Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Children Research Articles

Comparative Effects of Stimulant and Antipsychotic Medications on Eating Behaviors and Weight in Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is associated with an increased risk of obesity and disordered eating behaviors. This study compared weight status and eating behaviors among drug-naïve ADHD children, those on stimulant monotherapy, those on combined stimulant and antipsychotic treatment, and healthy controls. This cross-sectional study included 547 children aged 6-12 years from four Turkish provinces: 361 with ADHD (152 drug-naïve, 156 on stimulants, and 53 on combined therapy), and 186 healthy controls. Anthropometric measurements, psychiatric assessments, and eating behavior evaluations were conducted using standardized tools. Drug-naïve ADHD children had the highest obesity rate (13.8%), while those on stimulant monotherapy had the lowest (4.5%) compared to controls. Combined treatment group obesity rates were similar to controls (7.5% vs. 8.6%). The drug-naïve and combined treatment groups showed increased food approach behavior and desire to drink, with the combined treatment group also showing increased emotional overeating. This study reveals a complex relationship between ADHD, its pharmacological management, and the risk of obesity. Stimulant monotherapy may mitigate the risk of obesity, while combined stimulant and antipsychotic treatment may lead to problematic eating behaviors. These findings emphasize the importance of monitoring weight status and eating behaviors in ADHD children, especially those receiving pharmacological interventions.

Strategies for teaching English as a foreign language to a student with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: a case study in the Ecuadorian context

ABSTRACT This study aimed to determine the strategies for teaching English as a foreign language (EFL) to a student with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It was carried out in the South of Ecuador and used the descriptive qualitative method to explore how teaching strategies impacted the behaviour and learning experiences of the ADHD child. The instruments to collect data were two pre-tests, two post-tests, and a checklist per class. Additionally, the pre-service teacher completed a checklist when observing each class. Furthermore, to gather information from the main English educator, a pre-survey and a post-survey were administrated. The findings showed that activities comprised within the gamification approach were effective for teaching EFL to the ADHD student, these activities included recompenses that persuaded the learner to complete them in no time.

Analysis of the therapeutic effect of pestle needle and EEG biofeedback and methylphenidate in the treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

This research aimed to analyze the therapeutic effect of the pestle needle combined with electroencephalogram (EEG) biofeedback and methylphenidate in the treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children. Seventy-eight children with ADHD were selected and randomized into a control group and an observation group (n = 39 each). The control group received EEG biofeedback and methylphenidate treatment, whereas the observation group received pestle needle therapy on this basis. Both groups received continuous treatment for 3 mo. The clinical efficacy, scores of Conners Parents Symptom Questionnaire (PSQ), Integrated Visual and Auditory Continuous Performance Test (IVA-CPT), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), EEG θ/β changes in values, serum indicators such as adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol (CORT), and incidence of adverse reactions were compared in the two groups. The total effective rate of the observation group was 92.31% (36/39), which was higher than the control group's 69.23% (27/39) (P < 0.05). After treatment, reduced PSQ scores, PSQI scores, EEG θ/β values, and ACTH levels and elevated IVA-CPT and CORT levels were observed in both groups; the observation group had the best improvement effect after treatment (P < 0.05). Pestle needle combined with EEG biofeedback and methylphenidate in the treatment of ADHD children can elevate the IVA-CPT score, improve EEG waves and sleep quality, regulate serum indicators such as ACTH and CORT, reduce behavioral problem scores, and have high efficacy and safety.NEW & NOTEWORTHY The pestle needle combined with EEG biofeedback and methylphenidate in ADHD children can elevate the IVA-CPT score. The pestle needle combined with EEG biofeedback and methylphenidate in ADHD children can improve EEG waves. The pestle needle combined with EEG biofeedback and methylphenidate in ADHD children can improve sleep quality. The pestle needle combined with EEG biofeedback and methylphenidate in ADHD children can regulate serum indicators.

