This thesis presents two manuscripts on motor control in ADHD. The first is a literature review that identifies fine motor control and postural stability as areas of robust abnormality in ADHD. Further, the review suggests that motor performance in adolescence has been understudied, and reveals a paucity of data on sex differences. The second study is an empirical assessment of postural control and fine motor skills in an adolescent ADHD sample, which investigated potential sex differences. This latter study revealed that males with ADHD were especially impaired on fine motor tasks, whereas females with the disorder were particularly impaired on tasks of postural stability. Deficits were most prominent under conditions where visual information was removed, across genders. It is unclear whether motor performance deficits are central features of ADHD or instead artifacts of overlap with Developmental Coordination Disorder and other psychiatric comorbidities.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Toronto, 2004. / Adviser: Joanne Rovet.

Thesis (doctoral)--Göteborg universitet, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Au.D.)--James Madison University, 2010. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Au.D.)--James Madison University, 2010. / Includes bibliographical references.

No description available.

O transtorno do déficit de atenção e hiperatividade (TDAH) é um transtorno do neurodesenvolvimento e sua prevalência na vida adulta é em torno de 2,5%. O tratamento farmacológico, apesar de efetivo, possui importantes limitações, justificando a busca por outras estratégias terapêuticas. A estimulação elétrica transcraniana (EETC) é uma técnica não invasiva de neuroestimulação que tem apresentado resultados promissores em melhorar o desempenho cognitivo em vários distúrbios neuropsiquiátricos, no entanto, poucos estudos avaliaram a sua eficácia e tolerabilidade no TDAH. Foi realizado um ensaio clínico randomizado, duplo-cego e controlado, com estimulação falsa para avaliar a eficácia da EETC nos sintomas de TDAH. Dezessete adultos com TDAH foram randomizados em dois grupos, nove receberam EETC verdadeira e oito, falsa. No grupo da EETC verdadeira foi aplicada estimulação com intensidade de corrente de 2 mA, durante 20 minutos, em cinco dias consecutivos. O ânodo foi posicionado sobre o córtex pré-frontal dorsolateral (CPFDL) direito e o cátodo sobre o CPFDL esquerdo. O grupo controle recebeu estimulação falsa durante o mesmo período. Os sintomas do TDAH foram mensurados por meio da escala Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS) e a incapacidade com a escala Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS). As duas escalas foram aplicadas nos seguintes momentos: antes de iniciar (t0) as estimulações, ao final do protocolo (t1) e uma (t2), duas (t3) e quatro semanas (t4) após a intervenção. Observamos redução, estatisticamente significativa, na pontuação das escalas ASRS desatenção (p = 0,02) e SDS (p = 0,04) entre t0 e t1 após a intervenção em comparação ao grupo controle. Na ASRS total também observamos essa tendência, mas não se mostrou estatisticamente significativa (p = 0,07). Ampliando a análise dos dados observamos interação positiva entre tempo e tratamento na pontuação da ASRS total (p = 0,003), ASRS desatenção (p = 0,0001) e SDS (p = 0,001). Os dados deste estudo apontam que a EETC é eficaz para melhorar a atenção em adultos com TDAH. Contudo, mais pesquisas são necessárias para avaliar a eficácia clínica da ETCC nessa população. / Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder with 2,5% prevalence in adulthood. Pharmacological treatment, although effective, has important limitations, justifying the search for other therapeutic strategies. Transcranial direct-current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive neurostimulation technique which has show promising results to improve cognitive performance in several neuropsychiatric disorders, nonetheless few studies have evaluated their efficacy and tolerability in ADHD. A randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled trial was conducted to examine the efficacy of tDCS on ADHD symptoms. in adults with ADHD. Seventeen adults with ADHD were randomized into two groups, nine received active EETC eight, false. In the active group was applied EETC with 2mA current intensity, for 20 minutes, in five consecutive days. Anode was positioned on the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and cathode over the left DLPFC. Control group received false stimulation during the same period. ADHD symptoms were measured using the scale Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS) and the disability with Sheehan Disability Scale Scale (SDS). Both scales were applied at the following times: before starting the stimulation, the end of the protocol, and one, two and four weeks after the intervention. Subjects in the active group achieved significant reduction in ASRS inattention (p = 0,02) and SDS (p = 0,04) scores after intervention compared to control group. At ASRS total score was also observed this trend, without statistical significance (p = 0.07). Extending data analysis shows there are positive interaction between time and treatment on ASRS total score (p = 0,003), ASRS inattention (p = 0,0001) and SDS (p = 0,001). These data indicate that tDCS is effective to improving attention in adults with ADHD. However, further research is needed to assess the clinical efficacy of tDCS in this population.

