[Neuropsychological assessment of memory in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: the role of executive functions]. / Evaluación neuropsicológica de la memoria en el trastorno pordéficit de atención/hiperactividad: papel de las funciones ejecutivas.

INTRODUCTION: There is an important agreement on the consideration of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as a condition characterized by neurodevelopmental dysfunction of fronto-striatal dopaminergic and noradrenergic circuits with resultant executive deficits in cognitive functioning. AIM: To assess the existence of memory deficits in children with ADHD associated with a poor performance executive. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We assess 14 children diagnosed with ADHD combined type and 14 controls matched on intellectual coefficient, age and level of schooling, in a neuropsychological evaluation protocol designed to assess executive functions and memory skills using Auditory Verbal Learning Test, Memory for Stories Test -Test of Memory and Learning (TOMAL)-, Complex Figure Text, Visual Selective Reminding Test (TOMAL), Tower of Hanoi, Memory Phrases Test (Siegel and Ryan), Digit Span (Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised) and Tapping Test (Wechsler Memory Scale III). RESULTS: The ADHD group showed deficits in the learning and free recall of verbal material, in procedural and working memory. No group differences were observed in the visual memory tasks. CONCLUSIONS: The results are analyzed in terms of difficulty in coding strategies, storage and search of information previously stored in the group with ADHD, at least for the kind of verbal information. These difficulties are associated with deficits in executive functioning.

[Neuropsychological assessment of the effectiveness of OROS-methylphenidate in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder]. / Evaluación neuropsicológica de la eficacia del metilfenidato-OROS en el trastorno por deficit de atención/hiperactividad.

INTRODUCTION: There is wide evidence about dopaminergic and noradrenergic mechanisms in fronto-striatal circuits which are thought to be related with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) neurobiology. That dysfunction may explain core symptoms and part of executive deficits in cognitive functioning. Methylphenidate is effective in alleviating core symptoms, enhancing dopaminergic and noradrenergic biodisponibility. Less evidence in improving executive functions, specially working memory is found. AIMS: To assess if methylphenidate-OROS has a potential effect increasing working memory and attention parameters in ADHD children, and to determine if initial working memory and attention differences between ADHD and control group disappear after one month of daily methylphenidate-OROS treatment. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Eleven children with ADHD were selected and as control group was chosen eleven children compared in age, intelligence quotient, school grade, and social-demographic status. Neuropsychological battery was administered in naive ADHD patients at three times, before treatment, after the first methylphenidate-OROS dose, and after one month of daily treatment. Simultaneously neuropsychological battery was administered to control group. RESULTS. Statistically significant differences were found in neuropsychological variables of working memory after one month daily treatment with methylphenidate-OROS and attention parameters after only one dose in ADHD group. Differences between naive ADHD and control group in terms of working memory were statistically significant before treatment but not after one month daily treatment. CONCLUSION: Methylphenidate-OROS improves attention achievement after the first dose and working memory after one month of daily treatment.