Attention-deficit/hyperactivity Disorder Individuals Research Articles

Paraphilic fantasies and behavior in attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder and their association with hypersexuality.

Previous research has found some peculiarities in sexual functioning of adults with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Using a set of questionnaires that had to be answered online, we assessed the prevalence of paraphilic fantasies and behaviors in a sample of 160 adults with ADHD in comparison to 75 adults without ADHD and evaluated the association between paraphilias and hypersexuality in the ADHD group. Both groups reported high rates of paraphilic fantasies and behaviors. ADHD individuals were more likely to report about very sexually arousing paraphilic fantasies (ADHD: 58.2% vs. non-ADHD: 40.5%; χ2 = 6.323, p = 0.01) and behaviors (ADHD: 44.9% vs. non-ADHD: 28.4%; χ2 = 5.774, p = 0.02). Furthermore, ADHD individuals reported on average about more very sexually arousing paraphilic behaviors compared to non-ADHD individuals (ADHD: M = 1.28, SD = 0.10 vs. non-ADHD: M = 0.81, SD = 0.09; T = 2.68, p < 0.01). Furthermore, in ADHD individuals both very sexually arousing paraphilic interests in masturbation fantasies (r(158) = 0.17, p = 0.03) and in sexual behaviors (r(158) =0.19, p = 0.02) showed a significant correlation with hypersexuality. In non-ADHD individuals no such significant correlation could be found. Altogether, it can be concluded that individuals with ADHD seem to be more prone to develop and act out paraphilic sexuality than those without ADHD, however, found differences were rather small. The results of the present study add to the current trend to depathologize paraphilic sexuality in the general as well as in clinical populations.

Bipolar-ADHD comorbidity: screening for differences in neurocognition and virtual reality-based cognitive performance

Objectives Identification of comorbid attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in patients with bipolar disorder (BD) is complicated by overlapping cognitive symptoms and methodological challenges. This cross-sectional study investigated whether virtual reality (VR)-based cognitive assessment that mimics daily life cognitive challenges can aid in the detection of sustained attention impairment in BD individuals with comorbid ADHD (BD + ADHD). Methods Forty-nine fully or partially remitted outpatients with BD, of whom 14 (24%) had BD + ADHD, were assessed with the Cognition Assessment in Virtual Reality (CAVIR) test, including a sustained attention test that involves distractions, and the Screen for Cognitive Impairment in Psychiatry (SCIP). Patients were also rated for mood symptoms and functioning and completed questionnaires assessing subjective cognition and quality of life. Patients’ cognitive impairment on the SCIP was estimated with reference to n = 100 demographically comparable healthy control participants. Results BD + ADHD participants exhibited more pronounced performance deficits on the CAVIR sustained attention test (t(48) = 2.15, p = .037, d = .66). Notably, deficits on this test were proportional to self-reported daily life concentration difficulties in BD + ADHD individuals. Exploratory analyses revealed that BD + ADHD participants also displayed greater impairment on the SCIP working memory- and delayed verbal learning subtests and greater subjective cognitive complaints than BD patients without this comorbidity (p-levels < .001), but only the difference in subjective cognition survived correction for multiple comparisons (F(1,47) = 14.13, p = .005, np2 = 0.24). Conclusion Screening for deficits in sustained attention with an ecologically valid VR test involving distracting stimuli may be useful for identifying BD + ADHD individuals.

The Chinese Version of the Compensatory ADHD Behaviors Scale (CABS): A Study on Reliability, Validity, and Clinical Utility.

With the further development of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) research, more and more assessment tools related to ADHD have been used. However, there is still no measurement instrument to evaluate the compensatory behavior of ADHD in China. This study aimed to examine the reliability and validity of the Compensatory ADHD Behaviors Scale (CABS) adapted in Chinese and explore ecological characteristics in adults with ADHD using the CABS. Data were collected from a sample of 306 adults (Mage = 26.43 years, SD = 5.32; 46.08% male). The original version CABS was translated into Chinese using the forward and backward translation procedures. Participants completed the CABS and questionnaires assessing ADHD symptoms and executive function. We utilized content validity, exploratory factor analysis (EFA), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and criterion validity to test the validity. Internal consistency and test-retest reliability were employed to test the reliability. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was employed to compare ADHD subgroups based on gender, ADHD subtype, comorbidities, and medication status, while controlling for demographic variables as covariates. CABS exhibited good construct validity (two factors: present-oriented and future-oriented), content validity (content validity index: 0.98), internal consistency reliability (Cronbach's alpha coefficient: 0.85 to 0.87) and test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient: 0.59 to 0.88). The results of CFA showed acceptable fitness for each subscale. CABS demonstrated significant associations with inattention symptoms and plan/organizational abilities. Medicated ADHD individuals scored higher on future-oriented effectiveness subscale of CABS than non-medicated (F = 6.106, p = 0.014). The results indicate that the Chinese CABS exhibited good validity and reliability. It can be considered a valid tool for assessing compensatory behaviors in Chinese adults with ADHD. Further research is needed to explore the connection between medication and compensatory behavior.

Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in Adolescents

Current research on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is generally based on quantitative methodology. This indicates a lack of information on how ADHD individuals explain this phenomenon, and what they experience. The aim of this research is to reveal how attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is experienced in adolescents and how adolescents explain this phenomenon. The participants in this study were ten adolescents aged 11-18 who were diagnosed with ADHD and did not have a comorbid diagnosis. Participants were interviewed through a semi-structured interview form. The interviews were conducted and recorded on an online platform, and a transcript of the voice recording of each participant was then created. The texts obtained from the transcripts were analyzed with an interpretative phenomenological analysis. As a result of the analysis, the following themes were found: Academic difficulty, normalizing and affirming the diagnosis, living with undesirable emotions and behaviors, and negative social experiences. The findings reveal that the ADHD-related experiences of adolescents and their explanations for the ADHD diagnosis are not of a single nature. Instead, they were also perceived in a positive light as well as negative. The results reveal that the awareness of professionals and families who have contact with ADHD-diagnosed adolescents should be raised, and interventional and motivational programs directed at ADHD treatment-related negative experiences of adolescents can be organized.

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.

The importance of involving experts-by-experience with different psychiatric diagnoses when revising diagnostic criteria

Philosophers of science have recently called for experts-by-experience to be involved in revising psychiatric diagnoses. They argue that experts-by-experience can have relevant knowledge which is important for considering potential modifications to psychiatric diagnoses. I show how altering one diagnosis can impact individuals with a different diagnosis. For example, altering autism can impact individuals diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Schizoid Personality Disorder through co-morbidity and differential diagnostic criteria. Altering autism can impact the population making up the diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Schizoid Personality Disorder which can then influence which behaviour each diagnosis covers and which parts of the causal structure each diagnosis covers. Expanding one diagnosis can mean, if differential diagnostic criteria are present, that individuals who have a different diagnosis, or would one day have been diagnosed with that different diagnosis, are instead now diagnosed with the expanded diagnosis. Alternatively, if two diagnoses can be co-morbid then expanding one diagnosis can mean individuals who have a different diagnosis can now also receive the expanded diagnosis. Changing these can then impact the adequacy of symptoms formulated to cover behaviour and causal mechanisms formulated to cover the causal structure. This means experts-by-experience representing a range of diagnoses should be involved in decisions over modifying diagnoses they do not have. For example, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder individuals should be involved in decisions to modify autism. I discuss practical issues relating to how much say people with a range of diagnoses should have in relation to modifying a diagnosis which they do not have. We should employ a principle of equality whereby the level of say individuals with one diagnosis should have on another diagnosis should be equally reciprocated.

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.

Ocular and neural genes jointly regulate the visuospatial working memory in ADHD children