Examine the Effects of Atomoxtine Alone Versus Atomoxtine Combined with Risperidone at Sample of Egyptian Children Suffering from ADHD.

Background: An estimated 7% of elementary school children suffer from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), a mental neuro-developmental condition marked by impulsivity, hyperactivity, and lack of attention. Atomoxetine is one of the most important medications for ADHD however Risperidone has been used as a label for the treatment of ADHD. Aim: To study the Efficacy of Atomoxetine alone vs. Atomoxtine with Antipsychotic (Risperidone) in ADHD children. Subjects and Methods: 54 Egyptian children with ADHD, ranging in age from 6 to 18. They meet the DSM-IV criteria for ADHD and have been receiving therapy at Al Hussian Hospital's psychiatry clinic. Conner's 2 scale was used to evaluate each patient for ADHD. Between January and June of 2024, a study was carried out on all children receiving therapy for all forms of ADHD using either Atomoxetine alone or in combination with an antipsychotic (Risperidone). Results: When Atomoxetine was administered to 27 children, it demonstrated a moderate level of efficacy in 12 of 27 patients (44.4%) for all children with ADHD, regardless of type, but it significantly improved the inattention type of ADHD in 4 from 4 patients (100%). Given to 27 children, the combination of Atomoxetine and Risperidone demonstrated a greater effect on 24 of 27 patients with (88.9%) for all ADHD children, and it showed a discernible improvement on 9 out of 9 with (100%) for ADHD hyperactivity type. Conclusion: Patients with Attention deficit variant responded well to Atomoxetine., Patients with attentiondeficit/hyperactivity variant responded well to Atomoxetine/Antipsychotic (Risperidone) combination., Patients with Hyperactivity variants show good responses to Antipsychotics (Risperidone)., All types of ADHD are responsive to Atomoxetine or Atomoxetine / Antipsychotic (Risperidone) combination, But the Atomoxetine effect is more on the Attention deficit variant than other variants, while Antipsychotic (Risperidone) is more effective on hyperactivity and aggression.

Assessment of the Quality of Life and Family Function in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Caregivers in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia.

Background Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most prevalent neurobehavioral disorder in children and teenagers. The condition is debilitating, affecting numerous cognitive and behavioral processes and leading to substantial long-term consequences. Affected individuals, their families, and society as a whole bear a heavy functional, psychological, and financial cost. Aim The objective of this study was to evaluate the quality of life (QOL) among parents of children with ADHD diagnoses, as well as the burden and level of dysfunction in the family. Additionally, to ascertain the sociodemographic factors that influence these issues. Methods This cross-sectional study used an online survey to collect data from caregivers of children with a confirmed diagnosis of any type of ADHD who were exhibiting symptoms before the age of seven, speaking Arabic fluently and consented to take part in the study. The Arabic version questionnaire of the World Health Organization Quality of Life instrument (WHOQOL-BREF) was used to assess the QOL, and the Zarit Burden Interview questionnaire was employed to assess the degree of the experienced burden. Participants were recruited by a systematic random sampling method. Results A total of 103 ADHD caregivers were included in the study. A total of 89 out of 103 (86.4%) participants reported having various degrees of burden. There was a significant relation between the marital status of the caregiver and the degree of burden (p=0.024). Divorced caregivers were (4, 57.1%) severely burdened. Ninety out of 103 participants (87.4%) reported having dysfunctional families, and the majority of them (60, 60.1%) reported moderate family dysfunction. All quality-of-life domains were negatively impacted, with the environmental domain experiencing the most disruption. The overall four subdomains of QOLdid not differ significantly with various sociodemographic characteristics. Conclusion There was a high prevalence of burden and family dysfunctionamong caregivers of ADHD children. Marital status was associated with a significant impact on the level of burden.In addition, there was a detrimental influence on every aspect of quality of life, with the environmental domain suffering the most. It is important to take into account family therapy and other interventions that strengthen caregivers' and families' relationships.

