MicroRNAs as potential biomarkers for diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Inappropriate levels of hyperactivity,impulsivity,and inattention characterize attention deficit hyperactivity disorder,a common childhood-onset neuropsychiatric disorder.The cognitive function and learning ability of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder are affected,and these symptoms may persist to adulthood if they are not treated.The diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is only based on symptoms and objective tests for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder are missing.Treatments for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children include medications,behavior therapy,counseling,and education services which can relieve many of the symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder but cannot cure it.There is a need for a molecular biomarker to distinguish attention deficit hyperactivity disorder from healthy subjects and other neurological conditions,which would allow for an earlier and more accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment to be initiated.Abnormal expression of microRNAs is connected to brain development and disease and could provide novel biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.The recent studies reviewed had performed microRNA profiling in whole blood,white blood cells,blood plasma,and blood serum of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.A large number of microRNAs were dysregulated when compared to healthy controls and with some overlap between individual studies.From the studies that had included a validation set of patients and controls,potential candidate biomarkers for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children could be miR-140-3p,let-7g-5p,-30e-5p,-223-3p,-142-5p,-486-5p,-151a-3p,-151a-5p,and-126-5p in total white blood cells,and miR-4516,-6090,-4763-3p,-4281,-4466,-101-3p,-130a-3p,-138-5p,-195-5p,and-106b-5p in blood serum.Further studies are warranted with children and adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder,and consideration should be given to utilizing rat models of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.Animal studies could be used to confirm microRNA findings in human patients and to test the effects of targeting specific microRNAs on disease progression and behavior.

Main focus of parents of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and the effectiveness of early clinical screening

BACKGROUND Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder(ADHD)is a common mental and behavioral disorder among children.AIM To explore the focus of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder parents and the effectiveness of early clinical screening METHODS This study found that the main directions of parents seeking medical help were short attention time for children under 7 years old(16.6%)and poor academic performance for children over 7 years old(12.1%).We employed a two-stage experiment to diagnose ADHD.Among the 5683 children evaluated from 2018 to 2021,360 met the DSM-5 criteria.Those diagnosed with ADHD underwent assessments for letter,number,and figure attention.Following the exclusion of ADHD-H diagnoses,the detection rate rose to 96.0%,with 310 out of 323 cases identified.RESULTS This study yielded insights into the primary concerns of parents regarding their children's symptoms and validated the efficacy of a straightforward diagnostic test,offering valuable guidance for directing ADHD treatment,facilitating early detection,and enabling timely intervention.Our research delved into the predominant worries of parents across various age groups.Furthermore,we showcased the precision of the simple exclusion experiment in discerning between ADHD-I and ADHD-C in children.CONCLUSION Our study will help diagnose and guide future treatment directions for ADHD.

Nutritional epigenetics education improves diet and attitude of parents of children with autism or attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder

BACKGROUND Unhealthy maternal diet leads to heavy metal exposures from the consumption of ultra-processed foods that may impact gene behavior across generations,creating conditions for the neurodevelopmental disorders known as autism and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder(ADHD).Children with these disorders have difficulty metabolizing and excreting heavy metals from their bloodstream,and the severity of their symptoms correlates with the heavy metal levels measured in their blood.Psychiatrists may play a key role in helping parents reduce their ultra-processed food and dietary heavy metal intake by providing access to effective nutritional epigenetics education.AIM To test the efficacy of nutritional epigenetics instruction in reducing parental ultra-processed food intake.METHODS The study utilized a semi-randomized test and control group pretest-posttest pilot study design with participants recruited from parents having a learning-disabled child with autism or ADHD.Twenty-two parents who met the inclusion criteria were randomly selected to serve in the test(n=11)or control(n=11)group.The test group participated in the six-week online nutritional epigenetics tutorial,while the control group did not.The efficacy of the nutritional epigenetics instruction was determined by measuring changes in parent diet and attitude using data derived from an online diet survey administered to the participants during the pre and post intervention periods.Diet intake scores were derived for both ultra-processed and whole/organic foods.Paired sample t-tests were conducted to determine any differences in mean diet scores within each group.RESULTS There was a significant difference in the diet scores of the test group between the pre-and post-intervention periods.The parents in the test group significantly reduced their intake of ultra-processed foods with a preintervention diet score of 70(mean=5.385,SD=2.534)and a post-intervention diet score of 113(mean=8.692,SD=1.750)and the paired t-test analysis showing a significance of P<0.001.The test group also significantly increased their consumption of whole and/or organic foods with a pre-intervention diet score of 100(mean=5.882,SD=2.472)and post-intervention diet score of 121(mean=7.118,SD=2.390)and the paired t-test analysis showing a significance of P<0.05.CONCLUSION Here we show nutritional epigenetics education can be used to reduce ultra-processed food intake and improve attitude among parents having learning-disabled children with autism or ADHD.