ObjectiveWorking memory (WM) deficits have frequently been linked to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Despite previous studies suggested its high heritability, its genetic basis, especially in ADHD, remains unclear. The current study aimed to comprehensively explore the genetic basis of visual-spatial working memory (VSWM) in ADHD using wide-ranging genetic analyses.MethodsThe current study recruited a cohort consisted of 802 ADHD individuals, all met DSM-IV ADHD diagnostic criteria. VSWM was assessed by Rey-Osterrieth complex figure test (RCFT), which is a widely used psychological test include four memory indexes: detail delayed (DD), structure delayed (SD), structure immediate (SI), detail immediate (DI). Genetic analyses were conducted at the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), gene, pathway, polygenic and protein network levels. Polygenic Risk Scores (PRS) were based on summary statistics of various psychiatric disorders, including ADHD, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), major depressive disorder (MDD), schizophrenia (SCZ), obsessive compulsive disorders (OCD), and substance use disorder (SUD).ResultsAnalyses at the single-marker level did not yield significant results (5E−08). However, the potential signals with P values less than E−05 and their mapped genes suggested the regulation of VSWM involved both ocular and neural system related genes, moreover, ADHD-related genes were also involved. The gene-based analysis found RAB11FIP1, whose encoded protein modulates several neurodevelopment processes and visual system, as significantly associated with DD scores (P = 1.96E−06, Padj = 0.036). Candidate pathway enrichment analyses (N = 53) found that forebrain neuron fate commitment significantly enriched in DD (P = 4.78E−04, Padj = 0.025), and dopamine transport enriched in SD (P = 5.90E-04, Padj = 0.031). We also observed a significant negative relationship between DD scores and ADHD PRS scores (P = 0.0025, Empirical P = 0.048).ConclusionsOur results emphasized the joint contribution of ocular and neural genes in regulating VSWM. The study reveals a shared genetic basis between ADHD and VSWM, with GWAS indicating the involvement of ADHD-related genes in VSWM. Additionally, the PRS analysis identifies a significant relationship between ADHD-PRS and DD scores. Overall, our findings shed light on the genetic basis of VSWM deficits in ADHD, and may have important implications for future research and clinical practice.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder as a risk factor for being involved in intimate partner violence and sexual violence: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) and sexual violence (SV) are significant problems world-wide, and they affect women disproportionally. Whether individuals with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are at an increased risk of being involved in these types of violence is unclear. We carried out a systematic review and meta-analysis (PROSPERO registration CRD42022348165) of the associations between ADHD and being the victim or perpetrator of IPV and SV. Ratios of occurrence of violence were pooled in random-effects models and study risk of bias was evaluated using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. A search on multiple databases, carried out on 7 October 2022, yielded 14 eligible studies (1 111 557 individuals). Analyses showed a higher risk of ADHD individuals being involved in IPV as perpetrators (six studies, OR 2.5, 95% CI 1.51-4.15) or victims (four studies, OR 1.78, 95% CI 1.06-3.0). Likewise, individuals with ADHD were at increased risk of being perpetrators (three studies, OR 2.73, 95% CI 1.35-5.51) or victims of SV (six studies, OR 1.84, 95% CI 1.51-2.24). Results were overall robust to different analytical choices. Individuals with ADHD are at an increased risk of being involved in cases of violence, namely IPV and SV, either as victims or perpetrators. Although the causal path or mediating variables for these results are still unclear, this increased risk should inform evidence-based psychoeducation with individuals with ADHD, their families, and partners about romantic relationships and sexuality.

Detection of ADHD from EEG signals using new hybrid decomposition and deep learning techniques

Objective. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is considered one of the most common psychiatric disorders in childhood. The incidence of this disease in the community draws an increasing graph from the past to the present. While the ADHD diagnosis is basically made with the psychiatric tests, there is no active clinically used objective diagnostic tool. However, some studies in the literature has reported development of an objective diagnostic tool that facilitates the diagnosis of ADHD. Approach. In this study, it was aimed to develop an objective diagnostic tool for ADHD using electroencephalography (EEG) signals. In the proposed method, EEG signals were decomposed into subbands by robust local mode decomposition and variational mode decomposition techniques. These subbands and the EEG signals were fed as input data to the deep learning algorithm designed in the study. Main results. As a result, an algorithm has been put forward that distinguishes over 95% of ADHD and healthy individuals through using a 19-channel EEG signal. In addition, a classification accuracy of over 87% was obtained by the proposed approach of EEG signal decomposition followed by data processing in the designed deep learning algorithm. Significance. The findings of the current research enrich the literature based on originality and proposed method can be used as a clinical diagnostic tool in the near future.

Classifying Children with ADHD Based on Prefrontal Functional Near-infrared Spectroscopy Using Machine Learning.

: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder in children and adults characterized by cognitive and emotional self-control deficiencies. Previous functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) studies found significant group differences between ADHD children and healthy controls during cognitive flexibility tasks in several brain regions. This study aims to apply a machine learning approach to identify medication-naive ADHD patients and healthy control (HC) groups using task-based fNIRS data. : fNIRS signals from 33 ADHD children and 39 HC during the Stroop task were analyzed. In addition, regularized linear discriminant analysis (RLDA) was used to identify ADHD individuals from healthy controls, and classification performance was evaluated. : We found that participants can be correctly classified in RLDA leave-one-out cross validation, with a sensitivity of 0.67, specificity of 0.93, and accuracy of 0.82. : RLDA using only fNIRS data can effectively discriminate children with ADHD from HC. This study suggests the potential utility of the fNIRS signal as a diagnostic biomarker for ADHD children.

