has shown, the TD and ADHD groups significantly differed on the BRIEF-2 screening score percentiles (t(91)=-5.78, p&lt;0.001; TD M=52.89+26.1; ADHD M=85.26+13.82). The TD and ADHD groups did not significantly differ on either the MoM-10 Accuracy (p=0.13; TD M=7.22+1.84; ADHD M=7.87+1.32), the Explanation (p=0.08; TD M=9.34+3.80; ADHD M=10.57+2.92), or Total (p=0.13). There was a trend towards a significant correlation between the Explanation scores and BRIEF-2 for TD participants (r=-0.23, p=0.06), but there was no significant correlation between Explanation, Accuracy, or Total scores and the BRIEF-2 for the ADHD group.Conclusions:Our results tentatively suggest a possible association between metamemory and parent reported executive functioning for TD children, supporting the expected association between the development of executive functioning and the development of metamemory. However, there was no association between metamemory and executive functioning for children with ADHD, likely due to the restricted range of executive functioning scores for this group (i.e., M=85.25+13.82; Range 55-99). Additionally, metamemory did not significantly differ between diagnostic groups. Children with ADHD may have comparable metamemory knowledge to TD children as a result of executive functioning instruction and support they have received. Rather, there may be group differences in the application of metamemory judgement and strategies.

44 Functional Connectivity In The Default Mode Network Of ASD and ADHD

Objective:Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are neurodevelopmental disorders with overlapping symptomatology and shared genetic makeup. Numerous previous studies have investigated ASD and ADHD using resting state functional networks. One functional network of particular interest is the Default Mode Network (DMN), as it has been shown to be abnormal in several mental disorders. Previous studies have investigated the DMN in ASD and ADHD separately but reported mixed trends of increased and decreased functional connectivity (FC) in the DMN in ASD and increased FC in ADHD. Additionally, little studies have investigated executive and attentional network dysfunction in the DMN for ASD and ADHD populations. To better understand the shared characteristics between ASD and ADHD, this study analyzed the DMN FC in children with ASD and ADHD.Participants and Methods:Archival datasets from Autism Brain Imaging Data Exchange (ABIDE)-I and ADHD-200 datasets were used, with 33 ADHD, 35 ASD, and 32 typically developing (TD) males (ages = 7-17 years). After applying a standard pre-processing pipeline, 11 regions of interest (ROIs) from the Dosenbach-160 atlas were examined with 55 ROI pairs generated for the 100 subjects.Results:Significant differences were noted between ASD-ADHD groups in attentional networks and executive functioning networks. Specifically, significant Group x VIQ interactions were noted for FC between the following pairs of regions: medial prefrontal cortex - ventromedial prefrontal cortex, anterior cingulate cortex -ventromedial prefrontal cortex, inferior temporal lobe - ventromedial prefrontal cortex, angular -ventromedial prefrontal cortex, angular -anterior cingulate cortex, inferior temporal lobe -ventrolateral prefrontal cortex, angular -superior frontal lobe, and intraparietal sulcus -superior frontal lobe. In the above FC pairs, FC in ADHD was negatively correlated with VIQ, with no correlation for ASD and positive correlation for TD. Previous literature has indicated that ADHD individuals demonstrate increased executive functioning deficits compared to ASD individuals. This study provides evidence at a neural level for these findings by demonstrating decreased FC trends in ADHD in attentional and executive functioning networks compared to ASD individuals. Group and VIQ main effects demonstrated mixed patterns across the three groups, as well as shared decreased FC in attention/executive networks for both ASD and ADHD groups.Conclusions:In summary, this study found similar findings from previous studies regarding mixed connectivity patterns, as well as shared dysfunction between ASD and ADHD groups. These results help in solidifying the theory that ASD and ADHD share clinical and neural patterns which need to be examined further. Future directions include utilizing more ASD+ADHD comorbid individuals in studies comparing ASD and ADHD FC trends as well as seeking to further understand the neuropsychological and neuroimaging profiles in ASD and ADHD.

