Aiding diagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and its subtypes: discriminant function analysis of event-related potential data

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a highly heritable neurodevelopmental disorder with complex genetic aetiology. The identification of candidate intermediate phenotypes may facilitate the detection of susceptibility genes and neurobiological mechanisms underlying the disorder. Electroencephalography (EEG) is an ideal neuroscientific approach, providing a direct measurement of neural activity that demonstrates reliability, developmental stability and high heritability. This systematic review evaluates the utility of a subset of electrophysiological measures as potential intermediate phenotypes for ADHD: quantitative EEG indices of arousal and intraindividual variability, and functional investigations of attention, inhibition and performance monitoring using the event-related potential (ERP) technique. Each measure demonstrates consistent and meaningful associations with ADHD, a degree of genetic overlap with ADHD and potential links to specific genetic variants. Investigations of the genetic and environmental contributions to EEG/ERP and shared genetic overlap with ADHD might enhance molecular genetic studies and provide novel insights into aetiology. Such research will aid in the precise characterisation of the clinical deficits seen in ADHD and guide the development of novel intervention and prevention strategies for those at risk.

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Disorder-specific and shared neurophysiological impairments of attention and inhibition in women with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and women with bipolar disorder

Psychological Medicine ◽

10.1017/s0033291715001877 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 46 (3) ◽

pp. 493-504 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

G. Michelini ◽

G. L. Kitsune ◽

G. M. Hosang ◽

P. Asherson ◽

G. McLoughlin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Bipolar Disorder ◽

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ◽

Inhibitory Control ◽

Attention Deficit ◽

Performance Test ◽

Event Related Potential ◽

Adhd Group ◽

Conflict Monitoring ◽

Response Preparation ◽

Hyperactivity Disorder

BackgroundIn adults, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and bipolar disorder (BD) have certain overlapping symptoms, which can lead to uncertainty regarding the boundaries of the two disorders. Despite evidence of cognitive impairments in both disorders separately, such as in attentional and inhibitory processes, data on direct comparisons across ADHD and BD on cognitive–neurophysiological measures are as yet limited.MethodWe directly compared cognitive performance and event-related potential measures from a cued continuous performance test in 20 women with ADHD, 20 women with BD (currently euthymic) and 20 control women.ResultsThe NoGo-N2 was attenuated in women with BD, reflecting reduced conflict monitoring, compared with women with ADHD and controls (both p < 0.05). Both ADHD and BD groups showed a reduced NoGo-P3, reflecting inhibitory control, compared with controls (both p < 0.05). In addition, the contingent negative variation was significantly reduced in the ADHD group (p = 0.05), with a trend in the BD group (p = 0.07), compared with controls.ConclusionsThese findings indicate potential disorder-specific (conflict monitoring) and overlapping (inhibitory control, and potentially response preparation) neurophysiological impairments in women with ADHD and women with BD. The identified neurophysiological parameters further our understanding of neurophysiological impairments in women with ADHD and BD, and are candidate biomarkers that may aid in the identification of the diagnostic boundaries of the two disorders.

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Comorbidity and WISC–III Profiles of Greek Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Learning Disabilities, and Language Disorders

Psychological Reports ◽

10.2466/pr0.97.2.485-504 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 97 (2) ◽

pp. 485-504 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Diamanto N. Filippatou ◽

Eleni A. Lpvaniou

Keyword(s):

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ◽

Learning Disabilities ◽

Learning Disability ◽

Attention Deficit ◽

Language Disorder ◽

Function Analysis ◽

Language Disorders ◽

The Other ◽

Discriminative Ability ◽

Hyperactivity Disorder

The aim of the present study was to (a) examine the prevalence of ADHD and the comorbid difficulties in a sample of 114 children, 3.6 to 17.6 yr. of age (89 boys, 25 girls) referred to our Unit and (b) evaluate the discriminative ability of the WISC–III scores for children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ( n = 22), Learning Disability ( n = 50), and Language Disorder ( n = 42). Analysis showed only 18% of 114 children had an Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder diagnosis. Multivariate analysis of variance and stepwise discriminant function analysis were applied. Vocabulary and similarities were the best predictors for distinguishing between language disorders and the other two groups. Moreover, the Language Disorder group scored significantly lower on all the subtests while the Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Learning Disability groups scored lower on coding and information, respectively. Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Learning Disability could not be accurately identified from the WISC–III test or their ACID profile.

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