Characterizing the metabolomic signature of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in twins

Emerging evidence implicate the gut microbiota as a potential susceptibility factor in attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a common multifactorial neurodevelopmental condition. However, little is known about the biochemical signature of ADHD, including the metabolic contribution of the microbiota via the gut-brain axis, and the relative contribution of genetics and environmental factors. Here, we perform unbiased metabolomic profiling of urine and fecal samples collected from a well-characterized Swedish twin cohort enriched for ADHD (33 ADHD, 79 non-ADHD), using 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Our results highlight sex-specific patterns in the metabolic phenotype of individuals with ADHD. Specifically, the urine profile of males, but not females, with ADHD was characterized by greater excretion of hippurate, a product of microbial-host co-metabolism that can cross the blood-brain-barrier with bioactivity of potential relevance to ADHD. This trans-genomic metabolite was also negatively correlated with IQ in males and was significantly correlated with fecal metabolites associated with gut microbial metabolism. The fecal profile of ADHD individuals was characterized by increased excretion of stearoyl-linoleoyl-glycerol, 3,7-dimethylurate, and FAD and lower amounts of glycerol 3-phosphate, thymine, 2(1H)-quinolinone, aspartate, xanthine, hypoxanthine, and orotate. These changes were independent of ADHD medication, age, and BMI. Furthermore, our specific twins’ models revealed that many of these gut metabolites had a stronger genetic influence than environmental. These findings suggest that metabolic disturbances in ADHD, involving combined gut microbial and host metabolic processes, may largely derive from gene variants previously linked to behavioral symptoms in this disorder.This article is part of the Special Issue on “Microbiome & the Brain: Mechanisms & Maladies”.

Seeking connection, autonomy, and emotional feedback: A self-determination theory of self-regulation in attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most prevalent and highly debated diagnosis for mental disorder in practice today. Two decades of research have substantially contributed to evolving conceptualizations and understanding of the condition. However, this evolution has not been extended to theoretical research. Current cognitive behavioral-based theories aim to identify the etiology of ADHD and experience challenges in accommodating the full spectrum of both neurobiological and behavioral research evidence. Characterizations historically associated with mental illness have generated public stigma, influencing low self-esteem, negative self-concept, and identity development in ADHD individuals. Neurodiversity research and activism recognize a diversity of nonnormative development and highlight the need for alternatives to deficit models of functioning. Recent research in psychology recommends developing approaches beyond symptom control and seeking to develop positive psychological factors and well-being. We propose that the perspective presented by self-determination theory (SDT) on human motivation, self-regulation, and self-determination offers a new understanding of ADHD research evidence and symptomology. According to this theory, humans have a natural tendency toward growth and self-actualization. We propose a framework grounded in SDT that provides an alternative understanding of ADHD neural processing, motivation and engagement, self-regulation, and a potential foundation for treatment approaches with self-determination and positive identity outcomes. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Different executive function impairments in medication-naïve children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder comorbid with oppositional defiant disorder and conduct disorder

The impairment of executive functions (EFs) in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) might vary from one individual to another, indicating high heterogeneity. Comorbidity may contribute to this heterogeneity. Disruptive behavior disorders (DBD), including oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) and conduct disorder (CD), is the most common comorbidity in ADHD. Although many studies suggest that ADHD with CD (ADHDCD+) and ADHD with ODD (ADHDODD+) should be treated differently, little research has attempted to separate these two disorders when studying the EFs and brain imaging of ADHD with DBD (ADHDDBD+). Thus, based on our ongoing research in ADHD, we have now recruited a large sample size of medication-naïve children to obtain estimates of neurocognitive function and functional brain networks. We found no EF impairment in ADHDCD+ patients compared with healthy controls (HCs). Correlation analysis showed that more severe CD symptoms were associated with better EFs. The mediation analysis revealed that the relationship between CD symptoms and inhibition function was mediated by the functional connectivity (FC) of SMN(L) - DMN(R) in the younger group. The study suggested that ADHDCD+ and ADHDODD+ are different in their EF impairment. The comorbidity of CD may not worsen the impairments and might even improve EF performance within ADHD individuals.

