scholarly journals Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: the impact of methylphenidate on working memory, inhibition capacity and mental flexibility

2017 ◽  
Vol 75 (4) ◽  
pp. 204-208 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristiana Bolfer ◽  
Sandra Pasquali Pacheco ◽  
Miriam Harumi Tsunemi ◽  
Walter Souza Carreira ◽  
Beatriz Borba Casella ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Objective To compare children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), before and after the use of methylphenidate, and a control group, using tests of working memory, inhibition capacity and mental flexibility. Methods Neuropsychological tests were administrated to 53 boys, 9–12 years old: the WISC-III digit span backward, and arithmetic; Stroop Color; and Trail Making Tests. The case group included 23 boys with ADHD, who were combined type, treatment-naive, and with normal intelligence without comorbidities. The control group (n = 30) were age and gender matched. After three months on methylphenidate, the ADHD children were retested. The control group was also retested after three months. Results Before treatment, ADHD children had lower scores than the control group on the tests (p ≤ 0.001) and after methylphenidate had fewer test errors than before (p ≤ 0.001) Conclusion Methylphenidate treatment improves the working memory, inhibitory control and mental flexibility of ADHD boys.

2009 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 141-144 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriel Coutinho ◽  
Paulo Mattos ◽  
Leandro F. Malloy-Diniz

OBJECTIVE: To compare the performances of children and adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder with a group of control comparison subjects, both taken from a large clinical sample, using some of the most widely employed attention-based Brazilian tests. METHOD: The performances of 186 children and adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder were compared to that of 80 control individuals based on attention and working memory scores. Both groups had been referred due to academic impairment. All individuals were submitted to the TAVIS-3 sustained, shifted and focused attention tests, as well as to the working memory tests that make up the WISC-III Freedom from Distractibility Index (Digit Span and Arithmetic). RESULTS: The control group was slightly older than the attention deficit hyperactivity disorder group (p = 0.07); IQ and schooling did not differ between groups (p = 0.34 and p = 0.38, respectively). While performing a test requiring sustained attention for a longer period of time, the attention deficit hyperactivity disorder group showed a significantly higher number of commission errors compared to the controls, thus presenting sustained attention deficits (p = 0.003); when the influence of IQ, age and schooling was reduced, the attention deficit hyperactivity disorder group also made more omission errors during a sustained attention task in comparison to the control group, thus achieving a borderline significance level (p = 0.08); the attention deficit hyperactivity disorder group also performed worse in Digit Span forward and backward (p = 0.013 and p = 0.01, respectively) and in Arithmetic (p = 0.008). Other scores did not achieve significance. CONCLUSION : Our findings suggest that some of the most commonly used Brazilian attention-based tests - especially the sustained attention and working memory tests - may be useful to help distinguish subjects with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder from control subjects.


2015 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashley N. Simone ◽  
Anne-Claude V. Bédard ◽  
David J. Marks ◽  
Jeffrey M. Halperin

AbstractThe aim of this study was to examine working memory (WM) modalities (visual-spatial and auditory-verbal) and processes (maintenance and manipulation) in children with and without attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The sample consisted of 63 8-year-old children with ADHD and an age- and sex-matched non-ADHD comparison group (N=51). Auditory-verbal and visual-spatial WM were assessed using the Digit Span and Spatial Span subtests from the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children Integrated - Fourth Edition. WM maintenance and manipulation were assessed via forward and backward span indices, respectively. Data were analyzed using a 3-way Group (ADHD vs. non-ADHD)×Modality (Auditory-Verbal vs. Visual-Spatial)×Condition (Forward vs. Backward) Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). Secondary analyses examined differences between Combined and Predominantly Inattentive ADHD presentations. Significant Group×Condition (p=.02) and Group×Modality (p=.03) interactions indicated differentially poorer performance by those with ADHD on backward relative to forward and visual-spatial relative to auditory-verbal tasks, respectively. The 3-way interaction was not significant. Analyses targeting ADHD presentations yielded a significant Group×Condition interaction (p=.009) such that children with ADHD-Predominantly Inattentive Presentation performed differentially poorer on backward relative to forward tasks compared to the children with ADHD-Combined Presentation. Findings indicate a specific pattern of WM weaknesses (i.e., WM manipulation and visual-spatial tasks) for children with ADHD. Furthermore, differential patterns of WM performance were found for children with ADHD-Predominantly Inattentive versus Combined Presentations. (JINS, 2016, 22, 1–11)


2013 ◽  
Vol 71 (11) ◽  
pp. 896-901 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Zambrano-Sanchez ◽  
Jose A. Martinez-Cortes ◽  
Minerva Dehesa-Moreno ◽  
Yolanda del Rio-Carlos ◽  
Adrian Poblano