The Association between Hyperactivity and Suicidal Behavior and Attempts among Children Referred from Emergency Departments.

The global prevalence of suicidal behaviors in children is rising, with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) proposed as a contributing factor. This study examines the association between ADHD facets (hyperactivity and inattention) and suicidal behavior and attempts in children. Additionally, it seeks to compare self-reported ADHD symptoms and suicide-related incidents with parental reports. A cohort of 71 children referred from emergency departments due to suicidal thoughts and behaviors completed self- and parental report questionnaires. The results revealed that elevated hyperactivity scores, surpassing the ADHD diagnosis threshold, were significantly associated with increased rates of suicidal behavior. Hyperactivity demonstrated a stronger association with lifetime suicide attempts compared to inattention. Moreover, children's self-reported ADHD symptoms exhibited a stronger correlation with suicide attempts than parental reports. This study highlights the critical role of hyperactivity in understanding suicidal behaviors among children with ADHD. It underscores the importance of considering hyperactivity-related symptoms in assessment and treatment approaches for suicidal behavior in this population.

Relationships between screen time and childhood attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: a Mendelian randomization study.

In previous observational studies and meta-analyses, childhood attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is found to have a significant association with screen time. However, the causal associations between them remain unclear. This study performed a bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to confirm the causality between screen time and childhood ADHD. Large-scale genome-wide association studies (GWAS) datasets derived from the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC) and the UK Biobank were used to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with exposure and outcome. Four categories of datasets were selected to represent screen time. The SNPs that are significantly associated with exposure data (P < 5e-08) and have a strong correlation with the exposure in the F-statistic (F > 10) were selected as instrumental variables. This study also used the PhenoScanner V2 database and the LDlink webtool to exclude confounding factors, and the MR-PRESSO method (p < 0.05) was employed to eliminate outliers with bias. Five commonly used methods were employed to assess the interaction and the Inverse Variance Weighted (IVW) method was utilized as the primary basis for determining the MR estimates in this study. The MR analysis revealed that the length of mobile phone use (OR, 1.848; 95% CI, 1.3360-2.5558; p=2.07e-4) and the time spent watching television (OR, 2.104; 95% CI, 1.3958-3.1703; p=3.8e-4) increased the risk of childhood ADHD. Although the causal relationships were exclusively identified through the IVW and weighted median methods, the results retained their statistical significance following correction. In the reverse analysis, no evidence was found to support an effect of childhood ADHD on screen time. The sensitivity analysis conducted on the significant findings revealed no evidence of horizontal pleiotropy or heterogeneity. This study provides some evidence for the causality of screen time and childhood ADHD. Given the limitations of our study, further research is required to comprehensively investigate this relationship.

B - 60 Age of ADHD Diagnosis as a Predictor of Psychiatric Symptom Reporting

Abstract Objective Childhood attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) diagnosis and intervention is thought to mitigate symptom severity and to improve outcomes. Existing literature suggests those who receive later ADHD diagnoses may attribute ADHD symptomatology to personal shortcomings, contributing to a negative self-perception and higher incidence of psychopathology. We evaluated differences in psychological functioning between adults diagnosed with ADHD in childhood (&amp;lt; 12) versus those first diagnosed in adolescence or adulthood. Method Cross-sectional data from 609 patients (Mage = 28.13; Meducation = 15.69; 61.4% Female/38.6% Male; 39.9% White, 27.3% Hispanic, 16.7% Black, 10.3% Asian, 5.7% Other) undergoing neuropsychological evaluation for ADHD was examined. Psychiatric symptomatology was assessed using the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II). Patients were grouped by diagnostic history: (1) ADHD diagnosis in childhood and currently (&amp;lt; 12); (2) current ADHD diagnosis without childhood diagnosis; and (3) no ADHD/primary psychopathology diagnosis comparison group. Results Overall, there was a significant multivariate effect across groups (Wilks’ Lambda = 0.961, F(4,1204) = 5.971, p &amp;lt; 0.001); patients diagnosed with ADHD in childhood had significantly lower BAI and BDI-II scores than both those diagnosed later and those diagnosed with a condition other than ADHD. Conclusion(s) Individuals diagnosed with ADHD in childhood self-reported less symptoms of anxiety and depression compared to those diagnosed with ADHD later in adolescence or adulthood and those without an ADHD diagnosis. This underscores the potential importance of early identification and intervention for ADHD in mitigating subsequent symptoms of anxiety and depression.