Early Intervention Facilitates Neuropsychological Development in Children with Autism and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Objective:This study aims to investigate the impact of early intervention on neuropsychological development in children with autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder(ADHD),providing effective intervention strategies for clinical practice.Methods:A total of 130 children with autism and ADHD who visited the hospital between June 2023 and June 2024 were selected as study subjects and randomly divided into an intervention group and a control group,with 65 children in each group.The intervention group received a one-year early comprehensive intervention,including behavioral therapy,cognitive training,and family guidance,while the control group only received routine medical care.The neuropsychological development assessment scale was used to evaluate both groups before and after the intervention to compare changes in their neuropsychological development levels.Results:Children in the intervention group showed significant improvements in cognitive function,social skills,language ability,and attention concentration,with an average improvement score of 23.5 points.Children in the control group did not show significant improvements in these areas,with an average improvement score of only 5.8 points.The difference between the two groups was statistically significant(P<0.05).Conclusion:Early comprehensive intervention has a significant promoting effect on the neuropsychological development of children with autism and ADHD.Targeted behavioral therapy,cognitive training,and family guidance can effectively enhance children’s cognitive,social,language,and attention abilities,laying a solid foundation for their future overall development.Therefore,it is recommended to actively promote and apply early intervention strategies in clinical practice.

Common outcome,different pathways:Social informationprocessing deficits in autism spectrum disorder and attentiondeficit/hyperactivity disorder

Social functioning is a key domain of impairment in both autism spectrum disorder(ASD)and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder(ADHD).This review adopts the social information-processing model as the theoretical framework to compare and contrast the deficits of ASD and ADHD at each of the six steps of social information-processing.Both disorders show deficits at each step,but the nature and origins of the deficits are different.Thus,while both disorders exhibit a common outcome of social impairment,the exact pathways that each disorder traverses along the six steps of social information-processing are different.For ASD,there is a social knowledge/behaviour deficit arising from difficulties in social/emotional cue detection,encoding,and interpretation,leading to problems in joining and initiating social interaction.For ADHD,there is a performance deficit incurred by disruption arising from the ADHD symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity,while its acquisition capacity on social knowledge is relatively intact.The inattentive,intrusive,and impulsive behaviours of ADHD unsettle social interaction.Finally,this review proposes training targets for intervention along the six steps of the social information-processing model for ASD and ADHD,as well as areas for future research in further elucidating the social impairment of the two disorders.

