Design Fluency in Children with ADHD and Comorbid Disorders

Background: Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is often associated with frontal executive impairment in children. Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) and anxiety disorders (AD) frequently accompany ADHD, but the impact of these comorbid disorders on cognition remains elusive. The five-point test (FPT), a design fluency task, has been shown to be sensitive to neurological damage, specifically to frontal lobe lesions in patients with brain injuries. The purpose of this study was to compare the performances of neurotypical children with that of children with ADHD, ADHD-ODD, and ADHD-AD on the FPT in order to examine whether these groups could be distinguished from one another based on their cognitive profile. Methods: A total of 111 children aged 8 to 11 years old participated in the study. Six measures from the FPT were used to characterize their performance. Results: Statistically significant differences between groups were observed for five of the six FPT measures. Essentially, children with ADHD-ODD made more repeated designs than the three other groups (control p > 0.001, ADHD p = 0.008, ADHD-AD p = 0.008), while children with ADHD-AD produced fewer total and correct designs than the control and ADHD groups (p = 0.009). Conclusions: This suggests that comorbidities have an additive impact on the cognitive profile of children with ADHD. Design fluency may be a sensitive measure for capturing the subtle cognitive deficits that are likely to be involved in these disorders.

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Comorbid Internalizing and Externalizing Disorders Predict Lability of Negative Emotions Among Children With ADHD

Journal of Attention Disorders ◽

10.1177/1087054717734647 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 24 (14) ◽

pp. 1989-2001 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Kirsten D. Leaberry ◽

Paul J. Rosen ◽

Nicholas D. Fogleman ◽

Danielle M. Walerius ◽

Kelly E. Slaughter

Keyword(s):

Negative Emotions ◽

Externalizing Disorders ◽

Diagnostic Interview ◽

Comorbid Disorders ◽

Children With Adhd ◽

Oppositional Defiant ◽

Valid Assessment ◽

Ecological Momentary ◽

The Impact ◽

Internalizing And Externalizing

Objective: A subset of children with ADHD experience more frequent, sudden, and intense shifts toward negative emotions. The current study utilized ecological momentary assessment (EMA) to provide a valid assessment of the impact of comorbid internalizing and externalizing disorders on negative emotional lability (EL) among children with ADHD. Method: Parents of 58, 8- to 12-year-old children with ADHD were administered a diagnostic interview to assess for ADHD and for the presence of comorbid disorders. Parents completed EMA-based ratings of their child’s negative emotions three times daily for a total of 28 days. Results: Children with a comorbid internalizing disorder or children with comorbid oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) experienced significantly greater EMA-derived negative EL than children without comorbid disorders over time. Children with multiple comorbidities experienced greater EL than children with single comorbidities. Conclusion: Overall, this study suggested that both comorbid ODD and comorbid internalizing disorders contribute to negative EL among children with ADHD.

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The Impact of Copper in Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Revista de Chimie ◽

10.37358/rc.17.2.5436 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 68 (2) ◽

pp. 279-283

Author(s):

Mihail Silviu Tudosie ◽

Elena Truta ◽

Ana Maria Davitoiu ◽

Luminita Stanciulescu ◽

George Jinescu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ◽

Attention Deficit ◽

Copper Concentration ◽

Graphite Furnace ◽

Urine Samples ◽

Health State ◽

Adhd Symptoms ◽

Children With Adhd ◽

Hyperactivity Disorder ◽

The Impact

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.

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PARENTAL PERCEPTIONS OF MEDICATION IMPACT ON BEHAVIOUR AND LEARNING IN CHILDREN WITH ATTENTION/DEFICIT-HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER

Paediatrics & Child Health ◽

10.1093/pch/pxy054.090 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 23 (suppl_1) ◽

pp. e35-e35

Author(s):

Jean-Francois Lemay ◽

Julie-Anne Lemay ◽

Hanna Kubas

Keyword(s):

