scholarly journals The impact of childhood deprivation on adult neuropsychological functioning is associated with ADHD symptom persistence

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Dennis Golm ◽  
Sagari Sarkar ◽  
Nuria K. Mackes ◽  
Graeme Fairchild ◽  
Mitul A. Mehta ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Emotion Recognition ◽  
Prospective Memory ◽  
Adult Adhd ◽  
Neuropsychological Functioning ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Neuropsychological Deficits ◽  
Adhd Symptoms ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Childhood Deprivation

Abstract Background Institutional deprivation in early childhood is associated with neuropsychological deficits in adolescence. Using 20-year follow-up data from a unique natural experiment – the large-scale adoption of children exposed to extreme deprivation in Romanian institutions in the 1980s –we examined, for the first time, whether such deficits are still present in adulthood and whether they are associated with deprivation-related symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Methods Adult neuropsychological functioning was assessed across five domains (inhibitory control, emotion recognition, decision-making, prospective memory and IQ) in 70 previously institutionalized adoptees (mean age = 25.3, 50% female) and 22 non-deprived UK adoptees (comparison group, mean age = 24.6, 41% female). ADHD and ASD symptoms were assessed using parent-completed questionnaires. Results Early institutionalization was associated with impaired performance on all tasks in adulthood. Prospective memory deficits persisted after controlling for IQ. ADHD and ASD symptoms were positively correlated. After controlling for ASD symptoms, ADHD symptoms remained associated with deficits in IQ, prospective memory, proactive inhibition, decision-making quality and emotion recognition. ASD symptoms were not independently associated with neuropsychological deficits when accounting for their overlap with ADHD symptoms. Multiple regression analysis revealed that the link between childhood deprivation and adult ADHD symptoms was statistically explained by deprivation-related differences in adult IQ and prospective memory. Conclusions These results represent some of the most compelling evidence to date of the enduring power of early, time-limited childhood adversity to impair long-term neuropsychological functioning across the lifespan – effects that are linked specifically to deprivation-related adult ADHD symptoms.

The Impact of ADHD Treatment on Intimate Partner Violence in a Forensic Psychiatry Setting

2019 ◽  
pp. 108705471987950
Author(s):  
Nannet J. L. Buitelaar ◽  
Jocelyne A. Posthumus ◽  
Denise Bijlenga ◽  
Jan K. Buitelaar
Keyword(s):  
Intimate Partner Violence ◽  
Partner Violence ◽  
Forensic Psychiatry ◽  
Adult Adhd ◽  
Combined Treatment ◽  
Intimate Partner ◽  
Longitudinal Impact ◽  
Adhd Symptoms ◽  
Adhd Treatment ◽  
The Impact

Objective: The current longitudinal impact of treatment of ADHD on intimate partner violence (ITAP) study aims to investigate whether decrease of ADHD symptoms is associated with reduction of intimate partner violence (IPV) frequency in IPV offenders with ADHD in a forensic psychiatry setting. Method: Of n = 209 offenders of IPV with ADHD, frequency of IPV and ADHD symptoms were assessed at the 8th, 16th, 24th, and 52nd weeks of their combined treatment for ADHD and IPV. Results: We observed a significant decrease of self-reported ADHD symptoms (large effect size, d ≥ 0.80) and all IPV outcomes (small, d > 0.20, to large, d > 0.80, effect sizes). The decrease in IPV was mainly associated with the decrease in ADHD symptoms. Conclusion: As IPV treatment alone is not effective in the reduction of IPV in forensic psychiatry, we now have strong indications that the combined treatment of adult ADHD and IPV is more effective in offenders with ADHD.

Neuropsychological Functioning and Psychosocial Outcome in Adults with Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder

2015 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Esther Sobanski ◽  
Alexandra Sirtl ◽  
Barbara Alm ◽  
Oliver Hennig ◽  
Tobias Banaschewski
Keyword(s):  
Psychosocial Functioning ◽  
Neuropsychological Tests ◽  
Adult Adhd ◽  
Clinical Sample ◽  
Neuropsychological Functioning ◽  
Neuropsychological Impairment ◽  
Adhd Symptoms ◽  
Global Assessment Of Functioning ◽  
Psychosocial Impairment ◽  
Hyperactivity Disorder