Effect of non-pharmacological treatment on the full recovery of social functioning in patients with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

BACKGROUND Long-term treatment of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder(ADHD)is associated with adverse events,such as nausea and vomiting,dizziness,and sleep disturbances,and poor maintenance of late ADHD medication compromises treatment outcomes and prolongs the recovery of patients’social functioning.AIM To evaluate the effect of non-pharmacological treatment on the full recovery of social functioning in patients with ADHD.METHODS A total of 90 patients diagnosed with ADHD between May 2019 and August 2020 were included in the study and randomly assigned to either the pharmacological group(methylphenidate hydrochloride and tomoxetine hydrochloride)or the non-pharmacological group(parental training,behavior modification,sensory integration therapy,and sand tray therapy),with 45 cases in each group.Outcome measures included treatment compliance,Swanson,Nolan,and Pelham,Version IV(SNAP-IV)scores,Conners Parent Symptom Questionnaire(PSQ)scores,and Weiss Functional Impairment Rating Scale(WFIRS)scores.RESULTS The non-pharmacological interventions resulted in significantly higher compliance in patients(95.56%)compared with medication(71.11%)(P<0.05).However,no significant differences in SNAP-IV and PSQ scores,in addition to the learning/school,social activities,and adventure activities of the WFIRS scores were observed between the two groups(P>0.05).Patients with non-pharmacological interventions showed higher WFIRS scores for family,daily life skills,and self-concept than those in the pharmacological group(P<0.05).CONCLUSION Non-pharmacological interventions,in contrast to the potential risks of adverse events after longterm medication,improve patient treatment compliance,alleviate patients’behavioral symptoms of attention,impulsivity,and hyperactivity,and improve their cognitive ability,thereby improving family relationships and patient self-evaluation.

ADHD in Children and Adolescents: Barriers to Ethical and Successful Treatment

This review provides a comprehensive analysis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, or impulsivity. The global prevalence of the disorder ranges from 2% to 7%, with an average of around 5%. ADHD affects individuals of all ages, with symptoms typically becoming visible as early as 3 years. The symptoms range from mild to severe and may persist into adulthood. The disorder affects a variety of demographic groups, including differences in age, gender, race, and ethnicity, with varying effects, prevalence, and treatment options among these groups. Treatment options for ADHD range from behavioral interventions to prescription medication, with a number of medications available on the market for treating ADHD. The review also highlights the issues of relapse and safety concerns associated with the use of medication, as well as the challenges associated with diversity and socioeconomic barriers in the diagnosis and treatment of the disorder.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in the General Adult Population in Benin (Parakou 2022)

Introduction: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a little-studied psychiatric pathology in our countries, and particularly here in Benin. Objectives: To calculate the prevalence and identify the factors associated with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder among adults in the commune of Parakou in 2022. Methods: Cross-sectional, descriptive, analytical study including subjects aged 18 and over. ADHD was assessed with the Adult ADHD Self Report Scale (ARSR-v1.1) and consequences with the Weiss functional impairment rating scale (WFIRS-S). Results: A total of 456 people were included in the study. The mean age of those surveyed was 25.9 ± 11.6 years. The prevalence of ADHD symptoms among the adults surveyed was 6.8%. The clinical form of ADHD with a predominance of inattention had a prevalence of 3.3%. After multivariate analysis, the factor associated with the presence of ADHD symptoms in adults in the commune of Parakou was: a poor relationship with the subject’s partner (p = 0.031, ORa = 6.5 [1.18-35.68]). Conclusion: ADHD is present in the community of Parakou and needs further attention.

Explanation of disability by ADHD core symptoms or concomitant minimal cerebral dysfunctions

Background:Examine the degree of disability in adult ADHD patients in relation to the core symptoms attention deficits and hyperactivity and concomitant minimal cerebral dysfunctions.Methods:Patients from a psychosomatic rehabilitation hospital(N=1,453)had answered the“ADHS-SB(attention deficit hyperactivity scale)”,the“MCD-scale(minimal cerebral dysfunction self rating scale)”,the“SCL-90R(Symptom Checklist)”,and reported about impairment at work.Results:Psychological distress and the ability to work are primarily related to problems of orientation,cognitive impairment,vegetative lability,emotional problems,disorders of motor function,but only to a lesser degree to hyperactivity and attention deficit.Conclusion:When dealing with ADHD patients,clinicians should take into account the full variety of MCD symptoms as these are decisive in regard to participation and problems in life.

