Comparison of a standard psychiatric evaluation to rating scales and EEG in the differential diagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder

In the mid-1970s, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) was still believed to be a childhood disorder that disappeared with the onset of adolescence. At this time, Wender studied a cohort of adults presenting with ADHD-like symptoms, all of whom had been diagnosed with ADHD in childhood. Wender prescribed psycho-stimulants, which successfully produced a response in the adults, thus fostering research into adult ADHD.

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Medical Mimics and Differential Diagnosis in Adult ADHD

CNS Spectrums ◽

10.1017/s1092852900003278 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 13 (S15) ◽

pp. 14-16 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Mark A. Stein

Keyword(s):

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ◽

Differential Diagnosis ◽

Adult Patient ◽

Attention Deficit ◽

Adult Adhd ◽

Diagnostic Evaluation ◽

Response To Treatment ◽

Hyperactivity Disorder ◽

Rule Out

When performing a diagnostic evaluation for an adult patient with possible adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), clinicians must pay particular attention to possible mimics. ADHD mimics are conditions responsible for the symptoms or impairments that superficially resemble, and may be confused with ADHD. These mimics may produce symptoms and impairments similar to those seen in adults with ADHD, but differ in etiology, course, or response to treatment of ADHD. When evaluating someone for ADHD, clinicians should first rule out the possibility of medical, psychiatric, and social mimics of ADHD.

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Thyroid Hormone Status in Overweight Children with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Hormone Research in Paediatrics ◽

10.1159/000485620 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 89 (3) ◽

pp. 150-156 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Christian Langrock ◽

Johannes Hebebrand ◽

Katharina Radowksi ◽

Eckard Hamelmann ◽

Thomas Lücke ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ◽

Thyroid Hormones ◽

Attention Deficit ◽

Rating Scales ◽

Normal Weight ◽

Migration Background ◽

Overweight Children ◽

Free Triiodothyronine ◽

Children With Adhd ◽

Hyperactivity Disorder

Background: There is an ongoing discussion whether thyroid hormones are involved in the development and course of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Since obesity is associated with both higher thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and free triiodothyronine (fT3) concentrations and increased rates of ADHD, we hypothesized that overweight children with ADHD show higher TSH and fT3 concentrations compared to overweight children without ADHD. Methods: TSH, fT3, fT4, and leptin levels were analyzed in 230 children (60.9% boys, 9.3 ± 1.7 years old, 35.7% migration background). The children were divided into four groups (I = 26 overweight children with ADHD, II = 56 normal-weight children with ADHD, III = 66 overweight children without ADHD, and IV = 82 normal-weight children without ADHD). Severity of ADHD was determined by the parent version of the Connors 3® rating scales. Results: Overweight children with ADHD did not differ significantly from overweight children without ADHD with respect to TSH, fT3, or fT4 concentrations. Comparing the thyroid hormones between the four groups also demonstrated no significant differences for TSH and fT4 concentrations. fT3 concentrations were significantly higher in normal-weight children with ADHD compared to normal-weight children without ADHD. Inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity scores were not significantly related to TSH or fT3 in multiple regression analyses adjusted for age, gender, and migration background. In these analyses, TSH was associated with BMI SDS (β coefficient 0.19 ± 0.12, p = 0.002) and leptin (exp[β coefficient] 1.87 ± 1.36, p < 0.001). fT3 (β coefficient 0.06 ± 0.05, p = 0.009) and leptin (exp[β coefficient] 1.17 ± 1.13, p = 0.009) were also associated with BMI SDS. Conclusions: Our findings confirm the relation between overweight and thyroid hormones but point against the hypothesis that thyroid hormones might link overweight and ADHD in children.

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Review of Lisdexamfetamine Dimesylate in Adults With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Journal of Central Nervous System Disease ◽

10.1177/1179573517728090 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 9 ◽

pp. 117957351772809 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Jadwiga Najib ◽

Dexter Wimer ◽

Julie Zeng ◽

Kristina W Lam ◽

Natalya Romanyak ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ◽

Attention Deficit ◽

English Language ◽

Rating Scales ◽

Post Dose ◽

Lisdexamfetamine Dimesylate ◽

Global Improvement ◽

Hyperactivity Disorder ◽

Search Terms ◽

Long Acting

Lisdexamfetamine dimesylate (LDX) is the first prodrug stimulant used for the treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) dosed once daily. Due to its long-acting properties, LDX remains pharmacologically inactive until an enzymatic process predominantly associated with red blood cells converts it to the active ingredient, d-amphetamine and the amino acid lysine. The efficacy of LDX over placebo has been demonstrated in several studies in adults with moderate to severe ADHD with significant improvements noted in ADHD rating scales, Clinical Global Improvement scores, and assessments of executive function, for all doses of LDX (30-70 mg daily). Lisdexamfetamine dimesylate has demonstrated efficacy at 14 hours post dose in adults and may be used as a long-acting stimulant for managing ADHD symptoms, which may extend late into the day. Lisdexamfetamine dimesylate has demonstrated a safety profile consistent with long-acting stimulants use. Relevant English language articles were identified through computerized searches of MEDLINE (PubMed and EMBASE) from 1995 to 2016 using the following search terms: lisdexamfetamine dimesylate, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, NRP104, and Vyvanse.

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Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in adults

Advances in Psychiatric Treatment ◽

10.1192/apt.bp.107.003848 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 16 (2) ◽

pp. 96-104 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Raguraman Janakiraman ◽

Tony Benning

Keyword(s):

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ◽

Attention Deficit ◽

Rating Scales ◽

Clinical Interview ◽

Diagnostic Evaluation ◽

Review Of The Literature ◽

Complete Understanding ◽

Distinct Entity ◽

Hyperactivity Disorder ◽

Clinical Presentations

SummaryAttention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is an established diagnosis in children but there is a lack of agreement about its validity as a distinct entity in adults. Literature suggests that between one-third and two-thirds of children diagnosed with ADHD continue to manifest symptoms into adulthood. An adult diagnosis should be done on the basis of a thorough assessment, structured and semi-structured clinical interview, and with a complete understanding of the symptoms that manifest in adults. This may be supplemented by the use of rating scales. We present a review of the literature covering aetiology, clinical presentations, diagnostic evaluation and management of ADHD in adults.

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Differences in executive functioning in children with heavy prenatal alcohol exposure or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder

Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society ◽

10.1017/s1355617708080144 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

pp. 119-129 ◽

Cited By ~ 69

Author(s):

LINNEA VAURIO ◽

EDWARD P. RILEY ◽

SARAH N. MATTSON

Keyword(s):

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ◽

Differential Diagnosis ◽

Attention Deficit ◽

Word Association ◽

Prenatal Alcohol Exposure ◽

Alcohol Exposure ◽

Wisconsin Card Sorting Test ◽

Adhd Group ◽

Hyperactivity Disorder ◽

Prenatal Alcohol

Children with either fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) display deficits in attention and executive function (EF) and differential diagnosis of these two clinical groups may be difficult, especially when information about prenatal alcohol exposure is unavailable. The current study compared EF performance of three groups: children with heavy prenatal alcohol exposure (ALC); nonexposed children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD); and typically developing controls (CON). Both clinical groups met diagnostic criteria for ADHD. The EF tasks used were the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST), the Controlled Oral Word Association Test (COWAT), and the Trail Making Test (TMT). Results indicated different patterns of deficit; both clinical groups displayed deficits on the WCST and a relative weakness on letterversuscategory fluency. Only the ALC group displayed overall deficits on letter fluency and a relative weakness on TMT-BversusTMT-A. In addition, WCST performance was significantly lower than expected based on IQ in the ADHD group and significantly higher than expected in the ALC group. These results, which indicate that, although EF deficits occurred in both clinical groups, the degree and pattern of deficit differed between the ALC and ADHD groups, may improve differential diagnosis. (JINS, 2008,14, 119–129.)

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