Obese Mothers May Be More Likely To Have Anxious Children

A new study has found a link between a high-fat diet in pregnant primates and brain development problems in their offspring, and suggests that the same may be true for humans. Although the research is preliminary, it could have important implications considering the high rate of obesity in American women.

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The Silver Lining in the ADHD Cloud

While some may aim for complete focus as a target, recent studies show that your brain can only take so much unfocus. To that extent, after adequate control of symptoms is achieved, it may make sense to leverage the symptoms of unfocus by developing the following lifestyle habits. Each will likely have a distinct advantage…

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Research Note: Irritability and ADHD medications

A team at Yale analyzed 32 studies and compared the side effects of two different classes of ADHD medications – methylphenidates, such as Ritalin, and amphetamine derivatives, such as Adderall…The team found that only amphetamine-derived medications were associated with an increase in irritability. Methylphenidates were not.

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FDA approves NDA for generic extended-release Concerta

Impax Laboratories recently announced receipt of an AB therapeutic equivalent rating and final FDA approval for its abbreviated New Drug Application for a generic version of extended-release Concerta for ADHD. The approved New Drug Application (NDA) is for 18-mg, 27-mg, 36-mg and 54-mg extended-release tablets of generic Concerta (methylphenidate hydrochloride).

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Exclusion from school can trigger long-term psychiatric illness

Excluding children from school may lead to long- term psychiatric problems and psychological distress, a study of thousands of children has shown. Research by the University of Exeter, published in the journal Psychological Medicine this month, found that a new onset mental disorder may be a consequence of exclusion from school. The study also found…

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Adderall might improve your test scores – but so could a placebo

Students who take Adderall to improve their test scores may get a slight benefit, but it’s mainly a placebo effect…Rachel Fargason, a psychiatrist at the University of Alabama, Birmingham, says the idea of stimulants as cognitive enhancers didn’t tally with her experience of patients who were diagnosed incorrectly…To investigate further, Fargason’s team set up a…

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Is my teen with ADHD ready to drive?

How should families best manage this risk? To start, they need to determine whether their child is ready to drive, spend extra time in a wide variety of setting during practice driving, and set clear rules (and monitor compliance) to keep them safe after the learner permit phase when driving without parent supervision. Unfortunately, the…

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Why Kids With Pets Are Better Off

But is it generally true that pets are linked to the psychological well-being of children? Yes, according to an excellent review of 22 studies of the impact of companion animals on child development. While some of the findings are mixed, the authors concluded that growing up with pets is linked to better self-esteem, cognitive development,…

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Executive Functioning and ADHD: What Parents Should Know

Parents of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder undoubtedly come across a variety of phrases pertaining to the disorder – “executive functioning” among them. However, sifting through the deluge of information can be overwhelming. What exactly does executive functioning mean, and what are some ways parents can help children cope with related challenges?

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