Effects of acute aerobic exercise on response preparation in a Go/No Go Task in children with ADHD:An ERP study

Purpose： The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of acute exercise on reaction time and response preparation during a Go/No Go Task in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder （ADHD）. Methods： Nineteen children with ADHD （aged between 8 and 12 years old） undertook a 30-min intervention that consisted of treadmill running or video-watching presented in a counterbalanced order on different days. A Go/No Go Task was administrated after exercise or video-watching. Results： The results indicated a shorter reaction time and smaller contingent negative variation （CNV） 2 amplitude following exercise relative to the video-watching. For event related potential （ERP） analyses, greater CNV l and CNV 2 amplitudes in response to No Go stimuli in com- parison to Go stimuli was observed in the video-watching session only. Conclusion： These findings suggest that acute exercise may benefit children with ADHD by developing appropriate response preparation, particularly in maintaining a stable motor preparatory set prior to performing the given task.

Association of Serotonin Receptors with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder： A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder （ADHD） is one of the most common mental disorders in childhood, with a high heritability about 60% to 90%. Serotonin is a monoamine neurotransmitter. Numerous studies have reported the association between the serotonin receptor family （5-HTR） gene polymorphisms and ADHD, but the results are still controversial. In this study, we conducted a meta-analysis of the association between 5-HTRIB, 5-HTR2A, and 5-HTR2C genetic variants and ADHD. The results showed that the 861G allele of 5-HTRIB SNP rs6296 could significantly increase the risk of ADHD （OR= 1.09, 95% CI： 1.01-1.18）; the 5-HTR2C gene rs518147 （OR=1.69, 95% CI： 1.38-2.07） and rs3813929 （OR = 1.57, 95% CI： 1.25-1.97） were all associated with the risk of ADHD. In addition, we also carried on a case- control study to explore the relevance between potential candidate genes 5-HTR1A, 5-HTRIE, 5-HTR3A and ADHD. The results indicated that 5-HTRIA rs6295 genotype （CC＋CG vs. GG OR=Z00, 95% CI： 1.23-3.27） and allele （OR=1.77, 95% CI： 1.16-2.72） models were statistically significantly different between case group and control group. This study is the first comprehensive exploration and summary of the association between serotonin receptor family genetic variations and ADHD, and it also provides more evidence for the etiology of ADHD.

Celastrus paniculatus oil ameliorates synaptic plasticity in a rat model of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Objective:To explore the effect and mechanism of action of Celastrus paniculatus oil on the treatment of perinatal rats with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.Methods:In the perinatal stage,the rats were either isolated or administered with lead acetate to establish an animal model of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.Atomoxetine served as the reference standard.Animals’behaviours were assessed through Y-maze,novel object preference,fear conditioning and residentintruder aggression tests.Oxidative stress parameters,bioamine concentration(dopamine,noradrenaline and 5-hydroxytryptamine),nerve growth factor,interleukin-6,nuclear factor-κB,and tumour necrosis factor(TNF)-αwere estimated.Synaptophysin immunohistochemical assay was performed.Results:Celastrus paniculatus oil significantly improved behavioural parameters in Y maze,novel object preference,discrimination index,fear conditioning and resident intruder aggressive tests.The treatment groups showed a decrease in malondialdehyde level.Changes in the levels of dopamine,noradrenaline,and serotonin were restored by Celastrus paniculatus oil.Celastrus paniculatus oil increased nerve growth factor and decreased interleukin-6,nuclear factor-κB,and TNF-α.Synaptophysin immunoreactivity was also improved by Celastrus paniculatus oil with alleviated reactive gliosis,degeneration,and vascular proliferation.Conclusions:This research shows the therapeutic potential of Celastrus paniculatus oil for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Parental perceptions of the effects of exercise on behavior in children and adolescents with ADHD

