ADHD in the News 2021-05-13
ADHD Meds Can Help Preschoolers, But Effects Vary
Parents of preschoolers with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may be advised to give their child medication to help them concentrate, sit still and/or control impulsive behaviors. A new study comparing two classes of medications might help them arrive at a decision...The new study, which appears in the May 4 issue of Journal of the American Medical Association, is said to be the first to compare the two classes of ADHD drugs in preschoolers. The drugs target different brain chemicals.
Amphetamine Patch Succeeds Among Kids With ADHD
A transdermal amphetamine therapy was effective at treating pediatric ADHD, according to a phase II trial. In a two-part study, children with attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) using the dextroamphetamine transdermal system (d-ATS) saw a significant improvement in symptoms in a laboratory classroom setting, as measured by the SKAMP (Swanson, Kotkin, Agler, M-Flynn, and Pelham) total score compared with placebo (least-squares mean difference -5.87, 95% CI -6.76 to -4.97, P<0.001), reported Andrew J. Cutler, MD, of SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse in New York, and colleagues.
Study: Massachusetts Leads In Stimulant Prescriptions
A federal agency review of prescription drug monitoring programs finds that Massachusetts has the highest rate of prescriptions for stimulants among 26 representative states, including medications to treat ADHD such as Adderall, Ritalin and Concerta. John Eadie, who tracks drug prescriptions as part of the national High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program, presented the data during a state legislative hearing Tuesday to address concerns about the rising use of illegal stimulants such as cocaine and methamphetamines.
Alcohol, Tobacco Use During Lactation Not Linked to ADHD
While there is a known link between prenatal alcohol and tobacco use with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD), according to research published in Springer Link, there is no known association with substance use during lactation.
Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus Linked to Increase in ADHD Risk
In data presented during the 2021 American Psychiatry Association’s (APA) Annual Meeting, a team led by Jatminderpal Bhela, MD, Windsor University School of Medicine, explored whether or not type 1 diabetes mellitus increases the risk of ADHD in pediatric patients. The researchers conducted an advanced literature search following MOOSE guidelines and identified 2300 observational studies conducted on comparing the prevalence of ADHD in adolescents with or without type 1 diabetes mellitus between December 2019 and April 2020.
ADHD Presents in Different Forms Which Scientists Still Can’t Fully Explain
"Growing evidence from [brain imaging] studies may help better reconceptualize ADHD by linking brain-based features with improved clinical care models and treatment outcomes," writes psychologist Jacqueline Saad and colleagues in their new paper, published in PLOS One. This latest study, which looked at white matter parts of the brain, didn't observe any structural differences associated with ADHD. This is not a setback as the findings represent a sustained effort from researchers to recognize and understand brain features underpinning ADHD.
Researchers Look to Improve Transition to Adult Health Care Services
A major issue in psychiatry remains a lack of continuity of care when young adults with neurodevelopmental conditions transition from pediatric to adult health care service due to a lack planning, consistency, availability of adult’s services and information about transitioning to adult care.
Subtle Differences in Adult ADHD Compared to Pediatric ADHD
A team, led by Kaveer Greywal, MD, Department of Psychiatry, New Bridge Medical Center, reviewed various differences between adult and pediatric ADHD in a poster presented at the 2021 American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting...“Adults with ADHD tend to display far more emotional dysregulation,” the authors wrote. “There is a high correlation of anxiety and depressive mood disorders with adult ADHD.”
Late-breaking news on trajectory of ADHD remission headlines world conference
Most patients will not make a full recovery from attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in adulthood. This late-breaking finding headlined the World Congress on ADHD – Virtual Event. Held under the specter of SARS-CoV-2, the virtual program delved into the latest research on ADHD pathophysiology, imaging, genetics, and issues on medical and psychiatric comorbidities. However, one of the conference’s highlights was a piece of unpublished work on remission patterns by Margaret Sibley, PhD, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the University of Washington, Seattle.
Uncertainty Intolerance Higher in Outpatients with ADHD
Adult psychiatric outpatients with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) had higher levels of uncertainty intolerance compared with outpatients without ADHD, according to a poster presented at the virtual 2021 American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting.
Higher ADHD Treatment Adherence Rates Linked to Text Message Intervention
A team, led by Joseph Biederman, MD, Massachusetts General Hospital, examined if text message reminders could be effective in adherence to ADHD stimulant medications in both children and adults. The findings were presented at the American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting.