Effects of prenatal alcohol exposition on cognitive outcomes in childhood and youth: a longitudinal analysis based on meconium ethyl glucuronide.

BACKGROUND: Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) has been linked to severe, adverse child outcomes. However, little is known regarding subclinical outcomes of low/moderate PAE and its longitudinal consequences, especially regarding neurophysiological and neurocognitive development. A newborn biomarker of PAE, meconium ethyl glucuronide (EtG), has been shown to predict cognitive impairments in primary-school-aged children. The current study investigated the ongoing effects of subclinical PAE in adolescence. METHODS: A sample of n = 96 mother-child dyads of the FRAMES/FRANCES cohort were classified into PAE/no PAE using EtG with a 10 ng/g cutoff. Mothers were recruited during pregnancy and children were assessed during primary-school age (M = 7.57, SD = 0.65, range: 6.00-9.92 years) and adolescence (M = 13.26, SD = 0.31, range: 12.79-14.20 years) on three levels: clinical (ADHD rating), neuropsychological (IQ score and performance in a go/nogo task), and neurophysiological (analysis of P3 event-related potentials (ERP) during said go/nogo task). Developmental outcomes and courses following PAE were assessed using rmANCOVAs, controlling for relevant confounders (socioeconomic status (SES), birth weight, and maternal psychopathology). RESULTS: Neurophysiological impairments emerged for exposed children in the form of diminished attentional resource recruiting in childhood and adolescence (reduced go-P3 amplitudes) with no differences in performance. Neuropsychological testing showed a reduced IQ score for both time points with dose-dependent effects in childhood. Clinical ADHD symptoms were not significantly affected. CONCLUSION: Subclinical PAE, as determined by meconium EtG, has negative developmental consequences on cognitive function that persist from childhood to adolescence. These findings suggest that there is no safe limit for alcohol consumption during pregnancy and that more thorough screening of alcohol consumption during pregnancy is necessary for early identification and treatment of at-risk children.

Processing of food stimuli in anorexia nervosa: An ERP-study comparing adolescents and adults.

BACKGROUND: Anorexia nervosa (AN) is associated with altered processing of disorder-relevant stimuli. Event-related potentials (ERP) - such as the Late Positive Potential (LPP) - give information about the underlying mechanisms of central nervous stimulus processing. METHODS: Patients with AN (22 adolescents, 23 adults) and healthy controls (HCs; 17 adolescents, 24 adults) were included. Neutral, low, and high calorie food-images were rated for valence and arousal; EEG activity was recorded and LPPs (early: 350-700 ms; late: 800-1200 ms) were extracted. Effects of patient status, age group, and stimulus category were analyzed via mixed 2 × 2 × 3-AN(C)OVAs. RESULTS: Patients with AN rated high calorie stimuli lower in valence and higher in arousal than HCs. Controlling for hunger, food stimuli elicited higher early LPPs than neutral ones in patients and HCs. For the late LPP, patients with AN showed larger amplitudes. CONCLUSION: Results suggest a highly automatic attentional bias towards low-calorie foods. Patients with AN seem to have more intense cognitive processing independent of stimulus material. More research is needed to validate and clarify differences between early and late LPP measures as well as the operationalization and relevance of hunger status.

Are perinatal measures associated with adolescent mental health? A retrospective exploration with original data from psychiatric cohorts.