Synchronization in functional brain networks of children suffering from ADHD based on Hindmarsh-Rose neuronal model

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is one of the common psychological disorders in children, which causes improper recognition of others' emotions. These children often have very poor social interaction and a lack of self-confidence. Brain disorders are typically studied by investigating the functional connectivity of different areas in the brain networks of individuals and measuring synchronization. This study investigates synchronization in the simulated functional brain networks of 22 boys with ADHD and 22 healthy boys using electroencephalogram (EEG) signals during angry, happy, neutral, and sad emotions. In these simulated networks, a Hindmarsh-Rose neuronal model is considered for each network node. The edges' weights connecting these nodes represent the synchronization level between the EEG electrode pairs. By changing the coupling strength between the network nodes, different synchronization patterns in the ADHD and healthy brain networks can be observed in all four types of facial emotions. This study shows a higher synchronization, especially in happiness emotion in the frontal and occipital brain lobes of the ADHD group, responsible for human emotional and visual processing, respectively. Results also indicate the chimera phenomenon in both of the brain networks of ADHD and healthy individuals. However, this phenomenon occurs in the ADHD group at a lower coupling strength. These findings may represent a deficit in the brain's emotional and visual processing centers in the ADHD group, especially during the happy emotional stimuli.

Investigation of phase synchronization in functional brain networks of children with ADHD using nonlinear recurrence measure

Measuring the phase synchronization between different brain regions in functional brain networks is a common approach to investigate many psychological disorders such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The emotional processing deficit in ADHD children is one of the main obstacles in their social interactions. In this study, the nonlinear Correlation between Probability of Recurrences (CPR) method is used for the first time to construct functional brain networks of 22 boys with ADHD and 22 healthy ones during watching four visual-emotional stimuli types. Topological features of brain networks, including shortest path length, clustering coefficient, and nodes strengths, are investigated in groups of ADHD and healthy. The results indicate a significantly (P-Values < 0.01) greater average clustering coefficient and lower shortest path length in the brain networks of ADHD individuals than the healthy ones. Accordingly, in the ADHD brain networks, the information exchange in both local and global scales is abnormally more than the healthy ones, leading to a hyper-synchronization in this group. The topological alterations of ADHD brain networks are mainly observed in the brain's frontal and occipital lobes, indicating impaired brain function of this group in emotional and visual processing. This survey demonstrates that the CPR method can be a good candidate for distinguishing the phase interactions of ADHD and healthy brain networks. Therefore, this study can contribute to further insights into the nonlinear dynamics analysis of brain networks in ADHD individuals.

Effect of Past Pharmacotherapy for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder on Substance Use Disorder

Background: Substance use disorders (SUDs) are a considerable public health problem. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) frequently occurs in patients with SUD. Several studies demonstrated that ADHD constitutes a significant risk factor for the development of SUDs and suggest that childhood ADHD pharmacotherapy might help prevent development of SUD. Objectives: The study aimed to explore the effect of childhood ADHD pharmacotherapy on later life’s functional impairment and substance use patterns. Methods: Treatment-seeking SUD patients with ADHD (n = 52) were recruited from various rehabilitation facilities in South Africa. Adult ADHD individuals without SUD (n = 48) were recruited from clinicians, retail pharmacies, and the general public. SUD participants in rehabilitation facilities were screened for and diagnosed with ADHD. Lifetime substance use was assessed using self-report. ADHD-related functional impairment was assessed by the Weiss Functional Impairment Rating Scale (WFIRS). Information on present and lifetime use of ADHD medication was obtained. Clinical outcomes between those with and without a history of ADHD pharmacotherapy were compared. Results: Medicated participants (n = 59) showed lower levels of ADHD-related impairment across all functional domains (p < 0.001), compared to non-medicated participants (n = 41). They also consumed less alcohol (p = 0.04), cannabis (p < 0.001), and illicit drugs (p = 0.006) compared to the non-medicated group. Furthermore, medicated participants had a lower frequency of tobacco use compared to non-medicated participants (p = 0.04). ADHD patients without SUD also more often received medication (100% vs. 18.6%; p < 0.001) and for a longer time (121.10 vs. 9.52 months; p < 0.001). Conclusion: Childhood ADHD pharmacotherapy might be associated with a decreased risk for substance use in adulthood and lower ADHD-related impairment. Despite study limitations, these findings underline the importance of early ADHD detection and treatment, which might prevent SUD.