This study explores the association of neuropsychological functioning with ADHD-symptoms and psychosocial functioning in a clinical sample of 131 adults with ADHD. Neuropsychological functioning was assessed with the computerized Test Battery of Attentional Performance (TAP). Overall psychosocial impairment was assessed with the Global Assessment of Functioning Scale (GAF). Neuropsychological performance was impaired in 39.6 % of the ADHD-patients meeting a predefined impairment criterion of a perfomance reduction of 1.5 standard deviations below normative controls in ≥ 2 TAP-subtests; 28.4 % of the patients showed regular performance in all neuropsychological tests. Severity of neuropsychological impairment was inversely correlated to severity of psychosocial impairment (GAF score; = -.24, p < .001) but not to childhood or adult ADHD symptoms. Overall severity of neuropsychological impairment explained 10 % (p < .05) of variance of psychosocial impairment.

Malingered Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder on the Conners’ Adult ADHD Rating Scales: Do Reasons for Malingering Matter?

2017 ◽  
Vol 36 (6) ◽  
pp. 552-561 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carolyn Cook ◽  
Melissa T. Buelow ◽  
Esther Lee ◽  
Ashley Howell ◽  
Brittni Morgan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ◽  
Attention Deficit ◽  
Adult Adhd ◽  
Rating Scales ◽  
Adhd Group ◽  
Adhd Symptoms ◽  
Extra Time ◽  
Hyperactivity Disorder ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Adhd Rating Scales

Malingering is a significant assessment concern in adults undergoing evaluations for attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and may occur for a number of reasons, including access to medication and/or accommodations. Therefore, it is important to investigate ways to determine accuracy of self-reported ADHD symptoms. The present study used a simulation design to examine the impact of reasons for malingering on the Conners’ Adult ADHD Rating Scales (CAARS) Symptom subscales and the CAARS infrequency index (CII). Participants ( N = 157) were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: best effort, malingering for stimulant medication, or malingering for extra time accommodations. The three groups were compared with 34 individuals reporting previous diagnosis of ADHD. Results showed that individuals in both malingering groups scored higher than controls on all CAARS subscales and CII. Individuals in the medication malingering group, but not the extra time malingering group, scored higher than the ADHD group on CII and several CAARS subscales whose content overtly reflects ADHD symptomatology. Findings emphasize the influence of malingering on self-reported ADHD symptoms and the need to assess for malingering in ADHD evaluation. Results also suggest that reason for malingering might differentially affect self-report of ADHD symptoms.

scholarly journals Emotion Recognition in adults with ASD and Alexithymia: the impact of a Novel Mimicry Task for Therapeutic Benefit Study Protocol (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joshua A Caine ◽  
Britt Klein ◽  
Stephen L Edwards
Keyword(s):  
Emotion Recognition ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Clinical Interview ◽  
Expression Recognition ◽  
Barriers To Entry ◽  
Task Condition ◽  
Community Group ◽  
Facial Mimicry ◽  
Adults With Asd ◽  
The Impact

BACKGROUND Impaired facial emotion expression recognition (FEER) has typically been considered a correlate of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Now, the alexithymia hypothesis is suggesting that this emotion processing problem is instead related to alexithymia, which frequently co-occurs with ASD. By combining predictive coding theories of ASD, and simulation theories of emotion recognition, it is suggested that facial mimicry may improve the training of FEER in ASD and alexithymia. OBJECTIVE The current study will evaluate a novel mimicry task to improve FEER in adults with, and without ASD and alexithymia. Additionally, this study will aim to determine the contributions of alexithymia, and ASD to FEER ability and assess which of these two populations benefit from this training task. METHODS Recruitment will primarily take place through an ASD community group with emphasis put on snowball recruiting. Included will be N=64 consenting adults, equally divided between participants without an ASD, and participants with an ASD. Participants will be screened online using the K-10 (cut off score of 22), ASQ-10 and TAS-20 followed by a clinical interview with a provisional psychologist at the Federation University psychology clinic. The clinical interview will include assessment of ability, anxiety and depression as well as discussion of past ASD diagnosis and confirmatory administration of the Autism Mental Status Exam (AMSE). Following the clinical interview, the participant will complete the Bermond-Vorst Alexithymia Questionnaire (BVAQ), and then undertake a baseline assessment of FEER. Consenting participants will then be assigned using a permuted blocked randomisation method into either the control task condition or the mimicry task condition. A brief measure of satisfaction of the task and a debriefing session will conclude the study. RESULTS The study has Federation University Human Research Ethics Committee approval and participant recruitment is predicted to begin in quarter one of 2021. CONCLUSIONS This study will be the first to evaluate the use of a novel facial mimicry task condition to increase FEER in adults with ASD and alexithymia. If efficacious, this task could prove useful as a cost-effective adjunct intervention which could be used at home and thus remove barriers to entry. This study will also explore the unique effectiveness of this task in people without an ASD, with an ASD and with alexithymia. CLINICALTRIAL The study is registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials (ACTRN: ACTRN12619000705189).

scholarly journals Do Athletes Have More of a Cognitive Profile with ADHD Criteria than Non-Athletes?

