Body Mass Index Changes in Children and Adolescents Treated with Methylphenidate for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Objectives

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and obesity are major pediatric public health problems. The present study aimed to examine the association between these two health parties in our pediatric populations.

Materials & Methods

This study is a single group retrospective cohort study about Body Mass Index (BMI) changes in 149 children and adolescents between 3-18 years old with a diagnosis of ADHD based on one child and adolescent psychiatrist interview according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 4th edition criteria (DSM-IV-TR). All participants were treated with methylphenidate. Besides, they were reassessed by the Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia-Present and Lifetime Persian version (K-SADS-PL-P). Furthermore, the height, weight, and BMI of participants were calculated. The data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, repeated measures, and Wilks' lambda analysis using IBM SPSS Statistics version 23.

Results

The mean age of patients was 8.2±2.6 years, and 71.8% were boys. The obtained results showed that those treated with methylphenidate for more extended periods had higher BMI increases (p <0.001). The change in BMI was not related to the age at the start of treatment (p = 0.125), but this index was significantly different based on the years under treatment (p = 0.002). Moreover, changes in BMI were not significant based on gender (p = 0.850), the type of ADHD specifiers (p= 0.686), and concomitant drugs (p = 0.783).

Conclusion

This study's findings suggest that long-term use of ADHD medications could raise the risk of obesity in children.

Prevalence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in an adult mental health service in the Republic of Ireland

OBJECTIVE

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is well recognised in childhood. However, recognition that it commonly persists into adulthood is relatively recent. This study is the 2nd phase of a two-phase epidemiological investigation of the prevalence of adult ADHD in outpatients in Ireland.

METHOD

In phase-1, 634 participants were screened with Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS) and Wender Utah Rating Scale (WURS). Those scoring positive in both scales have been invited to participate in the 2nd phase where the scales Conners' Adult ADHD Diagnostic Interview (CAADID), Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI), and Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) were administered, plus clinical evaluation based in DSM-5.

RESULTS

131 were eligible, 110 participated (84.0%). Using the CAADID (DSM-IV criteria) 71 were diagnosed with ADHD. Projecting to the total sample (N = 634) the prevalence was 13.25%, CI:95%:10.71-16.14. Converting the DSM-IV criteria to DSM-5, 89 had ADHD (prevalence:16.72%, CI: 13.9-19.86). Using clinical evaluation, 86 were diagnosed with ADHD (prevalence:16.09%, CI:13.31-19.18). Only 3 cases were diagnosed before with ADHD. Comorbidity was higher in those with ADHD, with the median number of additional diagnoses 2 (min 0 max 8, IQR 3) Also, they had significantly higher rates of depression and recurred depression. Agreement between DSM-IV and DSM-5 was high (rho = 0.90, p < .0001).

CONCLUSIONS

High rates of undiagnosed ADHD were found to be present among AMHS attendees. Clinicians in AMHS need to be knowledgeable and alert to possible ADHD among their caseloads, and offer appropriate intervention. Interventions are urgently required to increase the detection and treatment of adult ADHD.

Comparison of cognitive flexibility, appropriate risk-taking and reaction time in individuals with and without adult ADHD

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a developmental and psychiatric disorder that affects different aspects of an individual life, such as cognitive functions. ADHD comprise a complex symptomatology such as cognitive flexibility and inappropriate risk-taking. We aimed to compare cognitive flexibility and appropriate risk-taking of adults with and without ADHD. For this purpose, the Conners' Adult ADHD Rating Scale (CAARS) was used to screen 580 students of Tehran University in Iran. Forty participants who scored highest in CAARS were invited to have a clinical interview with a trained psychiatrist. The diagnosis was made based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), using the Wender Utah Rating Scale (WURS). Finally, thirty individuals were diagnosed with ADHD. Meanwhile, the 30 students with the lowest scores on the CAARS and General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) were included as the control group. The two groups then were compared using the Cognitive Flexibility Inventory (CFI) and the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT). The results of the one-way ANOVA indicated that scores of case group in the components of cognitive flexibility were significantly lower in the patients compared to the control group. Also, the ADHD group had lower scores concerning appropriate risk-taking and had a shorter reaction time. Findings of the current study might help to open further avenues in the rehabilitation of cognitive flexibility and controlling reward-seeking and risk-seeking impulses.

Psychiatric disorders in children and adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic

INTRODUCTION

The Covid-19 pandemic has generated an unprecedented multimodal (health, occupational, economic, and social crisis, which will impact developing countries. Confinement as a preventive measure is itself a threat that produces a social impact. Pandemic and confinement have become a psychosocial adversity factor that affects families and their children. During the pandemic, children and adolescents with a psychiatric disorder may experience exacerbation of their symptoms. However, little is known about this, since studies on this population during the pandemic are scarce.

OBJECTIVE

To review the data available in the current literature on the effect of the pandemic on children and adolescents with a previous psychiatric disorder.

METHODS

A literature search was carried out using PubMed, Scielo and, due to the exceptional conditions of the pandemic situation, directly using internet search engines. Both English and Spanish papers were included.