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ◽

Attention Deficit ◽

Parental Perceptions ◽

Children With Adhd ◽

Hyperactivity Disorder ◽

Long Term Treatment ◽

Stimulant Medications ◽

The Impact

Abstract BACKGROUND Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that often negatively impacts behaviour, cognition, and learning. Stimulant medications are the most commonly used treatment for ADHD, with informant reports (e.g., parent questionnaires, surveys) frequently used to evaluate medication impact on behavioural and academic functioning in affected children. OBJECTIVES To determine parental perceptions of medication impact on behaviour and learning in a long-acting methylphenidate (LA-MPH) trial of their children with ADHD. DESIGN/METHODS A randomized controlled LA-MPH medication trial was conducted with children ages 8–12 with a diagnosis of ADHD. Trial began with one-week of baseline assessment, followed by a randomized three-week standard of care medication trial, and a one-week best dose assessment. Following the conclusion of the study (6 months to 2 years’ range post-treatment), families were asked to participate in a voluntary follow-up phone survey to evaluate parental perceptions on child’s behaviour and learning. RESULTS A total of 34/42 (81%) families participated (male to female ratio: 2.1/1). At the time of the follow-up survey, 53% (18/34) and 68% (23/34) of patients were having “difficulty” or “significant difficulty” with their behaviour and learning, respectively. Twenty-three patients (68%) were still on psycho-stimulant medications. Although parents of those 23 children said LA-MPH had in general “significant” or “very significant” impact on their child’s behaviour (87%) and learning (79%), these parents were still reporting challenges with behaviour (52%) and learning (61%) at follow-up. In addition, parents of children not on medication said that their current child’s behaviour and learning was still having the same or more challenging issues (82% and 73% respectively). CONCLUSION Overall, parents reported that medication significantly impacted their child’s behaviour and learning; however, long-term medication impact appears less effective. Thus, an ongoing relationship with families and paediatricians is recommended to better understand the impact of medication on behaviour and learning. Evaluating the effects of medication on behaviour and learning may ultimately lead to targeted intervention that help foster long-term treatment efficacy for children with ADHD.

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Physical Health, Media Use, and Mental Health in Children and Adolescents With ADHD During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Australia

Journal of Attention Disorders ◽

10.1177/1087054720978549 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 108705472097854

Author(s):

Emma Sciberras ◽

Pooja Patel ◽

Mark A. Stokes ◽

David Coghill ◽

Christel M. Middeldorp ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Social Media ◽

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ◽

Depressed Mood ◽

Attention Deficit ◽

Odds Ratio ◽

Family Time ◽

Children With Adhd ◽

Hyperactivity Disorder ◽

The Impact

Objective: To examine the impact of COVID-19 restrictions among children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Methods: Parents of 213 Australian children (5–17 years) with ADHD completed a survey in May 2020 when COVID-19 restrictions were in place (i.e., requiring citizens to stay at home except for essential reasons). Results: Compared to pre-pandemic, children had less exercise (Odds Ratio (OR) = 0.4; 95% CI 0.3–0.6), less outdoor time (OR = 0.4; 95% 0.3–0.6), and less enjoyment in activities (OR = 6.5; 95% CI 4.0–10.4), while television (OR = 4.0; 95% CI 2.5–6.5), social media (OR = 2.4; 95% CI 1.3–4.5), gaming (OR = 2.0; 95% CI 1.3–3.0), sad/depressed mood (OR = 1.8; 95% CI 1.2–2.8), and loneliness (OR = 3.6; 95% CI 2.3–5.5) were increased. Child stress about COVID-19 restrictions was associated with poorer functioning across most domains. Most parents (64%) reported positive changes for their child including more family time. Conclusions: COVID-19 restrictions were associated with both negative and positive impacts among children with ADHD.

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Self- and Parent-Rated Quality of Life of a Treatment Naïve Sample of Children With ADHD: The Impact of Age, Gender, Type of ADHD, and Comorbid Psychiatric Conditions According to Both a Categorical and a Dimensional Approach

Journal of Attention Disorders ◽

10.1177/1087054714542003 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 21 (9) ◽

pp. 721-730 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Gyöngyvér Dallos ◽

Mónika Miklósi ◽

Ágnes Keresztény ◽

Szabina Velő ◽

Dóra Szentiványi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Anxiety Disorders ◽

Female Gender ◽

Dimensional Approach ◽

Children With Adhd ◽

Oppositional Defiant ◽

Mood And Anxiety Disorders ◽

Treatment Naïve ◽

The Impact

Objective: Our aim was to evaluate the Quality of Life (QoL) of treatment naïve children with ADHD. Method: Data from 178 parent–child dyads were analyzed using multiple regression to assess the relationships between QoL, and characteristics of ADHD and comorbid psychopathology. Results: Lower self-reported QoL was associated with female gender, higher age, more symptoms of anxiety and trauma-related disorders in dimensional approach, and with the comorbid diagnoses of trauma-related disorders and oppositional defiant disorder (ODD)/conduct disorder (CD) in categorical approach. Lower parent-reported QoL was related to older age and increasing number of symptoms of mood and anxiety disorders on one hand, and any diagnosis of mood and anxiety disorders and ODD/CD on the other. Conclusion: Our results draw the attention to the importance of taking into account age, gender, and both self- and parent reports when measuring QoL of children with ADHD and both dimensional and categorical approaches should be used.