The Positive Impact of Music Education on the Attention of Children with ADHD

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a prevalent developmental disorder that typically manifests in childhood, which is characterized by difficulties in attention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. Therefore, children with ADHD have no difficulties in understanding knowledge, but due to their hyperactivity, they face significant obstacles in acquiring it. The specific manifestations of ADHD in children include hyperactivity, lack of attention, and overly active thoughts, which prevent them from focusing and learning for extended periods. This study explores the improvement of ADHD children's condition through music education, which has significant practical implications for promoting their learning abilities and cognitive methods. By collecting and analyzing previous researches, this paper summarizes the positive impact of music education on children with ADHD. This paper shows that music can improve mental and emotional states, alter children's moods, regulate thinking patterns, and enrich the brain's cognitive modes. Personalized music education proves to be effective and practical in reducing stress during learning and in crisis intervention.

ADHD: prevalence and effect on opioid use disorder treatment outcome in a French sample of patients receiving medication for opioid use disorder—the influence of impulsivity as a mediating factor

BackgroundOpioid use disorder (OUD) poses a global health challenge, and despite medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) and psychosocial interventions, relapse remains a significant concern. Comorbid psychiatric disorders, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), are one of the major factors associated with poor OUD treatment outcome. We aimed to estimate the frequency of probable ADHD (in childhood and in adulthood) in patients with OUD; to assess the factors associated with this comorbidity; and to explore the factors that mediate the relationship between ADHD and OUD treatment outcome.MethodsWe conducted an observational study using a sample of 229 patients aged 18 years and older who were diagnosed with OUD and had received MOUD for at least six months. Participants were assessed through a structured interview and self-report questionnaires. Multivariate logistic regressions and a mediation analysis were performed.ResultsAlmost half of the participants reported probable ADHD in childhood, and ADHD persisted into adulthood among two-thirds of the patients. The factors associated with poor OUD treatment outcome included earlier onset of OUD, lower education, and greater impulsivity. There was no direct effect of probable ADHD in childhood on OUD treatment outcome, but there was an indirect effect through negative urgency, the tendency to respond impulsively to negatively connoted emotional experiences.ConclusionsThe findings suggest that ADHD symptoms, particularly impulsivity, may contribute to vulnerability in opioid use and play a crucial role in treatment outcomes for this population.Trial registration: ClinicalTrials identifier NCT01847729.

Sex Differences in ADHD Symptomatology Throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common childhood neurodevelopmental disorders diagnosed in the world. In this thesis, I investigated sex differences in the symptomatology of childhood ADHD within a Canadian sample while also seeking to see if these symptoms increased throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants were drawn from a larger study examining child and family impact throughout the pandemic. Unexpectedly, no significant differences were found in childhood ADHD symptomatology between sexes both at the onset of the study and throughout the pandemic. However, a general increase in ADHD symptom severity throughout the pandemic was in fact found. Further investigation found this increase to be influenced in part by the impact the COVID-19 pandemic had on children. These findings support the current literature of post-pandemic changes in the symptomatology of ADHD and suggest that further research be done to understand what factors brought about this increase in symptom severity.