Objective To compare frequency of sleep disorders (SD) and executive dysfunction (ED) in children with attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and a control group. Method We studied 156 children with ADHD with a mean age of 8.5 years, and a control group with 111 children with a mean age of 8.3 years. We utilized the Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire (PSQ) to screen SD and the working memory measurement from the Wechsler intelligence scale for children (WISC-IV) to screen ED. Results We did not observe an increased frequency of SD in children with ADHD compared with the controls. However, we did identify ED in children with ADHD; additionally a significant correlation was observed between the type of ADHD and SD and among ED, WISC-IV measurements, and type of SD in children with ADHD. Conclusion An increase of SD frequency in children with ADHD was not observed, but we did identify ED in children with ADHD. Additionally, a correlation among ADHD types, SD, ED, and WISC-IV measurements was observed in children with ADHD.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 314
Author(s):  
Tsz Lok Lee ◽  
Michael K. Yeung ◽  
Sophia L. Sze ◽  
Agnes S. Chan

Disinhibition is a common sign among children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The present study examined the effect of computerized eye-tracking training to improve inhibitory control in ADHD children. Thirty-two ADHD children (mean age = 8.4 years) were recruited. Half of the participants underwent 240 min of eye-tracking training over two weeks (i.e., experimental group), while the other half did not receive any training (i.e., control group). After training, the experimental group exhibited significant improvements in neuropsychological tests of inhibition, such as faster reaction time in the incongruent condition of the Flanker test, more unique designs in the Category Fluency and Five-Point Tests, and a faster completion time in Trail 2 of the Children’s Color Trail Test. The control group did not show significant changes in any of these tests. Our findings support the use of eye-tracking training to improve the inhibitory control of ADHD children.


Author(s):  
Maryam Kousha ◽  
Mohammad Abbasi Kakrodi

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of mothers’ Group psychoeducation on Quality of Life (QoL) of children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Method: In this clinical trial, 60 mothers of ADHD children were randomly divided into two groups (30 participants in each group). An educational program based on Positive Parenting Program (Triple P) was performed for the intervention group, while only pharmacotherapy was provided for the control group. Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (Peds QL) was completed by all 60 mothers before, eight week, and three months after intervention. Data were analyzed using mean and standard deviation, and K-square or paired t test were used for data analysis. Results: A total of 60 mothers participated in this study. Of their children, 80% were boys and 20% were girls. The mean of the total score of QoL increased significantly in the intervention group at week eight and three months after the intervention. Also, the mean scores of emotional, social, school and psychosocial domains, but not physical domain of QoL, found to be higher in ADHD children after intervention (p< 0.05). The total score of QoL and mean scores of domains increased in the posttest in the control group, but it was not significant (p> 0.05). Conclusion: A significant increase in the total score of QoL was reported by mothers in the posttest compared to the pretest in the experimental group, which showed that educating parents can improve the QoL of their ADHD children.


2016 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
pp. 20-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silvana Markovska-Simoska ◽  
Nada Pop-Jordanova

In recent decades, resting state electroencephalographic (EEG) measures have been widely used to document underlying neurophysiological dysfunction in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Although most EEG studies focus on children, there is a growing interest in adults with ADHD too. The aim of this study was to objectively assess and compare the absolute and relative EEG power as well as the theta/beta ratio in children and adults with ADHD. The evaluated sample comprised 30 male children and 30 male adults with ADHD diagnosed according to DSM-IV criteria. They were compared with 30 boys and 30 male adults matched by age. The mean age (±SD) of the children’s group was 9 (±2.44) years and the adult group 35.8 (±8.65) years. EEG was recorded during an eyes-open condition. Spectral analysis of absolute (μV2) and relative power (%) was carried out for 4 frequency bands: delta (2-4 Hz), theta (4-8 Hz), alpha (8-13 Hz), and beta (13-21 Hz). The findings obtained for ADHD children are increased absolute power of slow waves (theta and delta), whereas adults exhibited no differences compared with normal subjects. For the relative power spectra there were no differences between the ADHD and control groups. Across groups, the children showed greater relative power than the adults in the delta and theta bands, but for the higher frequency bands (alpha and beta) the adults showed more relative power than children. Only ADHD children showed greater theta/beta ratio compared to the normal group. Classification analysis showed that ADHD children could be differentiated from the control group by the absolute theta values and theta/beta ratio at Cz, but this was not the case with ADHD adults. The question that should be further explored is if these differences are mainly due to maturation processes or if there is a core difference in cortical arousal between ADHD children and adults.


