Factors related with unintentional injuries in children with newly diagnosed attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder

ADHD and accidents over the life span - A systematic review

Studies have demonstrated an increased risk of accidents and injuries in children, adolescents and adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, little is known about how accident risk may alter over the lifespan. Additionally, it would be important to know if the most common types of accidents and injuries differ in ADHD patients over different age groups. Furthermore, there is increasing evidence of an ameliorating effect of ADHD medication on accident risk. Lastly, the underlying risk factors and causal mechanisms behind increased accident risk remain unclear. We therefore conducted a systematic review focusing on the above described research questions. Our results suggested that accident/injury type and overall risk changes in ADHD patients over the lifespan. ADHD medication appeared to be similarly effective at reducing accident risk in all age groups. However, studies with direct comparisons of accident/injuries and effects of medication at different age groups or in old age are still missing. Finally, comorbidities associated with ADHD such as substance abuse appear to further increase the accident/injury risk.

Conduct disorder and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder as risk factors for prescription opioid use

BACKGROUND

Existing studies of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), conduct disorder (CD), and substance use or substance use disorders have produced mixed results, with some identifying a direct link between ADHD and general or disordered substance use and others suggesting that comorbid CD may explain this relationship. Insufficient research has addressed the issue, which is particularly relevant in the context of the opioid crisis. This study examined the association of probable ADHD and childhood CD with self-reported opioid use in a general-population sample.

METHOD

The 2011-2013 cycles of the CAMH Monitor, a cross-sectional survey of adults (18+ years) from Ontario, Canada provided data from 6074 respondents. Binary logistic regressions were conducted of self-reported medical, non-medical, and any prescription opioid use in the previous 12 months, assessing demographic characteristics, perceived physical and mental health, and probable ADHD, childhood (before age 15 years) symptoms of CD, or their combination.

RESULTS

Adjusting for potential covariates, probable ADHD alone was not associated with prescription opioid use. Childhood symptoms of CD significantly predicted non-medical use (OR = 2.10, 95% CI = 1.10, 4.03). ADHD and CD symptoms combined significantly predicted medical (OR = 3.27, 95% CI = 1.20, 8.91), non-medical (OR = 4.73, 95% CI = 1.05, 21.30), and any (OR = 3.02, 95% CI = 1.13, 8.11) prescription opioid use, although a low base rate of non-medical use may have negatively affected model fit.

CONCLUSIONS

Previous findings relating ADHD to opioid use could be explained, in part, by the high rate of comorbidity between ADHD and CD. These data support prevention and treatment programs targeting individuals with comorbid ADHD and CD symptoms.

Factors Associated With Accidental Injuries in Children With ADHD-Combined Type: More Than a Motor Problem?

Objective: We explored the relationship between accidental injuries, motor impairment, and co-occurring autism spectrum disorder (ASD) symptoms in children with ADHD-combined type (ADHD-CT). Method: Participants were 32 male children diagnosed with ADHD-CT and 23 typically developing male children (7-12 years, full scale IQ [FSIQ] > 80). Parents completed a customized questionnaire on the occurrence of accidental injuries (e.g., bruises, cuts) their child experienced in the past 12 months. Motor proficiency was assessed using the Movement ABC-2 (MABC-2). Parents rated motor, ADHD-CT, ASD, and anxiety symptoms. Results: Children with ADHD-CT had significantly increased parent-reported accidental injuries compared with typically developing children. Among children with ADHD-CT, Spearman's rho rank correlations revealed no association between increased accidental injuries and MABC-2 score, but significant associations with increased hyperactivity/impulsivity, ASD, and anxiety symptoms. Conclusion: Although these findings require validation, they suggest a need for further research investigating the contribution of co-occurring ASD and anxiety symptoms to accidental injuries in children with ADHD-CT.

Relationship between otorhinologic trauma and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder symptoms in children

OBJEVTIVES

Otorhinologic trauma is an important condition at the ear, nose and throat (ENT) outpatient clinic in children. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has been identified as a potential risk factor that may contribute to the incidence of traumatic injuries. The aim of the study was to investigate whether there is an association between otorhinologic trauma and ADHD symptoms in children.

METHODS

A prospective study was conducted between September 2017 and March 2018. Fifty-six pediatric patients admitted to the Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) outpatient clinic of a research and training hospital aged between 4 and 18 years were included. The control group consisted of 56 age- and gender-similar children without otorhinologic trauma. Conner's parent Rating Scale (CPRS) was used to evaluate the ADHD symptoms.

RESULTS

The children with otorhinologic trauma had significantly higher mean scores in all subscales, including inattentiveness, hyperactivity, oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) (p < 0.05). Furthermore, analysis of the study group showed that the hyperactivity score in the subgroup with a history of repetitive injuries were significantly higher than those of the subgroup without a history of repetitive injuries (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that patients admitted to the ENT outpatient clinic for otorhinologic trauma had a higher number of ADHD and ODD symptoms than those who did not have otorhinologic trauma. Psychiatric evaluation for ADHD and ODD should be considered for patients admitted to clinics with similar injuries, especially those who have a history of repetitive injuries.

Adult attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, risky behaviors, and motorcycle injuries: a case-control study

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to assess the association of motorcycle traffic injuries with motorcycle riding behavior and subtypes of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) while controlling for individual correlates of motorcycle traffic injuries.

METHODS

A case-control study was carried out in 298 patients with motorcycle trauma along with 151 control patients admitted to the Shohada and Imam Reza university hospitals as the two referral specialty centers in the East Azarbyjan Province of Iran in 2013. The Persian version of the Motorcycle Riding Behavior Questionnaire and the Persian version of Conner's Adult ADHD Rating Scales (the self-report short version) were used to assess riding behavior and screen for adult ADHD, respectively. The scale has four subscales, comprising subscale A (inattention), subscale B (hyperactivity, impulsivity), subscale C (A + C), and subscale D (ADHD index). The statistical analysis was done using Stata version 11.

RESULTS

All subjects were male and aged 13-79 years. Approximately 54% of the participants were married and 13% had academic education. Approximately 18% of the motorcycle riders stated that their motorcycle riding was only for fun purposes. More than two thirds of the participants did not have a motorcycle riding license. Variables found to be significantly associated with motorcycle injuries in bivariate analysis included age, marital status, educational level, having a motorcycle riding license, using a helmet while riding, daily amount of riding, riding just for fun, riding behavior score, and ADHD scale scores. It was found in multivariate analysis that if the ADHD index (subscale D) score was used to assess the association of ADHD with motorcycle injuries, a protective role for ADHD was observed. However, the two other subscales showed a different predictive pattern for subscale A versus subscale B, with only subscale B increasing the likelihood of motorcycle traffic injuries. The score based on motorcycle rider behavior was found to be associated with motorcycle injuries. Other variables that were significant in multivariate models were the purpose of riding, educational level, economic status, and marital status.

CONCLUSION

ADHD and riding behavior scores affect the likelihood of motorcycle traffic injuries among motorcycle riders independent of other injury indicators, and include education, purpose of riding, and economic status.