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Service use in children aged 6–8 years with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Archives of Disease in Childhood ◽

10.1136/archdischild-2015-309520 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 101 (2) ◽

pp. 161-165 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Daryl Efron ◽

Olga Moisuc ◽

Vicki McKenzie ◽

Emma Sciberras

Keyword(s):

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ◽

Attention Deficit ◽

Service Use ◽

Diagnostic Interview ◽

Professional Services ◽

Professional Service ◽

Children With Adhd ◽

Hyperactivity Disorder ◽

The Family ◽

The Impact

ObjectiveThis study investigated prevalence, types and predictors of professional service use in families of children identified with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in the community.DesignSetting: children with ADHD were identified through 43 schools using parent and teacher screening questionnaires (Conners 3 ADHD Index) followed by case confirmation using the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children Version IV. Parents completed a survey about professional service use in the last 12 months. Main outcome measures: data on variables potentially associated with service use were collected from parents (interview and questionnaires), teachers (questionnaires) and children (direct assessment). Logistic regression was used to examine predictors of service use in univariate and multivariable analyses.ResultsThe sample comprised 179 children aged 6–8 years with ADHD. Over one-third (37%) had not received professional services in the last 12 months. The strongest predictors of service use were older child age (adjusted OR=3.0, 95% CI 1.0 to 8.9, p=0.05), and the degree to which the child's behaviour impacted on the family (adjusted OR=2.0, 95% CI 1.3 to 3.3, p=0.007), after controlling for ADHD subtype and severity, externalising comorbidities, academic achievement and parent-reported impairment.ConclusionsA substantial proportion of children with ADHD are not accessing professional services. Our findings suggest that the child's age and the impact of the child's behaviour on the family are the strongest predictors of service use. Given the demonstrated benefits from various interventions in ADHD, there is a need to improve case identification and referral for services.

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Factors Related to Caregiver Intentions to Vaccinate Their Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder against COVID-19 in Taiwan

Vaccines ◽

10.3390/vaccines9090983 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (9) ◽

pp. 983

Author(s):

Ching-Shu Tsai ◽

Ray C. Hsiao ◽

Yu-Min Chen ◽

Cheng-Fang Yen

Keyword(s):

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ◽

Attention Deficit ◽

Linear Regression Analysis ◽

Online Questionnaire ◽

Related Factors ◽

Children With Adhd ◽

Hyperactivity Disorder ◽

Family Attitudes ◽

Oppositional Defiant ◽

Comorbid Psychopathology

The aims of this study were to examine the proportion of caregivers who were hesitant to vaccinate their children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the factors related to caregiver intentions to vaccinate their children against COVID-19. In total, 161 caregivers of children with ADHD were recruited in this study. The caregivers completed an online questionnaire to provide data regarding their intention to vaccinate their children against COVID-19, concerns about the effectiveness and safety of vaccines, unfavorable family attitudes toward vaccines, and children’s medication use for ADHD and comorbid psychopathology. The factors related to caregiver intentions to vaccinate their child were examined using linear regression analysis. The results indicated that 25.5% of caregivers were hesitant to vaccinate their children with ADHD, and 11.8% refused to vaccinate their children against COVID-19. The caregivers’ concerns about the safety of vaccines and children’s regular use of medication for ADHD were negatively associated with caregiver intentions to vaccinate, whereas the children’s comorbid conduct or oppositional defiant problems were positively associated with the caregiver intentions to vaccinate. An intervention that enhances caregiver intentions to vaccinate their children with ADHD against COVID-19 by addressing the related factors found in this study is warranted.

