Perceptions of ADHD Symptoms in Adolescents With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: Attributions and Stigma

2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 252-265
Author(s):  
Angela Varma ◽  
Judith Wiener

This study investigated attributions and stigmatization self-perceptions of 40 adolescents with and 34 adolescents without ADHD for their problematic behaviors and ADHD as a disorder. Adolescents identified behaviors that they believed described them, indicated which of these behaviors was most problematic for them, and responded to a questionnaire regarding the extent to which this behavior was internally caused, controllable, pervasive, and stigmatizing. Compared to participants without ADHD, participants with ADHD endorsed more problematic behaviors including behaviors that are symptoms of ADHD, the impairment associated with ADHD, and commonly co-occurring disorders. They viewed the behavior that they identified as most problematic for them as more pervasive (stable and occurring in more contexts), uncontrollable, and stigmatizing than participants without ADHD. Adolescents with ADHD were less likely to view their most problematic behavior as pervasive and more likely to view it as stigmatizing than the disorder itself. Although adolescents with and without ADHD did not differ in the extent to which they attributed their most problematic behavior to internal causes, adolescents with ADHD were more likely to view the disorder itself as being caused by something inside them than their most problematic behavior.

2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 80
Author(s):  
Riki Sukiandra

Attention-deficit / hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has been associated with childhood epilepsy. Epilepsy are themost common neurologic disturbance in child age. Children with epilepsy tend to get one or more ADHD symptoms,its related to lack of norepinephrine neurotransmitter in brain, that cause attenuate the effect of GABA and disruptionto fronto-striatal brain networks, these same brain networks are disrupted by seizures or the structural brainabnormalities that can cause seizures. Children with epilepsy especially absance, tend to get inattentive type ofADHD more than other types. Abnormalities of electro-encephalography found in inattentive type of ADHD withhigh focus activities in all lobe area. No data published that methylphenidate can lower seizure threshold or act asproconvulsant. Children with epilepsy tend to get one or more symptoms of ADHD in the following days.


2017 ◽  
Vol 68 (2) ◽  
pp. 279-283
Author(s):  
Mihail Silviu Tudosie ◽  
Elena Truta ◽  
Ana Maria Davitoiu ◽  
Luminita Stanciulescu ◽  
George Jinescu ◽  
...  

During one year (september 2013 � september 2014), 50 children from the residential institution for children SOS Satele Copiilor Bucharest, where included in our research. The children were distributed in two groups: Group A which consisted of 25 children (12 girls, 13 boys) who were not diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and Group B which consisted of 25 children (14 boys, 11 girls) who were diagnosed with ADHD. Initially, the two groups were subjected at a psycho-diagnostic battery of tests, one of them being the Evaluating the Health State of children with ADHD questionnaire elaborated by us, particularly for this research, with the purpose of highlighting the direct link between the children health state and their ADHD symptoms. This study sought to determine the concentration of copper in urine samples from a group of children with ADHD and a group of normal children, to highlight the role of copper in the development of ADHD symptoms. Levels of copper concentration in urine samples from the two groups were processed by Student�s t-Test. Statistical analysis showed that the arithmetic averages of copper concentration in urine samples, of the two groups do not differ significantly, so copper may be causing ADHD symptoms occur. The copper content in urine samples has been determined using atomic absorption spectrometry with graphite furnace.


Author(s):  
Karen Bearss ◽  
Aaron J. Kaat

This chapter will review the available evidence on individuals with co-occurring diagnoses of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This chapter contends that children diagnosed with both disorders (ASD+ADHD) are a subset of the ASD population that is at risk for delayed recognition of their ASD diagnosis, poor treatment response, and poorer functional outcomes compared to those with ASD without ADHD. Specifically, the chapter highlights the best estimates of the prevalence of the comorbidity, the developmental trajectory of people with co-occurring ASD and ADHD, how ADHD symptoms change across development, overlapping genetic and neurobiological risk factors, psychometrics of ADHD diagnostic instruments in an ASD population, neuropsychological and functional impairments associated with co-occurring ASD and ADHD, and the current state of evidence-based treatment for both ASD and ADHD symptoms. Finally, the chapter discusses fruitful avenues of research for improving understanding of this high-risk comorbidity so that mechanism-to-treatment pathways for ADHD in children with ASD can be better developed.


PEDIATRICS ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 96 (2) ◽  
pp. 320-325 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey D. Kent ◽  
Joseph C. Blader ◽  
Harold S. Koplewicz ◽  
Howard Abikoff ◽  
Carmel A. Foley

Objective. This study evaluated the effects on behavior and sleep of methylphenidate (MPH) administered at 4 PM to children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Methodology. Twelve children admitted to a child psychiatric inpatient service with ADHD participated in a double-blind, crossover study in which they received a 4 PM dose of either 15 mg of MPH, 10 mg of MPH, or a placebo in random order for 12 consecutive days. Ratings of behavior, including ADHD symptoms, pertaining to the period from dose administration until sleep onset, were supplied nightly by hospital staff. Sleep latency and sleep adequacy were also assessed for each night. Results. MPH resulted in markedly improved behavioral control compared with placebo; there was no difference between 15-mg and 10-mg MPH doses. MPH did not alter sleep latencies observed with the placebo. Children were more often rated as less tired on awakening after nights that they received 10 mg of MPH compared with 15 mg of MPH and the placebo. Weight loss was apparent among 83% of the patients, but dinner intake did not vary with third-dose condition. Conclusions. Morning and noon administration of stimulants to children with ADHD is a near-universal practice, but many clinicians avoid a third, late-afternoon administration for fear of inducing insomnia. This study's findings show that children with ADHD derive substantial symptom reduction from MPH administered in late afternoon, with no untoward effects on sleep. Therefore, three-times-a-day dosing should be considered for those children exhibiting ADHD symptoms in the evening. Adverse effects on sleep latency were not apparent in the sample overall. Nonetheless, monitoring for possible aggravation of sleep problems and weight loss remains sound treatment practice.