Self Compassion and quality of life among adults with and without ADHD in Israel

Background Adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) experience multiple difficulties in functioning and quality of life (QoL). Biological factors have been shown to explain ~ 30% of QoL variance, yet according to a biopsychological perspective on health there is a need for additional research on psycho-social factors which may add to the explained variance of QoL. Self-compassion (SC) concerns the way people relate to themselves when they experience suffering and pain. SC has been associated with QoL in various populations with chronic health conditions, yet evidence of SC in adults with ADHD, and specifically in Israel is limited. Methods Cross-sectional survey design. Convenience sample comprising 34 adults with ADHD and 26 without ADHD. Participants completed self-rated questionnaires: ADHD symptoms (ASRS), ADHD related QoL (AAQoL), and the Self-Compassion Scale (SCS) comprising 6 scales: mindfulness, common humanity, self-kindness, overidentification, isolation, and self-judgement. Results Comparison between groups demonstrated that the ADHD group mean scores were significantly lower on AAQoL (F (1,58) = 20,84, p &lt; .001) and on SCS (F (1,58) = 12.60, p &lt; .001). Significant differences were found on five of six SCS subscales, with largest effects on overidentification and common humanity. A positive significant correlation was found between total SCS and AAQoL total scores (r=.63; 69, p&lt;.001). Additionally, SCS contributed to the explained variance of AAQoL beyond that accounted for by ADHD group. Conclusions SC may be a worthy intervention target to increase QoL among adults with ADHD.

42 Behavioral Correlates of Action-Control in Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Objective:Children with attention/deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) exhibit motivational and cognitive impairments that affect daily life functioning. These impairments may reflect a deficit in action-control; the process by which voluntary actions are selected and executed based on prior reinforcement learning. It consists of parallel opposing processes; goal-direction and habit formation. Using the outcome-devaluation paradigm, we previously showed that children with ADHD rely on reflexive habitual, at the expense of goal-directed, behavior to deploy their actions. The current study investigates action-control using a contingency degradation paradigm, which involves outcome overvaluation as opposed to outcome devaluation. We hypothesize that children with ADHD will display a habitual behavior, while healthy controls (HC) will use goal-directed behavior to control their actions.Participants and Methods:We tested 19 ADHD and 14 HC participants (age 6-10 years) for this study. Children with ADHD were recruited from Children’s Specialized Hospital and underwent a structured clinical diagnosis. All participants were screened for ADHD and other neurologic or psychiatric conditions that could contribute to attention impairment using the SNAP-IV rating scale. Participants completed a set of the Woodcock-Johnson® IV assessments. They were tested using an outcome-overvaluation computer-based task. During learning, participants acquired stimulus-reward associations in the acquisition phase, as well as the overvaluation phase. In the latter, one of the rewards was delivered in a similar contingency to the acquisition phase (valued), while the other reward was randomly accompanied by an extra reward in 10% of the trials (overvalued). After the overvaluation phase, participants were presented with two stimuli (associated with a valued, and an overvalued outcome) and were asked to choose one stimulus in extinction. Choosing the overvalued at a higher rate was assigned as goal-directed behavior, while choosing both stimuli at the same rate was assigned as habitual behavior.Results:Independent-samples t-test showed that children with ADHD scored significantly higher than HC in the following measures: ADHD_inattention, ADHD_hyperactive/Impulsive, ADHD_combined, inattention/overactivity, Conner’s index, inattention domain, hyperactive/impulsive domain, and general anxiety disorder screening (P-value for all is &lt;0.001). Results from the computer-based task showed that both groups acquired action-outcome associations during the first two phases of the task. During the extinction phase, HC, as compared to ADHD, responded at a higher rate on the stimuli that were associated with the overvalued outcome (t(31)=2.1, p=0.043); indicating higher tendency to show goal-directed behavior. Further, paired-samples t-test showed that there was no significant difference between response rate on the valued vs. overvalued stimuli in the ADHD group (t(18)=1.027, p=0.318), while there was a difference trending towards significance in response rate in the HC group (t(13)=-2.00, p=0.067). These results show that ADHD responded habitually, while HC responses were goal-directed.Conclusions:Our results indicate that children with ADHD are less likely than HC to engage in goal-directed behavior as opposed to habitual responding. This is consistent with our previous research highlighting a deficit in action-control in ADHD.