Background： Anecdotally, parents often report that children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder （ADHD） who engage in regular physical activity （PA） experience positive behavioral changes. The purpose of this study was to examine this anecdotal relationship to provide preliminary evidence relevant to the potential benefits of PA on ADHD symptoms. Methods： Parents （n = 68） of children diagnosed with ADHD completed an lnternet survey assessing perceptions of how PA influences their child＇s symptoms. Results： A significantly greater percentage of parents reported that regular PA positively impacted symptoms. However, there were no uniform effects for all types of ADHD symptoms. The results indicate that there may be more positive benefits for symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity than for those of impulsivity. Conclusion： This is the first study to empirically document parents＇ perceptions of how PA influences ADHD and suggests that PA can be a viable strategy for reducing symptoms. PA may have greater benefits for specific symptoms of ADHD, providing critical information for developing PA interventions for children and adolescents.

A Controlled Study of the Effectiveness of EEG Biofeedback Training on Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

In order to study the treatment of the children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), the integrated visual and auditory continuous performance test (IVA-CPT) was clinically applied to evaluate the effectiveness of electroencephalogram (EEG) biofeedback training. Of all the 60 children with ADHD aged more than 6 years, the effective rate of EEG biofeedback training was 91.6 % after 40 sessions of EEG biofeedback training. Before and after treatment by EEG biofeedback training, the overall indexes of IVA were significantly improved among predominately inattentive, hyperactive, and combined subtype of children with ADHD (P<0.001). It was suggested that EEG biofeedback training was an effective and vital treatment on children with ADHD.

Yizhining elixation improves sustained attention deficit and impulsiveness of spontaneous hypertensive rats

BACKGROUND： The core symptoms of attention deficit, impulsiveness, hyperactivity of attention deficit hyperactivity disorders （ADHD） can concurrently present in spontaneous hypertensive rats. Neuropathological, biochemical and pharmacological studies also support it. Spontaneous hypertensive rats are one kind of best ADHD animal models, which has been accepted at present. Yizhining elixation can reinforce kidney and calm liver, strengthen spleen and nourish heart, benefit intelligence and focus attention, but its therapeutic effect on treatment of ADHD needs to be further investigated. OBJECTIVE： To observe the effect of Yizhining elixation on the persistent active attention deficit and impulsiveness of rats with spontaneous hypertension. DESIGN： Observational and controlled analysis. SETTING： Department of Pediatrics, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine. MATERIALS： Thirty-six male rats with spontaneous hypertension, of clean grade, were involved in this experiment. The involved rats were provided by Shanghai SLAC Laboratory Animal Co., Ltd., and they did not undergo any experiments; Yizhining elixation was composed by Guiban, Shenglonggu, Yuanzhi, Shichangpu, Yejiaoteng, Shudi, Dangshen, Yunling, Fuxiaomai, Wueizi. etc. Crude drug, provided by Outpatient Dispensary, Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, was prepared into water elixation, which contained crude drug of 1.154 g/mL. METHODS： This experiment was carried out in the Department of Pediatrics, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine between March and July 2005. The involved rats were randomized into 3 groups： Yizhining high dose group, Yizhining low dose group and blank control group, with 12 rats in each. Changes in sustained attention and impulsiveness of rats were detected before and after administration of Yizhining elixation by ＂5-choice serial response time task＂ method. Following above-mentioned training and detection, rats in each group were daily drenched with Yizhining elixation once for 14 days successively. Rats in the Yizhining High-dose and low-dose groups we, e drenched with 12.6 mL/kg and 6.3 mL/kg Yizhining elixation （diluted to 25 mL/kg） respectively, and those in the blank control group were drenched with 12.5 mL/kg normal saline. On the 14^th day after administration, the ratios of correct and immature response of rats were re-detected for 3 days successively by formal detection method for later analysis. The sustained attention of rats was evaluated with ratio of correct response： Ratio of correct response=[times of correct response/（times of correct response ＋ times of incorrect response）]; impulsiveness was evaluated with the ratio of immature response： ratio of immature response=[times of immature response/ （times of correct response＋times of incorrect response＋times of omission＋times of immature response） ]. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： The effects of different doses of Yizhining elixation on the sustained attention （ratio of correct response） and impulsiveness （ratio of immature response） of spontaneous hypertensive rats. RESULTS： Thirty-six spontaneous hypertensive rats were involved in the final analysis. The ratio of correct response of rats in the Yizhining high dose and low dose groups after administration was （98.9±2.30）% and （96.6±4.00） %, respectively, which was significantly higher than that before administration [ （80.4±11.5 ） %, （839±8.90） %, P 〈 0.01] and that in the blank control group[ （83.3±6.30） %, P 〈 0.01]. The ratio of immature response of rats in the Yizhining high dose and low dose groups after adminisWafion was （5.04 ±1.04 ） %, （7.23 ± 1.22 ） %, respectively, which was lower than that before administration [ （9.85 ±2.50） %, （9.40±1.73 ） %, P 〈 0.05] and that in the blank control group [ （ 9.42 ±1.64） %, P 〈 0.01 ]. CONCLUSION： Yizhining elixation can improve the sustained attention and impulsiveness of spontaneous hypertensive rats.