The diploma thesis concerning "Experience leisure educators at convalescent events with children with ADHD syndrome" is of a theoretical and empirical character. The theoretical part deals with convalescent actions, i.e. legislation, organization and skills and competencies of recreational activities staff. There are also described ADHD syndrome, its symptoms in children and discussed the educational approaches suitable to work with children with ADHD syndrome during convalescent events. The aim of the empirical part is to describe the experience of free time educators with the integration of child with ADHD syndrome who is participating in convalescent event. Empirical part is divided into two parts. The first part consists of preliminary research implemented by questionnaire. The results of the survey are followed by the second part, which is based on structured interviews with selected educators of free time activities. Interview questions are focused on the current practice of leisure educators, the conditions of ADHD syndrome children's integration to recreational activities, educational approaches and benefits of this integration.

The aim of my dissertation is to map parents´ life who have children with the ADHD syndrome. This presented dissertation consists of the theoretical and practical part. In the theoretical part I am dealing with ADHD syndrome, his definition, characteristics, causes of origin, diagnostics, then I mention difficulties which are connected to ADHD syndrome and his presence in population. Then in chapter Child with ADHD I focus on particularities of its evolution, then I describe the sense and role of the child´s family. The important part is the upbringing ADHD children and, also suitable attitudes for them. I am also dealing with parents who have ADHD child and their potential difficulties, which they can be faced. The last chapter is ADHD Child in the school, where I describe the sense of the teacher for ADHD child and how relations the family and the school have, possibilities how to help, support for parents and their ADHD children. The qualitative method which means interview was chosen for this research. The content of the practical part is to analyse and make dialogues with the parents of ADHD children with the aim to answer on given research questions and to fulfil the aim of my dissertation. Interviews was realised with four respondents. With one of them there was also respondent´s husband. The respondents´ children´s age was from 6 to 12 years, 3 boys and 1 girl. Interviews were rewritten word to word by direct transcription towards written form and subsequently were elaborated by open coding with the subsequent setting cards. Respondents described similar characteristics their children with ADHD as hyperactivity, inattentiveness, impulsiveness and madness. Also they agreed that child´s ADHD negatively influenced the relationship with their partners.