RESULTS

The information found is presented in the following sections: family and children during the pandemic, evaluation of mental disorders in children and young people during the pandemic, pre-existing psychiatric disorders during the pandemic, and telepsychiatric care. Specific information is presented on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, anxiety disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder. The current pandemic due to COVID-19 and confinement are a psychosocial adversity that threatens the stability of the family. Such a stressor can cause exacerbation of symptoms of a previous mental disorder. Children and adolescents with psychiatric disorders are a vulnerable population and require specialised care. Telepsychiatry is becoming a modality with multiple advantages.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Presentations to The Child and Adolescent Mental Health Urgent Consult Clinic

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the present study is to compare and contrast demographic and clinical characteristics of patients diagnosed with and without ADHD referred to the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Urgent Consult Clinic (CAMHUCC) in order to identify any differences between the patient groups and potentially improve care of these patients in the community.

METHODS

This is retrospective cohort study of all children and adolescents, who were referred to the CAMHUCC between 2012 and 2014. Using data routinely collected at the clinic, individuals with ADHD were compared to individuals without ADHD. Data analysis was conducted using frequencies, percentages, means and standard deviations to describe participant demographic and clinical information, and comparisons between individuals with and without ADHD was made using Mann-Whitney U statistics.

RESULTS

Of the 803 urgent assessments at the clinic, 367 (45.7%) were diagnosed with ADHD. Individuals with ADHD were statistically significantly more likely to be younger, male, referred for aggression, and not living with both parents. Individuals with ADHD were also more likely to be referred for follow-up than those without ADHD, and were more likely to have had at least one previous admission to the CAMHUCC.

CONCLUSIONS

Individuals with ADHD account for a significant proportion of child and adolescent presentations to CAMHUCC. Provision of urgent psychiatric care to young people with ADHD represents a significant utilization of resources on health care in terms of initial assessment, higher rates of follow up care, need for risk assessment and referral to CMHA.

The relationship between attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, bipolarity and mixed features in major depressive patients: Evidence from the BRIDGE-II-Mix Study

OBJECTIVE

This study primarily focused on the relationship between comorbid attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), mixed features and bipolarity in major depressive patients.

METHODS

The sample comprised 2777 patients with Major Depressive Episode (MDE) enrolled in a multicentre, multinational study originally designed to assess different definitions of mixed depression. Socio-demographic, familial and clinical characteristics were compared in patients with (ADHD + ) and without (ADHD-) comorbid ADHD.

RESULTS

Sixty-one patients (2.2%) met criteria for ADHD. ADHD was associated with a higher number of (hypo)manic symptoms during depression. Mixed depression was more represented in ADHD + patients than in ADHD- using both DSM-5 and experimental criteria. Differences were maintained after removing overlapping symptoms between (hypo)mania and ADHD. ADHD in MDE was also associated with a variety of clinical and course features such as onset before the age of 20, first-degree family history of (hypo)mania, past history of antidepressant-induced (hypo)manic switches, higher number of depressive and affective episodes, atypical depressive features, higher rates of bipolarity specifier, psychiatric comorbidities with eating, anxiety and borderline personality disorders.

LIMITATIONS

The study was primarily designed to address mixed features in ADHD, with slightly reduced sensitivity to the diagnosis of ADHD. Other possible diagnostic biases due to heterogeneity of participating clinicians.

CONCLUSIONS

In a sample of major depressive patients, the comorbid diagnosis of current ADHD is associated with bipolar diathesis, mixed features, multiple psychiatric comorbidity and a more unstable course. Further prospective studies are necessary to confirm the possible mediating role of temperamental mood instability and emotional dysregulation in such a complex clinical presentation.

Predicting Substance Use Disorder in ADHD Patients using Long-Short Term Memory Model

About 20% of individuals with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are first diagnosed during adolescence. While preclinical experiments suggest that adolescent-onset exposure to ADHD medication is an important factor in the development of substance use disorder (SUD) phenotypes in adulthood, the long-term impact of ADHD medication initiated during adolescence has been largely unexplored in humans. Our analysis of 11,624 adolescent ADHD patients in the Truven database indicates that temporal medication features are the important factors on the health consequences related to SUD and ADHD medication initiation during adolescence.

Association Between Adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Helmet Use Among Motorcycle Riders

Background

Use of helmets plays a major role in preventing injuries or decreasing injury severity among motorcycle riders. Use of helmets may depend on personal factors such as psychological factors.

Objectives

The aim of this study was to independently assess the association between helmet use among motorcycle riders and ADHD scores, with controlling the accident history and was taken more sensitive measures if helmet use was different between motorcycle riders, according to their ADHD scores.

Patients and Methods

A cross-sectional study was done on 205 motorcycle riders referred to Kerman Referral Injury Hospital after a motorcycle traffic accident. Friends and family members possessing motorcycles who visited the patient in this facility were included in our sample. The Persian version of the Conner’s Adult ADHD Rating Scale (CAARS) self-report (screening version) was used in order to screen for adult ADHD. CAARS scores were compared between those who usually used helmets and those who did not.

Results

Univariable analysis showed the mean of the age variable was significantly higher in the helmeted group, 26.94 ± 7.72 vs. 23.08 ± 7.7.32, (P < 0.001). The majority of the non-helmeted group was single (P < 0.001). Subjects with secondary educational level were more often in the helmeted group (P = 0.007). Daily and weekly driving hours were higher in the non-helmeted group (P = 0.002 and P = 0.004). Most of the subjects in the helmeted group had a driving license in comparison with the other group (P < 0.001). There was not a significant association between SES and having hyperactive children and helmet use (P = 0.159). In all ADHD subscales, a significant association was found and scores were higher in the non-helmeted group (P < 0.05). Nevertheless, multivariable analysis did not confirm the association of the ADHD screening score with helmet use.

Conclusions

The result of this study did not find an independent association between ADHD and helmet use.