Connectivity differences between adult male and female patients with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder according to resting-state functional MRI

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder（ADHD） is a pervasive psychiatric disorder that affects both children and adults. Adult male and female patients with ADHD are differentially affected, but few studies have explored the differences. The purpose of this study was to quantify differences between adult male and female patients with ADHD based on neuroimaging and connectivity analysis. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging scans were obtained and preprocessed in 82 patients. Group-wise differences between male and female patients were quantified using degree centrality for different brain regions. The medial-, middle-, and inferior-frontal gyrus, superior parietal lobule, precuneus, supramarginal gyrus, superior- and middle-temporal gyrus, middle occipital gyrus, and cuneus were identified as regions with significant group-wise differences. The identified regions were correlated with clinical scores reflecting depression and anxiety and significant correlations were found. Adult ADHD patients exhibit different levels of depression and anxiety depending on sex, and our study provides insight into how changes in brain circuitry might differentially impact male and female ADHD patients.

Serum ferritin levels in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and tic disorder

BACKGROUND Iron plays an important role in neurodevelopmental functions in the brain.Serum ferritin levels are different in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and tic disorder than in healthy children.AIM To explore the current status of iron deficiency in children with neurodevelopmental disorders and its sex and age effects.METHODS A total of 1565 children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder(ADHD),1694 children with tic disorder(TD),93 children with ASD and 1997 healthy control children were included between January 1,2020,and December 31,2021 at Beijing Children's Hospital.We describe the differences in age levels and ferritin levels between different disease groups and their sex differences.The differences between the sexes in each disease were analyzed using the t test.The incidence rate of low serum ferritin was used to describe the differences between different diseases and different age groups.A chi-square test was used to analyze the difference in the incidence of low serum ferritin between the disease group and the control group.Analysis of variance was used for comparisons between subgroups,and regression analysis was used for confounding factor control.RESULTS A total of 1565 ADHD patients aged 5-12 years were included in this study,and the average serum ferritin levels of male and female children were 36.82±20.64μg/L and 35.64±18.56μg/L,respectively.A total of 1694 TD patients aged 5-12 years were included in this study,and the average serum ferritin levels of male and female children were 35.72±20.15μg/L and 34.54±22.12μg/L,respectively.As age increased,the incidence of low serum ferritin in ADHD and TD first decreased and then increased,and 10 years old was the turning point of rising levels.The incidence of ADHD with low serum ferritin was 8.37%,the incidence of TD with low serum ferritin was 11.04%,and the incidence of the healthy control group with low serum ferritin was 8.61%,among which male children with TD accounted for 9.25%and female children with TD accounted for 11.62%.There was a significant difference among the three groups(P<0.05).In addition,there were 93 children with ASD with an average serum ferritin level of 30.99±18.11μg/L and a serum ferritin incidence of 15.05%.CONCLUSION In conclusion,low serum ferritin is not a risk factor for ADHD or TD.The incidence of low serum ferritin levels in children with ADHD and TD between 5 and 12 years old decreases first and then increases with age.