Harmony Amidst Hyperactivity: Understanding How Parent-Teacher Relationships Influence Learning Behaviours in Children with ADHD

The current study investigated whether parent-teacher relationships mediated the relationship between attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptomology and children’s learning behaviours. A sample of Canadian parents were asked to complete a questionnaire about their child and their parenting. Data collection occurred during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Spring 2021 (N = 321, Mgrade = 4.30, SDgrade = 2.98). Data were analyzed using a mediation model. Results indicated that increased ADHD symptomology was significantly associated with a heightened strain on parent-teacher relationships, which exacerbated challenges in children’s learning behaviours (b = -0.39, t(320) = -9.82, p &lt; .001). Moreover, parent-teacher relationships partially mediated the relationship between ADHD symptomology and children’s learning behaviours (b = -8.95, t(320) = -18.13, p &lt; .001). These findings emphasize the importance in addressing familial and educational support structures in managing the academic difficulties for youth experiencing ADHD symptomatology, and further educational achievement and opportunities.

When do parents report their child's administrative ADHD diagnosis? A utilisation-based analysis from the consortium project INTEGRATE-ADHD.

This article examines discrepancies in the frequency of diagnoses of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children and adolescents in Germany using information on health care utilisation from both administrative and parent-reported survey data linked at person level. 5,461 parents of 0- to 17-year-olds insured with DAK-Gesundheit in 2020 and being registered with a confirmed administrative ADHD diagnosis (ICD-10 F90.0-9) in at least one quarter in 2020 (M1Q criterion) were surveyed online on their child's ADHD diagnosis, utilisation of specialist care and therapeutic service providers. With regard to the presence of a parental report of the child's documented ADHD diagnosis, administrative data and survey data were bi- and multivariately analysed. The response rate was 21.5 %. ADHD diagnoses were given more frequently in the context of paediatric care, but in the multivariable model with the administrative data only the diagnosis made by mental health professionals (OR = 2.78), in the model with the survey data only utilisation of mental health professionals (OR = 2.99) positively predicted the parental diagnostic report. With regard to the utilisation of therapeutic service providers, only the utilisation of occupational therapy was associated with the parental report of the diagnosis in both data sources. Parental non-reporting of a child's administrative ADHD diagnosis in survey studies can be in part be explained by utilisation characteristics.

Health care costs of incident ADHD in children and adolescents in Germany - A claims data analysis within the framework of the consortium project INTEGRATE-ADHD.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is associated with increased costs for the family, the health care system and the society. Previous cost-of-illness studies in Germany usually focused on prevalent ADHD. This study addressed the research gap on health care resource utilisation and costs of children and adolescents with incident ADHD diagnosis using nationwide claims data from the statutory health insurance DAK-Gesundheit. A matched-control design (propensity score matching, 1:3 ratio) was used to examine the health care costs of incident ADHD patients compared with a non-ADHD control group, considering an observation period of four quarters. Besides bivariate statistics, multivariate analyses of total costs were used to consider relevant covariates. Total health care costs for children and adolescents with ADHD in the first year after diagnosis exceeded those of the control group by € 1,505.3. According to the multivariate analysis, the group with incident ADHD had significantly higher (2.86-fold) health care costs when compared with non-ADHD peers. Sensitivity analyses proved these findings. In addition, the analyses identified children's age and comorbidity index to be significantly associated with increased costs. ADHD in children and adolescents is associated with a significant economic burden. The results emphasise the need for social awareness, prevention, appropriate treatment and research efforts.

ADHD in children and adolescents: Guideline-based online assessment in the consortium project INTEGRATE-ADHD.

The consortium project INTEGRATE-ADHD compared administrative data on the presence of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children and adolescents with the results of a parent survey and a comprehensive clinical assessment based on the S3 guideline of the Association of the Scientific Medical Societies in Germany (AWMF). Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the clinical assessment was carried out online. The article describes how a guideline-based clinical assessment of ADHD can be implemented in an online setting. A specially developed diagnostic matrix is presented to illustrate the assessment procedures and the diagnostic decision-making process. The matrix is intended to help the diagnostician to gain an overview of the numerous individual findings that have been collected using different assessment perspectives and methods (e.g. diagnostic interviews, rating scales, performance tests) in order to make a well-founded and transparent diagnostic decision. The consortium project INTEGRATE-ADHD has shown that an online assessment can be implemented in a guideline-compliant manner and allows a valid clinical decision. The diagnostic strategy is discussed with reference to international guidelines and recommendations for online diagnostics (e.g. aspects of feasibility, acceptability and safety of the assessment procedures). The challenges and opportunities of using online assessments in clinical practice are also described.

