Long term pharmacotherapy by methylfenidate or atomoxetine DAT 1 10/10 ADHD children in correlation with results of the imaging methods.

OBJECTIVES: ADHD is one of the most significant diagnostic units in child and adolescent psychiatry. The occurrence in children is 5-6% and 50-80% continued to adult age. The presence of individual genes (polymorphism) on particular symptoms and processes in ADHD are not known. It is estimated that ADHD symptoms are up to 80% to genetic. The higher density of resultant DAT 1 protein was observed in ADHD patients in comparison with controls. The question was if DAT 1 10/10 predicted bad prognoses in long term therapy. METHODS: We compared 30 ADHD DAT 1 10/10 adolescents treated for 5-6 years. Patients with 30 control adolescents. They were the same age of probands and controls. All these subjects were examined by child psychiatry scales (Conners, Achenbach…). Biological changes were tested by MRI specific CNS volumometry. RESULTS: We didn't confirm bad prognoses in long term therapy with methylphenidate or atomoxetine in ADHD children DAT 1 10/10 in long term therapy. In MRI specific CNS volumometry were not identify any differences in controls and ADHD probands. Gray matter thickness was significantly higher in prefrontal and occipital areas in patients compared to control in prefrontal and occipital areas with cluster-wise p-value<0.05. By this method were not identify any cerebrum damage in long term therapy by methylphenidate and atomoxetine.

Reverse asymmetry and changes in brain structural volume of the basal ganglia in ADHD, developmental changes and the impact of stimulant medications.

We discussed the cross section studies and the meta-analysis of published data in children and adolescents with ADHD (both drug naive and receiving stimulant medications), in comparison with healthy children and adolescents of the same age. In children and adolescents with ADHD the deceleration of the maturation dynamics of discrete CNS structures is found, volume reduction and decreased grey matter in prefrontal and occipital regions, which is accompanied by reverse asymmetry of the basal ganglia volume (putamen, nucleus caudate). The above mentioned developmental characteristics are valid only for the ADHD children, who have not been treated by stimulant medications. The stimulant treatment eliminates the mentioned changes into various extend. These developmental changes of CNS structures volume are missing in girls.

Circadian rhythms of saliva melatonin in ADHD, anxious and normal children.

BACKGROUND: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and anxiety disorders are the most frequent psychiatric disorders in children. Changes in rhythms of symptoms during the day may be influenced by genetic, biological and psychological factors. Some changes of melatonin rhythm may hypothetically change the activity of ADHD by changing arousal or in anxiety children by changing their emotional state. In our present study we identify one group of ADHD children combine type without comorbids, one group of anxiety children and a control group. Most changes of melatonin daily rhythm are supposed in the anxiety group, especially in sleeping time, and more prominent change in the ADHD group with prominent hyperactivity and conduct disorder symptoms. METHODS: Thirty-four ADHD and forty-three control children and eleven anxiety children, all 6-12 years old, participated in the study. The saliva specimens were collected in four different sessions during the school year, around the time of the spring and autumn equinox, when the natural light lasted 11.2 h ± 0.9 h. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: In our study more symptoms of conduct disorder elevated positive or negative correlations between psychopathology and saliva level of melatonin in ADHD and anxiety samples. We hypothesize that co-morbidity of ADHD or anxiety with impulsivity and conduct disorders might have elevated correlations between psychopathology of ADHD or anxiety and plasma melatonin level.