TMP19: A Novel Ternary Motif Pattern-Based ADHD Detection Model Using EEG Signals.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental condition worldwide. In this research, we used an ADHD electroencephalography (EEG) dataset containing more than 4000 EEG signals. Moreover, these EEGs are noisy signals. A new hand-modeled EEG classification model has been proposed to separate healthy versus ADHD individuals using the EEG signals. In this model, a new ternary motif pattern (TMP) has been incorporated. We have mimicked deep learning networks to create this hand-modeled classification method. The Tunable Q Wavelet Transform (TQWT) has been utilized to generate wavelet subbands. We applied the proposed TMP and statistics to construct informative features from both raw EEG signals and wavelet bands by generating TQWT. Herein, features have been generated by 18 subbands and the original EEG signal. Thus, this model is named TMP19. The most informative features have been chosen by deploying neighborhood component analysis (NCA), and the selected features have been classified using the k-nearest neighbor (kNN) classifier. The used ADHD EEG dataset has 14 channels. Thus, these three phases—(i) feature extraction with TQWT, TMP, and statistics; (ii) feature selection by deploying NCA; and (iii) classification with kNN—have been applied to each channel. Iterative hard majority voting (IHMV) has been applied to obtain a higher and more general classification response. Our model attained 95.57% and 77.93% classification accuracies by deploying 10-fold and leave one subject out (LOSO) cross-validations, respectively.

The therapeutic potential of exercise and caffeine on attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in athletes.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is characterized by evident and persistent inattention, hyperactivity, impulsivity, and social difficulties and is the most common childhood neuropsychiatric disorder, and which may persist into adulthood. Seventy to 80% of children and adults with ADHD are treated with stimulant medication, with positive response rates occurring for both populations. Medicated ADHD individuals generally show sustained and improved attention, inhibition control, cognitive flexibility, on-task behavior, and cognitive performance. The ethics of ADHD medication use in athletics has been a debated topic in sport performance for a long time. Stimulants are banned from competition in accordance with World Anti-Doping Association and National Collegiate Athletic Association regulations, due to their ability to not only enhance cognitive performance but also exercise performance. Limited research has been conducted looking at the differences in exercise performance variables in unmedicated ADHD verses medicated ADHD. Not all ADHD athletes choose stimulant medication in their treatment plan due to personal, financial, or other reasons. Non-stimulant treatment options include non-stimulant medication and behavioral therapy. However, the use of caffeinated compounds and exercise has both independently been shown to be effective in the management of ADHD symptoms in human studies and animal models. This mini review will discuss the effect of exercise and caffeine on neurobehavioral, cognitive, and neurophysiological factors, and exercise performance in ADHD athletes, and whether exercise and caffeine should be considered in the treatment plan for an individual with ADHD.

Stimulant induced Dermatological and Vascular Complications in patients with ADHD: A literature review

IntroductionMethylphenidate and amphetamine are the two most widely used stimulants in managing Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)1. Reynaud’s phenomenon (RP) is a reversible distal vasoconstriction presenting with various dermatological symptoms. RP can secondarily develop after certain medications as well2.ObjectivesThe review was undertaken to synthesize the incidence of RP within ADHD population treated with stimulants, and any causal relation of RP and stimulant-use.MethodsPubMed, Psych-Info and Google Scholar were searched using these keywords: skin change, Raynaud, stimulants and methylphenidate. All relevant study types were included. Results were synthesized narratively.ResultsInitial search yielded 240 articles with 5 articles fulfilling our inclusion criteria. One was retrospective case-controlled study while remaining 4 were case reports. Six cases were identified with an age of 12-19 years, who presented with RP after being treated with methylphenidate-or-dextroamphetamine. In one case, multiple clinical signs of RP were seen with cold distal fingers, transient color changes and even frank ulceration3–6. In two cases, it was seen that RP was dose-dependent with stimulant use and got resolved after decreasing the dosage respectively. In case-control study, 32 cases with RP and 32 controls were enrolled. The results showed a statistically significant association (χ2 =5, p=0.01) between RP and past-or-current stimulant usage.7ConclusionsThe literature review suggests weak evidence of the association between RP and stimulant use but no evidence of any causal link. Further studies are needed to identify characters that can predict this adverse effect in vulnerable ADHD individuals.DisclosureNo significant relationships.