Convolutional neural network framework for EEG-based ADHD diagnosis in children.

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) stands as a significant psychiatric and neuro-developmental disorder with global prevalence. The prevalence of ADHD among school children in India is estimated to range from 5% to 8%. However, certain studies have reported higher prevalence rates, reaching as high as 11%. Utilizing electroencephalography (EEG) signals for the early detection and classification of ADHD in children is crucial. In this study, we introduce a CNN architecture characterized by its simplicity, comprising solely two convolutional layers. Our approach involves pre-processing EEG signals through a band-pass filter and segmenting them into 5-s frames. Following this, the frames undergo normalization and canonical correlation analysis. Subsequently, the proposed CNN architecture is employed for training and testing purposes. Our methodology yields remarkable results, with 100% accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity when utilizing the complete 19-channel EEG signals for diagnosing ADHD in children. However, employing the entire set of EEG channels presents challenges related to the computational complexity. Therefore, we investigate the feasibility of using only frontal brain EEG channels for ADHD detection, which yields an accuracy of 99.08%. The proposed method yields high accuracy and is easy to implement, hence, it has the potential for widespread practical deployment to diagnose ADHD.

Lisdexamfetamine's Efficacy in Treating Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): A Meta-Analysis and Review.

Lisdexamfetamine dimesylate, a prodrug stimulant, appears to effectively treat Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in children and adults. However, an analysis of the treatment effects of the two subscales (inattentiveness and hyperactivity) within the ADHD Rating Scale-IV (ADHD-RS-IV) has not yet been done to determine if clinical significance may be attributed to either one. Nor has there been a meta-analysis of the individual doses of lisdexamfetamine dimesylate. The current meta-analysis utilizes MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane, PubMed, and clinicaltrials.gov to identify peer-reviewed studies. Selected studies were eligible if they met the following criteria: English language, randomized-controlled trials, and utilized the ADHD-RS-IV scale to assess the efficacy of lisdexamfetamine on treating ADHD in either children or adults. The primary studies utilized were published between January 2007 and April 2024. Many of these studies calculate effect sizes based on several dosages pooled together rather than by individual dosages. We conducted a random-effects meta-analysis to estimate the effect sizes for these pooled dosages on the full ADHD-RS-IV scale and its subscales, as well as to calculate effect sizes on the same scales based on the individual dosages. Our main outcome measures are the ADHD-RS-IV scale and its subscales in individual doses and pooled results in both children and adults. Adverse events during treatment were also analyzed based on stratified dosages. Eleven publications met our inclusion criteria. The analyses indicate that compared to placebo, lisdexamfetamine effectively alleviates the symptoms outlined by the ADHD-RS-IV. Moreover, there are no differences in the individual subscales or in the safety profile. Lisdexamfetamine demonstrates efficacy in treating the symptoms of ADHD, but we report that differing dosages did not yield significant differences in ADHD symptom management.

Cognitive heterogeneity in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Implications for maths.

This study investigated whether cognitive function better predicted maths test performance than a clinical diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Forty-four drug naïve children (Mage = 101.34 months, SD = 19.39; 30% girls) were recruited from clinical ADHD referral waiting lists. Children underwent assessment of Executive Functions (EF), lower-level cognitive processes, and maths performance. Children were grouped using a categorical approach comprising (1) children with a clinical ADHD diagnosis and (2) children without a diagnosis (i.e., subthreshold ADHD). Secondly, hierarchical cluster analysis generated subgroups of children using EF scores. Children were compared on cognition, maths, and parent-rated symptoms of ADHD and co-occurring difficulties. Children's diagnostic outcomes did not differentiate maths performance. By contrast, EF subgroups generated meaningful cognitive clusters which differentiated maths test scores. This suggests that cognitive patterns of performance, rather than children's diagnostic outcomes, are more informative for identifying meaningful groups with variable maths performance which has implications for remedial support.