Sports ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 61
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Ekman ◽  
Arto Hiltunen ◽  
Henrik Gustafsson
Keyword(s):  
Adult Adhd ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Cognitive Profile ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Adhd Symptoms ◽  
School Settings ◽  
Leisure Sports ◽  
Potential Benefits ◽  
High Level

The current study investigates the possibility that athletes have more parallel ADHD symptoms than non-athletes. High-level youth sport athletes were compared with non-athletes in leisure time (i.e., sport) and in the school in ADHD symptoms. Athletes and students were evaluated by a trained psychotherapist using Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS) on activities at school and during activities in leisure/sports time. They also filled in the Autism Spectrum Questionnaire (AQ) as a self-report assessment. Results showed significant differences in ASRS-scores for athletes in school and in their sport, with high scores in school and low scores in sport. No differences were found in AQ between the groups. The findings indicate that many athletes might display a cognitive profile of parallel of ADHD criteria. Future research needs to further investigate potential benefits of the cognitive profile in athletes and how they handle different contexts including sport and school settings.

“It's Not Humanly Possible to Do Everything”: Perspectives on Intervention Decision-Making Processes of Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

2015 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erinn Finke ◽  
Kathryn Drager ◽  
Elizabeth C. Serpentine
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Individualized Education Program ◽  
Children With Autism ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Sources Of Information ◽  
Individual Decision ◽  
Decision Making Processes ◽  
Spectrum Disorders ◽  
Interview Methodology ◽  
Communication Interventions

Purpose The purpose of this investigation was to understand the decision-making processes used by parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) related to communication-based interventions. Method Qualitative interview methodology was used. Data were gathered through interviews. Each parent had a child with ASD who was at least four-years-old; lived with their child with ASD; had a child with ASD without functional speech for communication; and used at least two different communication interventions. Results Parents considered several sources of information for learning about interventions and provided various reasons to initiate and discontinue a communication intervention. Parents also discussed challenges introduced once opinions of the school individualized education program (IEP) team had to be considered. Conclusions Parents of children with ASD primarily use individual decision-making processes to select interventions. This discrepancy speaks to the need for parents and professionals to share a common “language” about interventions and the decision-making process.

Quota Women Are Threatening to Men

2017 ◽  
Vol 76 (3) ◽  
pp. 107-116 ◽  
Author(s):  
Klea Faniko ◽  
Till Burckhardt ◽  
Oriane Sarrasin ◽  
Fabio Lorenzi-Cioldi ◽  
Siri Øyslebø Sørensen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Organizational Performance ◽  
Gender Stereotypes ◽  
Perceived Threat ◽  
Preferential Treatment ◽  
Public Sector Employees ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Low Levels ◽  
Women In Decision Making ◽  
The Impact

Abstract. Two studies carried out among Albanian public-sector employees examined the impact of different types of affirmative action policies (AAPs) on (counter)stereotypical perceptions of women in decision-making positions. Study 1 (N = 178) revealed that participants – especially women – perceived women in decision-making positions as more masculine (i.e., agentic) than feminine (i.e., communal). Study 2 (N = 239) showed that different types of AA had different effects on the attribution of gender stereotypes to AAP beneficiaries: Women benefiting from a quota policy were perceived as being more communal than agentic, while those benefiting from weak preferential treatment were perceived as being more agentic than communal. Furthermore, we examined how the belief that AAPs threaten men’s access to decision-making positions influenced the attribution of these traits to AAP beneficiaries. The results showed that men who reported high levels of perceived threat, as compared to men who reported low levels of perceived threat, attributed more communal than agentic traits to the beneficiaries of quotas. These findings suggest that AAPs may have created a backlash against its beneficiaries by emphasizing gender-stereotypical or counterstereotypical traits. Thus, the framing of AAPs, for instance, as a matter of enhancing organizational performance, in the process of policy making and implementation, may be a crucial tool to countering potential backlash.

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