Review of the effects of SARS-CoV2 infection and COVID-19 on common pediatric psychiatric illnesses

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 is a novel coronavirus strain that causes pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome along with other morbidities,collectively known as coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)disease.There has been widespread discussion about the psychological impact of COVID-19 particularly on children and adolescents.There have been overarching negative effects with regards to decreased physical activity,more screen time,increasingly unhealthy diets,and irregularities in sleep/wake schedules.This,coupled with disruptions in ongoing mental health treatment and associated support structures,has caused unprecedented declines in the emotional and psychosocial wellbeing of children and adolescents.This review aims to systematically review the literature to provide a general overview of the ways in which COVID-19 has affected common psychiatric illnesses in children and adolescents.The included articles in all subsections concluded that symptoms of these common childhood psychiatric disorders have generally been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.This review indicates that quarantine and the consequent isolation have had multiple significant and consistent negative implications on the mental health of children and adolescents.Our study indicates that there should be increased vigilance among providers and families to mitigate the negative psychological effects that the COVID-19 pandemic has on children with common childhood psychiatric disorders.

Visual-Motor Perceptual and Reading Processes of Schoolchildren With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Objectives:Compare and relate the performance of schoolchildren with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder(ADHD)and with good academic performance in the visual-motor perceptual and reading processes.Method:Twenty schoolchildren,of both genders,aged between nine and 11 years old,participated in this study.They were divided into two groups:Group I(GI):comprising 10 students diagnosed with ADHD;and Group II(GII):10 students with good academic performance paired according to gender,age group,and educational level with GI.All students were submitted to the Developmental Test of Visual Perception(DTVP 3)and Reading Processes Assessment Protocol(PROLEC).Results:There was lower performance of GI compared to GII in the subtests of copying,eye-hand coordination,and figure-ground in the standard score of general visual perception and visual-motor integration.GI presented lower performance in all reading processes except for the punctuation marks test.There was a statistically significant difference in the comparison between GI and GII regarding the classification of reading processes.A relationship was identified between the reading and visual perception subtests in the GI students,demonstrating a relationship between the visual perceptual motor skills and the reading processes in the group of students with ADHD.Conclusion:Schoolchildren with ADHD performed less well than their peers with good academic performance in the visual-motor perceptual and reading skills;such that the worse their performance in the visual-motor perceptual processes,the worse their performance in the reading processes.

Perinatal Factors of Developmental Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in Children

Background: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is a common pediatric neurobehavioral disorder often treated in the primary care setting. It shows a high and chronic level of inattention, impulsivity/hyperactivity and/or both, and can affect more than 2 million school-age children. The researchers are not sure about the exact causes of the disorder, but it seems that apart from genetic factors, perinatal factors seem to dynamically contribute to the development of the disorder. Purpose: The aim of this review was to investigate the perinatal and obstetric factors related to the development of the attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in childhood. Method: An online review of English language studies published from 2002 to 2020, using the Embase, PsychINFO, PubMed and Google Scholar databases. From 1100 studies only 17 were included in the review since they met the inclusion criteria. Conclusions: The results of the review showed that apart from heredity and genetic factors, various conditions in pregnancy or the mother’s way of life in pregnancy, adverse conditions in labor and infancy can contribute on their own or in combination to the development of the attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in childhood. Obstetric vigilance to detect risk factors in pregnancy in combination with the prevention of obstetric complications is the key in preventing attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.