2017 ◽  
Vol 45 ◽  
pp. 221-226 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Galéra ◽  
J. Salla ◽  
I. Montagni ◽  
S. Hanne-Poujade ◽  
R. Salamon ◽  
...  

AbstractBackground:The contribution of mental health to the risk of smoking is increasingly acknowledged but still insufficiently studied during the key period of student life. In particular, the simultaneous action of stress and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) symptoms on the risk of smoking remains poorly understood.Aims:To assess the effects of stress and ADHD symptoms on tobacco smoking.Method:Multivariate modeling was conducted on the French i-Share study (n = 8110, median age 20.3 years, 74.8% females, 32.9% regular/occasional smokers) to evaluate the associations between stress, ADHD symptoms and tobacco smoking, adjusting for potential family/socio-demographic confounders.Results:Students with high levels of stress were more likely to smoke > 10 cigarettes/day (adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 1.48, 95% CI: 1.12–1.96) than those with low levels of stress. Students with high levels of ADHD symptoms were more likely to smoke > 10 cigarettes/day (aOR: 2.08, 95% CI: 1.58–2.75) than those with low levels of ADHD symptoms.Conclusions:Stress and ADHD contribute independently to the risk of smoking. Interventions targeting each condition are likely to reduce the burden of tobacco use in students.


2014 ◽  
Vol 45 (8) ◽  
pp. 1601-1612 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Park ◽  
J.-M. Lee ◽  
J.-W. Kim ◽  
J. H. Cheong ◽  
H. J. Yun ◽  
...  

Background.Previous studies have implicated the relationship between environmental phthalate exposure and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms of childhood, but no studies have been conducted in children who have a confirmed diagnosis of ADHD obtained through meticulous diagnostic testing. We aimed to determine whether phthalate metabolites in urine would be higher in children with ADHD than in those without ADHD and would correlate with symptom severity and cortical thickness in ADHD children.Method.A cross-sectional examination of urine phthalate metabolite concentrations was performed; scores for ADHD symptoms, externalizing problems, and continuous performance tests were obtained from 180 children with ADHD, and brain-imaging data were obtained from 115 participants. For the control group, children without ADHD (N = 438) were recruited. Correlations between phthalate metabolite concentrations and clinical measures and brain cortical thickness were investigated.Results.Concentrations of phthalate metabolites, particularly the di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) metabolite, were significantly higher in boys with ADHD than in boys without ADHD. Concentrations of the di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP) metabolite were significantly higher in the combined or hyperactive-impulsive subtypes compared to the inattentive subtype, and the metabolite was positively correlated with the severity of externalizing symptoms. Concentrations of the DEHP metabolite were negatively correlated with cortical thickness in the right middle and superior temporal gyri.Conclusions.The results of this study suggest an association between phthalate concentrations and both the diagnosis and symptom severity of ADHD. Imaging findings suggest a negative impact of phthalates on regional cortical maturation in children with ADHD.


2014 ◽  
Vol 4 (6) ◽  
pp. 245 ◽  
Author(s):  
Klaus W. Lange ◽  
Joachim Hauser ◽  
Shigehiko Kanaya ◽  
Ivo Kaunzinger ◽  
Katharina M Lange ◽  
...  

Background: Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common behavioral disorders in children. Insufficient dietary intake of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs) has been suggested to have an impact on the development of symptoms of ADHD in children. Individuals with ADHD have been demonstrated to have significantly reduced blood concentrations of PUFAs and, in particular, reduced levels of omega-3 (n-3) PUFAs. These findings suggest that PUFA supplementation may reduce the attention and behavior problems associated with ADHD.Objective: To provide an overview of the efficacy of dietary LC-PUFA supplementation in the treatment of ADHD. Methods: Literature published up until December 2013 on the effects of n-3 PUFA supplementation on ADHD symptoms was obtained using a PubMed search and critically reviewed.Results: Dietary PUFA supplementation appears to have beneficial effects on ADHD symptoms although these effects are small. The clinical relevance of these observations remains to be determined.Conclusion: There is only limited support for the efficacy of PUFA supplementation for the core symptoms of ADHD. Given the small effect sizes regarding PUFA supplementation, it may not be a sufficient therapy for a majority of patients with ADHD.Keywords: diet, nutrition, polyunsaturated fatty acid, PUFA, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, ADHD


2018 ◽  
Vol 53 (2) ◽  
pp. 369-380 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ivonne Canits ◽  
Indy Bernoster ◽  
Jinia Mukerjee ◽  
Jean Bonnet ◽  
Ugo Rizzo ◽  
...  

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