Prevalence of Common Child Mental Health Disorders Using Administrative Health Data and Parent Report in a Prospective Community-Based Cohort from Alberta, Canada: Prévalence des troubles communs de santé mentale de l'enfant à l'aide des données de santé administratives et des rapports des parents dans une cohorte prospective communautaire d'Alberta, Canada.

Knowing the prevalence of mental health difficulties in young children is critical for early identification and intervention. In the current study, we examine the agreement among three different data sources estimating the prevalence of diagnoses for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and emotional disorders (i.e., anxiety or mood disorder) for children between birth and 9 years of age. Data from a prospective pregnancy cohort was linked with provincial administrative health data for children in Alberta, Canada. We report the positive agreement, negative agreement, and Cohen's Kappa of parent-reported child diagnoses provided by a health professional ("parent report"), exceeding a clinical cut-off on a standardized questionnaire completed by parents (the Behavior Assessment System for Children, 3rd edition ["BASC-3"]), and cumulative inpatient, outpatient, or physician claims diagnoses ("administrative data"). Positive and negative agreement for administrative data and parent-reported ADHD diagnoses were 70.8% and 95.6%, respectively, and 30.5% and 94.9% for administrative data and the BASC-3, respectively. For emotional disorders, administrative data and parent-reported diagnoses had a positive agreement of 35.7% and negative agreement of 96.30%. Positive and negative agreement for emotional disorders using administrative data and the BASC-3 were 20.0% and 87.4%, respectively. Kappa coefficients were generally low, indicating poor chance-corrected agreement between these data sources. The data sources highlighted in this study provide disparate agreement for the prevalence of ADHD and emotional disorder diagnoses in young children. Low Kappa coefficients suggest that parent-reported diagnoses, clinically elevated symptoms using a standardized questionnaire, and diagnoses from administrative data serve different purposes and provide discrete estimates of mental health difficulties in early childhood. Prevalence of child mental health disorders according to different data sources in Canada.

Effect of probiotics as an adjunctive therapy with Ritalin among ADHD children and adolescents: a triple-blind randomized controlled trial.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common mental disorders in children. Evidence regarding the impact of probiotics supplementation in ADHD children is limited and controversial. Thus, this study aimed to assess the effect of probiotics as an adjunctive therapy with Ritalin among ADHD children and adolescents. This study was a triple-blind, randomized controlled trial of 60 Iranian ADHD patients aged four to sixteen. The participants were randomly assigned to receive probiotics supplements containing both Lactobacillus plantarum PTCC 1896™ (A7) and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. Lactis (BB-12®) (n = 30) or placebo (n = 30) for 8 weeks. ADHD symptoms were assessed using Conners' Parent Rating Scale (CPRS) and Integrated Visual and Auditory Continuous Performance Test (IVA/CPT) at baseline and during the study. This study showed a significant decrease in the CPRS total score after 4 weeks of intervention in the probiotic group (baseline: 43.96 ± 21.52; fourth week: 37.22 ± 23.01; p = 0.01). However, no significant finding was found for the total score of the CPRS after 8 weeks. Moreover, at the end of the study, a significant increase was observed in score of auditory response control in the probiotic versus the placebo group (probiotic: 91.55 ± 16.69; placebo: 80.55 ± 17.43; p = 0.02). Probiotics supplementation with Ritalin may have some beneficial effects among ADHD children and adolescents, such as improving auditory response control and total score of CPRS. However, further clinical trials are required to clarify the impact of probiotics on ADHD.