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Parents’ Experiences of Weighted Blankets’ Impact on Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Sleep Problems—A Qualitative Study

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph182412959 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (24) ◽

pp. 12959

Author(s):

Ingrid Larsson ◽

Katarina Aili ◽

Jens M. Nygren ◽

Håkan Jarbin ◽

Petra Svedberg

Keyword(s):

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ◽

Everyday Life ◽

Attention Deficit ◽

Sleep Problems ◽

Well Being ◽

Sleep Onset Latency ◽

Children With Adhd ◽

Hyperactivity Disorder ◽

The Impact ◽

Parents Experiences

Sleep disturbances are common among children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). While pharmacological treatment has increased dramatically, parents often prefer non-pharmacological interventions. Research on experiences of weighted blankets and their effect in sleep improvement is scarce. The aim of this study was to explore parents’ experiences of weighted blankets for children with ADHD and sleep problems, and the impact on their children’s sleep. The explorative design was based on qualitative content analysis. Interviews were conducted with a purposeful sample of 24 parents of children with ADHD and sleep problems, after completing a sleep intervention with weighted blankets for 16 weeks. Parents reported that children sleeping with weighted blankets: (1) achieved satisfactory sleep, including improved sleep onset latency, sleep continuity, and sleep routines; (2) achieved overall well-being, including improved relaxation and reduced anxiety; and (3) mastered everyday life, including improved balance in life, family function, and participation in school and leisure activities. This study brings forward novel aspects of the effects of improved sleep among children with ADHD. The findings contribute to the understanding of potential positive effects of an intervention with weighted blankets critical for clinical practice to improve sleep, well-being, and everyday life of children with ADHD and their families.

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Best practices in clinical developmental structural neuroimaging

10.31234/osf.io/br38j ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Lea L. Backhausen ◽

Megan Herting ◽

Christian K. Tamnes ◽

Nora C. Vetter

Keyword(s):

Neurodevelopmental Disorders ◽

Clinical Symptoms ◽

Developmental Trajectories ◽

Scientific Practices ◽

Brain Morphometry ◽

Hyperactivity Disorder ◽

Oppositional Defiant ◽

Hands On ◽

The Impact ◽

Immense Potential

Structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI) offers immense potential for increasing our understanding of how anatomical brain development relates to clinical symptoms of neurodevelopmental disorders, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), conduct disorder (CD), and oppositional defiant disorder (ODD). Clinical developmental sMRI may help identify neurobiological risk factors or markers that may ultimately assist in diagnosis and treatment. However, researchers and clinicians aiming to conduct clinical developmental sMRI studies face several methodological challenges. This review offers hands-on guidelines for clinical developmental sMRI. First, we present brain morphometry metrics and review evidence on typical developmental trajectories throughout adolescence, together with atypical trajectories in ADHD, CD, and ODD. Next, we discuss challenges and good scientific practices in study design, image acquisition and analysis, and recent options to implement quality control. Finally, we discuss the impact of choices on statistical analysis and interpretation of results. We call for greater completeness and transparency in methods reports to advance understanding of brain structural alterations in neurodevelopmental disorders.

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Language Impairment in the Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Context

Journal of Speech Language and Hearing Research ◽

10.1044/2015_jslhr-l-15-0038 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 59 (1) ◽

pp. 133-142 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

Sean M. Redmond

Keyword(s):

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ◽

Attention Deficit ◽

Language Impairment ◽

Language Impairments ◽

Nonword Repetition ◽

Parent Ratings ◽

Children With Adhd ◽

Hyperactivity Disorder ◽

Comorbid Adhd ◽

The Impact

Purpose Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a ubiquitous designation that affects the identification, assessment, treatment, and study of pediatric language impairments (LIs). Method Current literature is reviewed in 4 areas: (a) the capacity of psycholinguistic, neuropsychological, and socioemotional behavioral indices to differentiate cases of LI from ADHD; (b) the impact of co-occurring ADHD on children's LI; (c) cross-etiology comparisons of the nonlinguistic abilities of children with ADHD and specific LI (SLI); and (d) the extent to which ADHD contributes to educational and health disparities among individuals with LI. Results Evidence is presented demonstrating the value of using adjusted parent ratings of ADHD symptoms and targeted assessments of children's tense marking, nonword repetition, and sentence recall for differential diagnosis and the identification of comorbidity. Reports suggest that the presence of ADHD does not aggravate children's LI. The potential value of cross-etiology comparisons testing the necessity and sufficiency of proposed nonlinguistic contributors to the etiology of SLI is demonstrated through key studies. Reports suggest that children with comorbid ADHD+LI receive speech-language services at a higher rate than children with SLI. Conclusion The ADHD context is multifaceted and provides the management and study of LI with both opportunities and obstacles.

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