Editorial. Stimulant medications have been used to treat symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) for over 80 years, longer than the use of antibiotics to treat infection (1). Based on data from over 6 million individuals in an insurance database, the 2008 annual prevalence for filled stimulant prescriptions was found to be 4.6% for children ages 6–12 years, 3.7% for adolescents (13–18 years), and 1.6% for young adults (19–24 years) (2). These figures are in line with data from other studies (3) and are below the estimated 7% 1-year prevalence of childhood ADHD (4). The short-term efficacy of stimulants in ADHD is well established (5), yet despite eight decades of clinical use, there continues to be angst over it. Reviews call attention to the fact that there have been no long-term studies of stimulant use beyond 1 year (6), and this fact is often brought up by the lay media in discussions of the treatment of ADHD (7).. To read the full article, log in using your MPFT NHS OpenAthens details.
The comparative efficacy and tolerability of methylphenidate (MPH) and neurofeedback (NF) in individuals with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) remains uncertain. This study aimed to fill this gap by means of a systematic review/meta-analysis.. To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details.
Editorial. In this issue, results from the attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) section of the ENIGMA (Enhanced Neuroimaging Genetics Through Meta-Analysis) consortium are reported for cortical measures (1), complementing an earlier report of intracranial volume and subcortical structures (2). Combining data from 36 sites, these reports represent the largest-sample ADHD neuroimaging studies to date (2,246 individuals with ADHD and 1,934 control subjects).. Login at top right hand side of page using your MPFT NHS OpenAthens for full text.
ADHD persists into old age, with prevalence rates of 2.8 to 3.3% in adults over 60 years of age. Most diagnostic assessment tools are not validated for older adults. The Quantified behavioral Test (QbTest) is an objective assessment for the core symptoms of ADHD, and is validated for children and younger adults. We investigated whether the QbTest can be used to differentiate between older adults with ADHD and healthy controls.. To read the full article, log in using your NHS Athens details. To access full-text: click “Log in/Register” (top right hand side). Click ‘Institutional Login’ then select 'OpenAthens Federation', then ‘NHS England’. Enter your Athens details to view the article.
Chris Hollis and colleagues' Article1 in The Lancet Psychiatry has many strengths. It addresses an important clinical question: does methylphenidate treatment for ADHD increase the risk of psychosis in patients with and without previous psychotic symptoms. Hollis and colleagues used Swedish national registers to review a large number (n=23 898) of health records, to examine the incidence of psychotic symptoms 12 weeks before, 12 weeks after, and 1 year after starting medication treatment, with a longitudinal within-subject study design. Their results indicated that methylphenidate treatment for ADHD does not increase psychotic symptoms in the short-term or long-term in patients with and without previous psychosis. There is some suggestion in their study that methylphenidate might, in fact, decrease the risk of a psychotic episode, particularly in patients with a history of psychosis. The findings of their study should therefore be reassuring to clinicians. However, as the authors themselves point out, the study has several limitations that could affect the reassuring message.. Please contact the library to request a copy of this article - http://bit.ly/2HjNDf3
There is a clinical concern that prescribing methylphenidate, the most common pharmacological treatment for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), might increase the risk of psychotic events, particularly in young people with a history of psychosis. We aimed to determine whether the risk of psychotic events increases immediately after initiation of methylphenidate treatment or, in the longer term, 1 year after treatment initiation in adolescents and young adults with and without a previously diagnosed psychotic disorder.. Please contact the library to request a copy of this article - http://bit.ly/2HjNDf3
Samuele Cortese on psychosis ADHD, a recent study that looks at the comparative risk of psychosis during treatment with methylphenidate and amphetamines.
Neuropsychology (May 16, 2019). DOI:10.1037/neu0000562
Objective: Deficits in the ability to perceive time have been proposed as an etiologic mechanism in the development of the cognitive and behavioral characteristics associated with ADHD. However, previous studies testing the presence of timing deficits have produced idiosyncratic results. This is in large part due to the underutilization of insights from basic timing research, and from the inherent difficulty that arises when a single index of performance (i.e., reaction time [RT] or accuracy) is used to index the health of what is essentially a multiple-component process. The current article utilizes a diffusion model approach to isolate the component processes involved in timing (i.e., internal clock speed, decision-making speed, speed/accuracy trade-off strategies, and nondecision time) using a well-validated timing task.. To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details.
Open access. Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism are increasingly recognised in adults. For a diagnostic evaluation, parental information on childhood development is needed. However, no instruments that retrospectively describe neurodevelopmental problems in childhood are validated for evaluating adults. The 181-item parent-report questionnaire Five to Fifteen (FTF) is nevertheless frequently used for assessments in adulthood.
The benefits of long-term use of methylphenidate treatment in children and adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), as frequently prescribed in clinical practice, are unclear. The authors investigated whether methylphenidate remains beneficial after 2 years of use.. Login at top right hand side of page using your MPFT NHS OpenAthens for full text.
Living with ADHD can be very difficult for children and young people, as well as their families. Stephanie Thornton provides an overview of the condition and offers advice to help support them in the school environment. To read the full article, log in using your MPFT NHS OpenAthens details.
Altered neural connectivity in neurodevelopmental disorders is likely subtle, meaning that neuroimaging literature studying development has produced heterogeneous findings. A recent study, published in this issue, illustrates the translational potential of functional connectivity magnetic resonance imaging findings as a biomarker for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism spectrum disorder. Importantly, it highlights the overlap between disorders, emphasising the need for transdiagnostic and dimensional approaches in neurodevelopment.. To read the full article, log in using your MPFT NHS OpenAthens details.
Neuroimaging studies show structural alterations of various brain regions in children and adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), although nonreplications are frequent. The authors sought to identify cortical characteristics related to ADHD using large-scale studies.. Login at top right hand side of page using your MPFT NHS OpenAthens for full text.
Learning disabilities (LD) and attention‐deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are often accompanied by significant socio‐emotional impairments and mental health challenges. However, there is a lack of controlled, quantitative research on potential interventions to address this issue. The current study evaluated the impact of a near‐peer mentoring program for youth with LD/ADHD designed to promote socio‐emotional well‐being.. To read the full article, log in using your NHS Athens details. To access full-text: click “Log in/Register” (top right hand side). Click ‘Institutional Login’ then select 'OpenAthens Federation', then ‘NHS England’. Enter your Athens details to view the article.
Adults with a history of childhood attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and Black drinkers are at elevated risk for alcohol problems and alcohol use disorder. Processes that increase risk for these distinct populations have not focused on in‐the‐moment behaviors that occur while drinking. The present study examined in‐the‐moment drinking characteristics (i.e., location, social context, day, time, drink type, speed of consumption) that may differ for individuals with and without ADHD histories or for Black and White drinkers. We also examined the interplay among these in‐the‐moment drinking characteristics to further understanding of contexts when risk may be momentarily increased.. To read the full article, log in using your NHS Athens details. To access full-text: click “Log in/Register” (top right hand side). Click ‘Institutional Login’ then select 'OpenAthens Federation', then ‘NHS England’. Enter your Athens details to view the article.
This study is not particularly persuasive.
The overall difference between children using screens for more than 2 hours or less than 30 minutes was tiny: only a 2.2 score difference in their attention problem scores.
Though the children using screens for more than 2 hours had a higher risk of clinically significant attention problems or significant ADHD symptoms, these problems only affected around 1% of the whole study sample. So these are very small numbers