Introdução O Transtorno de Déficit de Atenção/Hiperatividade (TDAH) está associado a um significativo impacto negativo em diferentes esferas da vida dos pacientes e de seus familiares. O tratamento medicamentoso com metilfenidato (MFD), embora reduza os prejuízos associados ao transtorno, não é universalmente eficaz. Existem poucos estudos sobre fatores preditores de resposta ao MFD e a maior parte das informações origina-se de uma única amostra. Objetivos O presente estudo tem por objetivo avaliar fatores preditores de resposta ao tratamento com MFD em crianças e adolescentes com TDAH. Especificamente, foram estudados fatores clínicos, demográficos, funcionamento familiar, psicopatologia parental e fatores ambientais adversos. Métodos Este é um estudo longitudinal com um design de quase-experimento. Crianças e adolescentes com TDAH e indicação primária de MFD foram tratadas e acompanhadas por 6 meses por psiquiatras da infância e adolescência. Foi utilizado MFD em doses otimizadas até o máximo de efeito ou o surgimento de efeitos colaterais limitantes. A eficácia foi avaliada pelas escalas SNAP-IV e CGI-G, preenchidas pelos pais e pelo médico, respectivamente. Os fatores preditores avaliados pertencem a três dimensões: clínica e demográfica, características familiares (psicopatologia parental e funcionamento familiar) e fatores de adversidade psicossocial. O funcionamento familiar foi avaliado através da escala FES; a avaliação de psicopatologia parental foi realizada através da entrevista diagnóstica SCID-IV, da escala ASRS e de avaliação de sintomas de psicopatia. Os fatores de adversidade psicossocial foram derivados dos Indicadores de Adversidade de Rutter. A análise estatística foi realizada através dos testes do 2 ou teste exato de Fisher (para variáveis categóricas) e teste t de Student (para variáveis contínuas). Foram desenvolvidos modelos multivariados para avaliação dos fatores preditores de resposta através de modelos de efeitos mistos. Resultados Foram incluídos 125 pacientes nas análises. Nas análises univariadas, menor idade (p=0,01), subtipo combinado de TDAH (TDAH-C) (p<0,001), comorbidade com Transtorno de Conduta (TC) (p=0,03) e Transtorno de Oposição e Desafio (TOD) (p<0,001) foram associados a pior desfecho. No funcionamento familiar, as dimensões de organização (p=<0,001) e coesão (p=0,01) foram preditores de melhor resposta. A dimensão de conflito (p=<0,001) esteve associada à pior resposta. Em relação à psicopatologia materna, a presença de sintomas antisociais (p=0,002), o número de diagnósticos psiquiátricos de Eixo I (p=0,03) e a gravidade de sintomas de TDAH (p=<0,001) também foram preditores de pior resposta. A psicopatologia paterna não esteve associada à resposta ao tratamento. Em termos de adversidade psicossocial, apenas gestação indesejada (p=0,002) esteve associada à pior desfecho. Nas análises multivariadas, TDAH-C, comorbidade com TOD e maior gravidade de sintomas basais (CGAS) foram preditores de pior resposta. Da mesma forma, conflito familiar e sintomas maternos de TDAH predisseram um pior resultado. O efeito de gestação indesejada manteve-se estatisticamente significativo no modelo multivariado. Em um modelo que abrangeu todas as dimensões estudadas, os seguintes fatores foram preditores de pior resposta ao tratamento: TDAH-C, comorbidade com TOD, sintomas maternos de TDAH e gestação indesejada. CONCLUSÃO Este é o primeiro estudo realizado em população de país em desenvolvimento a avaliar o impacto de diferentes fatores adversos psicossociais na resposta a metilfenidato em crianças e adolescentes com TDAH. Demonstramos que o subtipo combinado de TDAH, a comorbidade com TOD, sintomas maternos de TDAH e gestação indesejada foram preditores de pior resposta ao MFD. Tais achados ressaltam a importância de ter-se uma visão ampla no atendimento destas crianças, levando em consideração o ambiente no qual elas estão inseridas e possíveis fatores preditores de piores desfechos. Além disso, os nossos resultados enfatizam a importância de se avaliar os pais no atendimento de crianças e adolescentes, especialmente investigando sintomas maternos de TDAH. Pesquisas futuras devem expandir o conhecimento acerca de interações entre fatores genéticos e ambientais, possibilitando que sejam desenvolvidas abordagens mais eficazes e que contribuam para a redução do impacto negativo deste transtorno. / Introduction Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is associated with a negative impact in different aspects of patients and their relatives’ lives. Although pharmacological treatment with methylphenidate (MPH) may reduce the impairment associated with the disorder, it is not universally effective. There are few studies of the predictive factors of MPH treatment response and most of available data come from a single sample. Objectives The aim of our study was to evaluate the impact of demographic, clinical, familial (parental psychopathology and family functioning), and psychosocial adversity factors on the response to methylphenidate in a naturalistic sample of children and adolescents with ADHD. Methods This is a longitudinal study with a quasi-experiment design. Children and adolescents with ADHD and a primary indication for MPH treatment were treated and followed for 6 months by child and adolescent psychiatrists. Medication doses were augmented until no further clinical improvement was detected or there were limiting side effects. Treatment response was evaluated according to SNAP-IV and CGI-S scales, completed by parents and researchers, respectively. Predictive factors were divided into three dimensions: clinical and demographic, family characteristics (parental psychopathology and family functioning) and psychosocial adversity. Family functioning was evaluated by the FES scale; parental evaluation consisted of a diagnostic interview (SCID-IV), self-reported ASRS scale and psychopathic symptoms investigation. Psychosocial adversity factors were derived from Rutter’s indicators of adversity. Statistical analysis were performed using 2 test or Fisher’s Exact Test (categorical variables), and Student t test (continuous variables with normal distribution). Multivariable models were constructed with a Mixed-Effects Model (MEM) approach for analysis of predictive factors of treatment response. Results One hundred and twenty-five patients were included. In the univariate analysis, younger age (p=.01), the presence of ADHD combined subtype (p<.001), CD (p=.03) and ODD (p<.001) were associated with a worse response to treatment. Higher scores on the organization (p=<.001) and cohesion (p=.01) dimensions of FES were associated with better response to treatment, while more conflicted families had a worse response (p=<.001). In terms of maternal psychopathology, antisocial symptoms (p=.002) and number of Axis I diagnosis (p=.03) were associated with a worse response to methylphenidate. Also, maternal ADHD symptoms predicted a worse response to treatment (p=<.001). Paternal psychopathology did not predict treatment response. In terms of psychosocial adversity, only undesirable pregnancy (p=.002) predicted a worse response to treatment. In the multivariate analysis, ADHD combined subtype, ODD comorbidity and lower baseline CGAS scores were significant predictors of a reduced response to treatment. Family conflict and maternal ADHD symptoms were also significant predictors of poor response. Undesirable pregnancy also remained significant in the multivariate analysis. A final multivariate mixed-effect model was created including significant predictors of response in each individual multivariate model. Results indicated that ADHD combined subtype, ODD diagnosis, maternal ADHD symptoms, and undesirable pregnancy were significant predictors of a reduced response to methylphenidate during 6 months of treatment. Conclusion This is the first study in a developing country to evaluate the impact of different adversity factors on ADHD treatment response in children and adolescents. We were able to demonstrate that ADHD combined subtype, ODD comorbidity, ADHD maternal symptoms and undesirable pregnancy were predictors of a worse response to MPH. These findings highlight the need to have a global perspective on children’s environment and be aware of the presence of negative predictors of treatment response. In addiction, our results stress the role of parental evaluation, especially maternal ADHD symptoms. Future research should expand our knowledge on how genetic factors interact with environmental factors, which might pave the road to the development of alternative clinical strategies that might reduce the burden associated with ADHD.