The reliability and validity of the Aggregate Neurobehavioral Student Health and Educational Review parent's questionnaire (ANSER-PQ)

Assessment for familial pattern and association of polymorphisms in KIAA0319 gene with specific reading disorder in children from North India visiting a tertiary care centre: A case-control study

Genetic association studies have identified KIAA0319 gene as a possible susceptibility locus for reading disorder; however, very few studies are available from India. The study was planned to investigate the familial pattern and association of KIAA0319 polymorphisms among children with reading disorder visiting a tertiary centre in North India. This is a case-control, familial, and genetic association study on 30 children diagnosed with reading disorder (ICD-10) and 30 matched healthy controls and their families. The Aggregate Neurobehavioral Student Health and Educational Review System was administered on parents of probands and controls for reading problems in their siblings, and Adult Reading Questionnaire was administered for parents of both groups. The blood sample was taken from probands, and DNA was isolated. Four KIAA0319 coding sequence single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs; rs4504469, rs6935076, rs2038137, and rs2179515) were genotyped using SNaPshot single nucleotide extension. The incidence of reading problem was significantly higher in families of probands as compared with families of controls. There were no significant differences in both groups regarding the frequency of alleles of four SNPs. The reading disorder showed a significant familial pattern, but KIAA0319 gene did not appear to be a susceptibility factor. Future replications with larger samples and whole genome studies are warranted.

The Short-Term Placebo Response in Children With Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

To assess short-term placebo response in 6- to 13-year-old children with ADHD, children who were administered a double-blind placebo-methylphenidate trial, 1 week each, were included in the analysis. Conners' parents and Teacher Rating scales, the Aggregate Neurobehavioral Student Health and Educational Review inventory, and the Matching Familiar Figure Test were employed. A reduction of 30% or more in one or more of the teachers report subscales was observed in 18.8% of the participants. Attention test performance resulted in 58% of children exhibiting reduction in error rates and 36.2% exhibited longer latency period. Significant correlations between placebo response and methylphenidate response in all of the teachers report subscales were found. Base line severity, learning problem and emotional status were found associated with placebo response. Short-term placebo response should be accounted for in children with ADHD.

Familial study of attentional and behavioural problems in children with Dyslexia and their first-degree relatives in Indian setting

BACKGROUND

Dyslexia is one of the common problems seen in children worldwide. There is high co-morbidity of dyslexia with attentional and behaviour problems which could have familial pattern. This study aims to compare the attentional and behavioural problems in children with dyslexia and their first-degree relatives with controls.

METHODS

This is a cross-sectional comparative study with single interview method in an out-patient setting. Formally diagnosed (ICD-10) cases of 30 children with specific reading disorder and 30 healthy matched controls and their first-degree relatives were assessed using scales in a single setting after application of inclusion and exclusion criteria.

RESULTS

The children with dyslexia had significantly more problems in the domains of selective attention and behavioural problems as compared to controls and the siblings of the cases had significant problems in selective attention but not in behavioural problems. Also, no difference was seen in ADHD symptoms of parents in cases and controls.

CONCLUSION

The results from our study are keeping with most of the published literature. We expect that this study will help in laying a good foundation for further studies with stronger methodologies incorporating molecular genetics.