2021 ◽  
Vol 43 (3) ◽  
pp. 260-266
Author(s):  
Nava Khalilinejad ◽  
Leila Mehdizadeh Fanid ◽  
Narges Zeinalzadeh ◽  
Maedeh Alizadeh

Background: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most common and highly heritable psychiatric disorder among children which affects 3-7% of them all around the world. ADHD characterized by some symptoms such as extreme and inappropriate levels of motor activity, impulsivity and inattentiveness. Several studies have reported the association between dopaminergic pathway and ADHD. Dopamine D4 receptor gene and its variants is one of the major candidates that have been studied for ADHD. Here we investigated the genetic association between DRD4 rs1800955 polymorphism and ADHD among children from Northwest of Iran. Methods: This case-control study includes 200 ADHD children and 157 controls aged 6-12 years. ADHD children were diagnosed according to DSM-IV and Conners scale and were genotyped by PCR-Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) technique. Results: Frequencies of genotypes CC, TT and CT were 48 (24%), 15 (7.5%) and 137 (68.5%) in patient group and 50 (31.85% %), 7 (4.46%) and 100 (63.69 %) in control group respectively. According to results, there was no significant association between case and control groups (p>0.05). Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that there is no significant association between DRD4 rs1800955 polymorphism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder among children from Northwest of Iran.


Author(s):  
Elham Shareghfarid ◽  
Zohreh Sadat Sangsefidi ◽  
Mahdieh Hosseinzadeh ◽  
Amin Salehi-Abargouei ◽  
Mohammad Mohammadi

Background: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most common chronic mental disorder among children. Children with ADHD may be at risk for a variety of nutrients' deficiencies. We aimed to assess the nutrients' intakes among ADHD children and compare them with the healthy ones. Methods: This was a hospital-based case-control survey over 120 ADHD as the cases and 240 non-ADHD children as the control participants aged 6-13 years. Usual dietary intakes were assessed using a validated semi quantitative food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ). The P-values were considered significant if they were < 0·05. Results: Energy: 2812.2 ± 1029.9 kcal/day vs. 3136.4 ± 1360.3 kcal/day, P = 0.001), fat: 78.3 ± 28.8 g/day vs. 87.2 ± 44.9 g/day, P > 0.001), and carbohydrate: 436.8 ± 192.6 g/day vs. 479.9 ± 244.2 g/day, P = 0.009) intakes were significantly lower in ADHD than healthy children. Similarly, consumption of calcium: 968.5 ± 358.3 mg/day vs. 1055.7 ± 453.4 mg/day, P = 0.03) and magnesium: 363.1 ± 173.9 mg/day vs. 411.9 ± 220.8 mg/day, P = 0.01) were significantly lower in the cases than control group. However, intakes of thiamin: 34.4±18.8 mg/day vs. 40.4 ± 25.6 mg/day, P = 0.002), riboflavin: 1.99 ± 0.76 mg/day vs. 2.21 ± 0.95 mg/day, P = 0.01), niacin: 24.9 ± 10.6 mg/day vs. 27.5 ± 13.2 mg/day, P = 0.01), and vitamin B5: 6.85 ± 3.35 mg/day vs. 7.49 ± 3.84 mg/day, P = 0.02) were significantly lower in the case than control group. Conclusion: Children with ADHD consumed significantly lower quantities of energy, macronutrients, calcium, magnesium, B vitamins (B1, B2, B3, B5), and vitamin C compared with the healthy children.


2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shahrokh Amiri ◽  
Ayyoub Malek ◽  
Majid Sadegfard ◽  
Salman Abdi

Background. The etiology of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is complex.This study was conducted to evaluate the pregnancy-related maternal risk factors of ADHD. Methods. 164 ADHD children attending to Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics compared with 166 normal children selected in a random-cluster method from primary schools. ADHD rating scale and clinical interview based on Schedule for Affective disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Aged Children (K-SADS) were used to diagnose ADHD cases and to select the control group. Results. The mean maternal age at pregnancy, duration of pregnancy, and the mean paternal age were alike in two groups. The ADHD children’s mothers compared with those of control group had higher frequencies of somatic diseases, psychiatric disorders, and alcohol and cigarette exposure during the pregnancies (P<0.01). Also birth by cesarean section was more common among mothers of ADHD children (P<0.001). These factors plus trauma to the abdomen during pregnancy were significantly predictors of ADHD in children. Conclusions. Some pregnancy-related maternal factors may be considered as environmental risk factors for ADHD. Each of these factors considered in our study as a risk factor needs to be tested and confirmed through next methodologically appropriate researches in this field.


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