Mindfulness Training for Adolescents with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a commonly diagnosed neuropsychological disorder among school-aged children. The purpose of the current study was to examine the relationship between father residency status and children's symptoms of ADHD using a large, nationally representative and community-based sample. To achieve this purpose, structural equation modelling was used to examine the relationship between ADHD symptoms and father residency. The relationship was examined in the context of a sample of typically developing children and a sample of children diagnosed with ADHD. The association between father residency and symptoms of ADHD among typically developing children was significant, but the same relationship among children diagnosed with ADHD was not significant. Father residency appears to share some relationship with symptoms of ADHD, but when symptoms reach the level for a clinical diagnosis, father residency appears to share little relationship with severity of symptoms of ADHD.

Η Διαταραχή Ελλειμματικής Προσοχής-Υπερκινητικότητα (ΔΕΠΥ), γνωστή και με τον αγγλικό όρο Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), είναι μια νευροαναπτυξιακή διαταραχή που ορίζεται από ένα εύρος βασικών χαρακτηριστικών. Ερευνητές καταλήγουν στο συμπέρασμα ότι η ΔΕΠΥ έχει πολλές διαφορετικές κλινικές εικόνες, ωστόσο υπάρχουν κάποια βασικά διαγνωστικά κριτήρια. Η ΔΕΠΥ αποδίδεται κυρίως σε γενετικούς παράγοντες και σε ένα μικρό ποσοστό σε πρώιμους περιβαλλοντικούς. Τα άτομα με ΔΕΠΥ εμφανίζουν προβλήματα συμπεριφοράς και δυσκολεύονται στις διαπροσωπικές τους σχέσεις. Πολύ συχνά παρατηρείται συνύπαρξη της ΔΕΠΥ με άλλες διαταραχές, όπως για παράδειγμα ψυχιατρικές. Στα διάφορα αναπτυξιακά στάδια η συννοσηρότητα μεταβάλλεται κατά την πάροδο του χρόνου. Σημαντικός παράγοντας για την ανάπτυξη συμπτωμάτων ΔΕΠΥ είναι τα ελλείμματα στις επιτελικές λειτουργίες( Executive Functions – Efs). Tα άτομα με ΔΕΠΥ είναι ευάλωτα στην παραβατικότητα. Είναι αξιοσημείωτο ότι τα άτομα με ΔΕΠΥ παρουσιάζουν διαταραχές στον ύπνο, όπως αϋπνία, αναπνευστική διαταραχή και διάφορα άλλα σύνδρομα. Για τη βελτίωση του ύπνου συνίστανται παρεμβάσεις με χρήση φαρμάκων καθώς και με συμπεριφορικές μεθόδους. Τα παιδιά με ΔΕΠΥ αντιμετωπίζουν μαθησιακές δυσκολίες, αυξημένο άγχος, και δυσκολεύονται στην αλληλεπίδραση με τους συμμαθητές και δασκάλους τους. Η ΔΕΠΥ στην παιδική ηλικία έχει σημαντικό αντίκτυπο στους γονείς, οι οποίοι καλούνται να αντιμετωπίσουν αυξημένες προκλήσεις σε σχέση με τον γονεϊκό τους ρόλο.

Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a common childhood disorder that is typically diagnosed during the school years, although features of the disorder can be identified in early childhood. As more children enter into preschool programs, there are increasing opportunities for professionals to identify and treat ADHD prior to school entry. This may increase the likelihood that children will have successful academic and social experiences. Unfortunately, diagnosing ADHD in preschoolers is difficult, in part because few assessment instruments are designed and validated for this age group. The purpose of this study was to examine the psychometric and normative properties of the ADHD-Symptoms Rating Scale (ADHD-SRS) in preschool children. Results shed light on normative levels of ADHD behaviors in preschool children and suggest that preschoolers may present with a somewhat different symptom pattern than school-age children. Further, findings reveal that parents are more likely to endorse ADHD symptoms in their children than are teachers. Given this disparity, the current data emphasize the need for cross-informant assessment in the preschool population.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is associated with driving deficits. Visual standards for driving define minimum qualifications for safe driving, including acuity and field of vision, but they do not consider the ability to explore the environment efficiently by shifting the gaze, which is a critical element of safe driving. To examine visual exploration during simulated driving in adolescents with and without ADHD. Adolescents with and without ADHD drove a driving simulator for approximately 10 min while their gaze was monitored. They then completed a battery of questionnaires. University lab. Participants with (n = 16) and without (n = 15) ADHD were included. Participants had a history of neurological disorders other than ADHD and normal or corrected-to-normal vision. Control participants reported not having a diagnosis of ADHD. Participants with ADHD had been previously diagnosed by a qualified professional. We compared the following measures between ADHD and non-ADHD groups: dashboard dwell times, fixation variance, entropy, and fixation duration. Findings showed that participants with ADHD were more restricted in their patterns of exploration than control group participants. They spent considerably more time gazing at the dashboard and had longer periods of fixation with lower variability and randomness. The results support the hypothesis that adolescents with ADHD engage in less active exploration during simulated driving. This study raises concerns regarding the driving competence of people with ADHD and opens up new directions for potential training programs that focus on exploratory gaze control.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common psychological disorder for a broad range of ages. Child and adolescent ADHD patients show different behavior patterns. The differences between child and adolescent ADHD patients have not been fully explored in terms of brain connectivity. In this study, we explored the differences of connectivity patterns between child and adolescent ADHD patients using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) of 52 ADHD patients (26 children and 26 adolescents). Default mode network and frontoparietal network showed significant group-wise connectivity pattern differences between child and adolescent ADHD patients. The results of our study might suggest potential imaging biomarkers for further ADHD related studies.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most commonly diagnosed neurobehavioural disorder in childhood, affecting over 5% of children worldwide. As well as the core symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity, patients often exhibit learning difficulties and impairment in social functioning. The frequency of referral is higher for boys than for girls (about 2:1), and girls are generally older at the time of referral.Pharmacological therapy is considered the first-line treatment for patients with severe ADHD and severe impairment. Stimulant medications are licensed in the UK for the management of ADHD in school-age children and young people, and are effective in controlling ADHD symptoms.While immediate-release preparations of methylphenidate (MPH) have proven effective in the treatment of ADHD, there are a number of problems associated with their use, most notably compliance, stigma and medication diversion. Modified release preparations are now available that overcome the need for multiple daily dosing, and which offer different MPH release profiles, thereby enabling the physician to match the medication to the patient's particular requirements.This review describes the diagnosis, referral and treatment pathways for patients with ADHD in the UK and the practical considerations when initiating pharmacological treatment. The clinical experience of treating ADHD with a modified-release MPH preparation (Equasym XL®) is illustrated with case studies.

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common disorder with estimated prevalence of 5% in children and 3.4% in adults. Psychiatric disorders are a frequent concomitant feature. Restless legs syndrome (RLS) may mimic the symptoms of ADHD. The aim of the study is to evaluate whether the presence of RLS predicts occurrence of psychiatric disorders in parents of children with ADHD. Thirty-seven parents of 26 children with ADHD were examined for RLS and for lifetime prevalence rates of psychiatric disorders and personality disorders based on the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Diagnoses (SCID). Prevalence rates in parents were 29.7% for RLS, 67.6% for Axis I and 40.5% for Axis II disorders. Mothers revealed higher rates for depression, anxiety disorders and ADHD than fathers, whereas personality disorders occurred at higher rates in fathers. The presence of RLS predicted a diagnosis of ADHD (odds ratio (OR) 21.9), agoraphobia (OR=20.4) and any anxiety disorder (OR=8.5). Although limited by the small sample size, we found evidence for increased rates of cluster B personality disorders (OR=59.3) in parents with RLS. All parents of the latter group (100%) reported a positive family history of psychiatric disorders which was not the case in parents without RLS (69.2%) excluding the index children with ADHD. RLS seems to indicate increased vulnerability for psychiatric disorders, i.e., ADHD and anxiety disorders, in a subgroup of parents from ADHD children. Synaptic dysfunction affecting dopaminergic transmission among other transmitter systems may be a common final pathway related to the phenotypic spectrum of ADHD.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is characterised by inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity with onset in children before the age of seven years. ADHD is the most common disorder presenting to child guidance clinics and has been shown to be a well-validated diagnosis. Current estimates of prevalence range from 1%5%. The concept of adult ADHD as a clinical entity is an emerging but controversial area in psychiatry. While childhood ADHD is accepted as a reliable and valid diagnosis, the validity of adult ADHD as a disorder is unclear. This paper reviews the likely presenting features of adult ADHD and common comorbid disorders. Guidelines for assessment and management are discussed and the evidence for validity of the diagnosis is critically examined.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a common behavioral disorder in children. It is characterized by motor hyperactivity, impulsivity and inattention inappropriate for the age. Approximately 5-10 % of school age children are diagnosed to have ADHD. The affected children show significant impairment in social behavior and academic performance. The DSM-5 criteria are useful in diagnosing three subtypes of ADHD based on presence of symptoms described in 3 domains viz ., inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity. Co-morbidities like specific learning disability, anxiety disorder, oppositional defiant disorder are commonly associated with ADHD.Education of parents and teachers, behavioral therapy and medication are main components of management. Methylphenidate and Atomoxetine are effective in controlling symptoms of ADHD in most children. Research studies estimated that 30-60 % of children continue to show symptoms of ADHD in adulthood. The general practitioner can play an important role in early diagnosis, appropriate assessment and guiding parents for management of children with ADHD.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in college students is not well researched nor well understood, but is likely to present special challenges to academic performance. Individuals with ADHD symptoms have sometimes been found to show deficits in executive functioning, including response inhibition, categorization and set-shifting abilities. However, the relationship between these abilities and ADHD symptoms in college students remains unclear. In the present study, the response inhibition, categorization and set-shifting abilities of college students with low (n = 15), moderate (n = 15), and high (n = 16) self-reported ADHD symptoms were compared. No overall group differences were found. It thus appears that in these important executive functions, college students with high self-reported levels of ADHD symptoms are not more impaired, as compared to those with fewer symptoms. Possibly, the group comparisons obscured a subset of students whose cognitive inhibition, categorization and set-shifting abilities are affected. Other limitations, including the use of self-report and the relatively low sample size, are discussed.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a controversial problem in sport since participants with this disorder often require banned stimulant medication while competing. Little information is available in the literature concerning this problem or whether sports people should be allowed to participate while on stimulant therapy. The intention of this review is to undertake a brief review of recent findings in ADHD, especially as they apply to sport, and suggest some guidelines that could then be applied by sporting bodies to allow ADHD sufferers to compete. Recent scientific evidence, clinical, genetic, and imaging techniques, confirm that ADHD is characterised by dysfunction in dopamine transmission in the frontal lobes and basal ganglia structures, regions associated with attention and behaviour. The dopamine transporter (DAT) regulates dopamine by removing excess. In ADHD people, the number and density of DATs and DAT binding sites are increased by up to 70 %. The dopamine agonist methylphenidate blockades DAT, significantly increasing extra cellular dopamine, so correcting the dopamine deficiency. Methods. A search of the English literature was made using Medline from the years 1980 to 2002. [nl]The aim of this review is not to debate the use of stimulants or how often they are necessary or successful in this condition but to point out that a number of young sport people with ADHD require such medication on a regular basis. Although there are problems with their use as far as the International Olympics Committee (IOC) is concerned, it would seem most unfair to penalise sports people by having to give up their medication, even for a few days or at some arbitrary age, in order to compete.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurobehavioral disorder in children and adolescents that comprises core symptoms of developmentally inappropriate levels of inattention and/or hyperactivity and impulsivity. Current drug treatment approaches for ADHD comprise stimulant medications (methylphenidate, amphetamines) and non-stimulant medications (atomoxetine, clonidine and guanfacine). Drugs for ADHD appear to be safe and well tolerated, and most of the adverse events observed in randomised clinical trials were mild and temporary. Stimulants and atomoxetine are associated with decreased appetite and gastrointestinal pain. An increased risk of insomnia exists for stimulants, while atomoxetine and alpha-2 agonists are associated with somnolence. Long-term safety is poorly evaluated. Concerns regarding cardiovascular and psychiatric adverse events have been raised by regulatory authorities in the last decade. However, there is currently no proven association between ADHD medications and an increased risk of these events, and their incidence is extremely low.

Tzang, Ruu-Fen; Hsu, Cheng-Dien; Liou, Ying-Jay; Hong, Chen-Jee; Tsai, Shih-Jen Author Information

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adults has been associated to a higher probability of problems with justice. Studies in prison populations disclosed higher prevalence of this disturbance. ADHD association with personality disorders and higher substance abuse could partially help in the explanation of this phenomenon. Based in a literature review, the authors present a reflection on the possible implications of the ADHD diagnosis to Forensic Medicine. After a brief review of the clinical aspects, epidemiology, etiology and nosology of ADHD, its repercussions in the sphere of justice are analysed, namely the prevalence of associated criminality, risk factors and the co-morbidity with personality disorders and substance abuse. These elements are used as a base to the discussion of the results and to a subsequent reflection on the question of (in)imputability related with this disorder.

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most common developmental disorder that is associated with environmental and genetic factors. Neurobiological evidence suggests that fronto-striatum-cerebellum circuit abnormalities, mainly in the right hemisphere, are responsible for most of the disturbed sensorimotor integration; dopamine seems to be the main neurochemical alteration underlying these morphological abnormalities. Different conventional treatments have been employed on ADHD; however, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), a new and useful option for the clinical/research investigation of several neuropsychiatric disorders involving dopamine circuits, has yet to be considered as a therapeutic tool and possible drug-free option for ADHD. Here the authors explore the available evidence that makes this tool a rational therapeutic possibility for patients with ADHD, calling attention to safety issues, while highlighting the potentials of such an approach and the new hope it may bring for patients, parents, researchers and clinicians. The authors advocate carefully conducted clinical trials to investigate efficacy, safety, cost-effectiveness and clinical utility of rTMS for ADHD patients - in comparison to both placebo and standard treatments.