RESUMEN
It has been proposed that the neurotrophin brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) may be involved in attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) etiopathogenesis. Alterations in BDNF serum levels have been observed in childhood/adulthood neurodevelopmental pathologies, but no evidence is available for BDNF serum concentrations in ADHD. The study includes 45 drug-naïve ADHD children and 45 age-sex matched healthy subjects. Concentration of serum BDNF was determined by the ELISA method. BDNF serum levels in patients with ADHD were not different from those of controls (mean ± SD; ADHD: 39.33 ± 10.41 ng/ml; controls: 38.82 ± 8.29 ng/ml, t = -0.26, p = 0.80). Our findings indicate no alteration of serum BDNF levels in untreated patients with ADHD. A further stratification for cognitive, neuropsychological and psychopathological assessment in a larger sample could be useful to clarify the role of BDNF in the endophenotype characterization of ADHD.
Asunto(s)
Trastorno por Déficit de Atención con Hiperactividad/sangre , Factor Neurotrófico Derivado del Encéfalo/sangre , Adolescente , Trastorno por Déficit de Atención con Hiperactividad/diagnóstico , Índice de Masa Corporal , Estudios de Casos y Controles , Niño , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Factores SocioeconómicosRESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: We aimed to define the sociodemographic, clinical, and prescription profiles of the participants enrolled in the Italian Lombardy ADHD Register. METHOD: Data on patients evaluated by the 18 regional ADHD reference centers in the 2012 to 2013 period were analyzed. RESULTS: Seven hundred fifty-three of 1,150 (65%) suspected patients received a diagnosis of ADHD. In 24% of cases, there was a family history of ADHD. Four hundred eighty-three (64%) patients had at least one psychopathological disorder, the more common of which were learning disorders (35%). Eighty-four percent of patients received a prescription for psychoeducational interventions, 2% received only pharmacological treatment, and 14% a combination of both. Compared with patients treated with psychoeducational intervention alone, patients with drug prescriptions more commonly presented values of Clinical Global Impressions - Severity scale (CGI-S) of 5 or higher ( p < .0001). CONCLUSION: A continuous and systematic monitoring of patterns of care is essential in promoting significant improvements in clinical practice and ensuring an efficient and homogeneous quality of care.