ADHD in the News 2015-12-15
Study: Brain scans better at detecting ADHD in children
More than six million children in the U.S. have been diagnosed with ADHD, also known as attention deficit hyperactive disorder.Researchers at Yale University say brain scans helped them identify certain patterns that predicted a person's ability to stay focused.
Interactions between attention-grabbing brain networks weak in ADHD
Interactions between three brain networks that help people pay attention are weaker than normal in children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, according to a new study from the Stanford University School of Medicine. The degree of weakness was correlated to the severity of the children’s inattention symptoms, the researchers found.
Assessing ADHD in Preschool Children
Childhood ADHD is a major public health problem with prevalence estimates of over 5 million children in the US alone...An especially alarming trend is the identification of adverse outcomes among preschool children with ADHD. Even when children with ADHD are identified and treated in the preschool years, symptoms and functional difficulties continue throughout the elementary school years.
Sharp rise in ADHD diagnoses in girls challenges myth that the condition is mostly a boy thing
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder is often thought of a boy thing...A study published in The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry on Tuesday shows a surprising 55 percent increase in prevalence of diagnoses among girls — from 4.7 percent to 7.3 percent from 2003 to 2011.
ADHD Cases in Hispanic Kids Increase by 83% [Medication, Treatments & Diagnosis]
ADHD cases in Hispanic children have risen by as much as 83 percent in the past decade, a recent report has said. The increase in the number was reported by a new study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychology. It was reported by Fox News Latino that between 2003 and 2011, the number of Hispanic children aged 5 to 17 diagnosed with ADHD increased from 4.2 percent to 7.7 percent. This is the largest reported increase of any racial or ethnic group.
Abuse of Prescription Painkillers, Stimulants Ups Sexual Risks for Teens
Teens who use abuse prescription drugs such as narcotic painkillers are more likely to have sex or to participate in risky sexual behaviors, a new study suggests...The study looked at a variety of prescription drugs that might be used recreationally by teens. These included the prescription painkillers Oxycontin, Vicodin, Percocet or codeine; sedatives such as Xanax or Ativan; or stimulant drugs used to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), such as Adderall or Ritalin.
A different perspective on why prescriptions of ADHD drugs have soared
Media reports on the subject have often adopted a position of over diagnosis and over prescribing but the evidence does not stack up. UK health watchdog the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence estimates that ADHD affects 5% of the childhood population, yet diagnostic prevalence fluctuates between 3% and 5% depending on which part of the UK you live, and prescribing rates differ significantly across England and Wales.
Maternal exposure to anti-depressant SSRIs linked to autism in children
A new study provides some of the strongest evidence yet that using an antidepressant like Prozac, Paxil or Zoloft during the final two trimesters of pregnancy may be linked to a higher risk of autism spectrum disorder for the child...The JAMA Pedatrics research adds to the growing number of studies about antidepressant and developmental delays, autism or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) — but the picture is far from clear as the results have been mixed.