BACKGROUND: Perinatal markers of prenatal development are associated with offspring psychiatric symptoms. However, there is little research investigating the specificity of perinatal markers for the development of specific disorders. This study aimed to explore if perinatal markers are specifically associated with adolescent substance use disorder (SUDs). METHODS: Adolescent participants from two study centers, one for SUD patients (n = 196) and one for general psychopathology (n = 307), were recruited for participation. Since the SUD participants presented with a number of comorbid disorders, we performed a 1-on-1 matching procedure, based on age, gender, and specific pattern of comorbid disorders. This procedure resulted in n = 51 participants from each group. From all participants and their mothers we recorded perinatal markers (mode of birth, weeks of completed pregnancy, birth weight, Apgar score after 5 min) as well as intelligence quotient (IQ). The SUD sample additionally filled out the Youth Safe Report (YSR) as well as the PQ-16 and the DUDIT. We aimed to distinguish the two groups (SUD sample vs. general psychiatric sample) based on the perinatal variables via a logistic regression analysis. Additionally, linear regressions were performed for the total group and the subgroups to assess the relationship between perinatal variables and IQ, YSR, DUDIT and PQ-16. RESULTS: The perinatal variables were not able to predict group membership (X2 [4] = 4.77, p = .312, Cox & Snell R² = 0.053). Odds ratios indicated a small increase in probability to belonging to the general psychiatric sample instead of the SUD sample if birth was completed via C-section. After Bonferroni-correction, the linear regression models showed no relation between perinatal markers and IQ (p = .60, R² = 0.068), YSR (p = .09, R² = 0.121), DUDIT (p = .65, R² = 0.020), and PQ-16 (p = .73, R² =0.021). CONCLUSION: Perinatal markers were not able to distinguish SUD patients from patients with diverse psychopathologies. This pattern contradicts previous findings, perhaps because our chosen markers reflect general processes instead of specific mechanistic explanations. Future studies should take care to investigate specific prenatal markers and associate them with psychopathology on the symptom level.

[Maternal depression and child development: A prospective analysis of consequences, risk and protective factors]. / Mütterliche Depressivität im kindlichen Entwicklungsverlauf: Eine prospektive Betrachtung von Auswirkungen, Risiko- und Schutzfaktoren.

Maternal depression and child development: A prospective analysis of consequences, risk and protective factors Abstract. Objective: Maternal stress, specifically maternal mental health problems, are considered risk factors for child development. The literature suggests that prenatal depressive symptoms as well as depressive symptoms are a widespread phenomenon during the further development of the child and have repeatedly been shown to have adverse effects on child mental health outcomes. The present study examined the longitudinal relationships between maternal depression (prenatal, postnatal, during childhood and adolescence) and child mental health from childhood to adolescence. Possible risk and protective factors were also considered. Method: N = 112 mothers were assessed for depressive symptoms via a questionnaire at four different timepoints (prenatal, T1; postnatal, T2; during childhood, T3; during adolescence, T4). Children's externalizing and internalizing symptoms (50.9 % girls) were assessed by their mothers both during childhood (M = 7.68, SD = 0.76 years) and during adolescence (M = 13.23, SD = 0.27 years). We evaluated the relationships between maternal depressive symptoms and children's externalizing/internalizing symptoms using multiple regression models and analyzed possible risk and protective factors using moderation analysis. Results: Externalizing/Internalizing symptoms were not directly associated with maternal depressive symptoms, while associations between such symptoms and maladaptive behavior were found in adolescents. The socioeconomic status of families showed a different risk profile for prenatal and postnatal depressive symptoms. The IQ of the children proved to be a risk factor for internalizing symptoms. Conclusions: Maternal depressive symptoms at any time during child development - in combination with further risk factors - have an impact on child mental health. The early identification of maternal symptoms followed by interventions to differentiate between prenatal and postnatal depression - especially in the context of socioeconomic status - are highly relevant for child development.

The association between prenatal alcohol consumption and preschool child stress system disturbance.

BACKGROUND: Drinking alcohol during pregnancy is considered a risk factor for child development; however, child biomarkers of prenatal alcohol exposure have been rarely studied. We examined whether a meconium alcohol metabolite (ethyl glucuronide, EtG) was associated with child cortisol concentrations at primary school age. METHODS: For 137 children, prenatal alcohol exposure was operationalized by the meconium biomarker EtG and by maternal self-reports during pregnancy. Two EtG cut-offs (EtG ≥10 ng/g and EtG ≥112 ng/g) were applied. Cortisol concentrations were measured in saliva and hair samples. RESULTS: Children with EtG ≥10 ng/g showed significantly reduced hair cortisol concentrations (HCCs) (p = .050, ηp2  = 0.042). For children with EtG ≥112 ng/g, the cortisol awakening response (CAR) was significantly decreased (p = .025, ηp2  = 0.070). These effects were also present in correlational analyses with continuous EtG data, speaking for partly dose-dependent effects. Especially, within the EtG ≥112 ng/g group, the basal (CAR: rp  = -.642, p = .120) and cumulative (HCC: rp  = -.660, p = .107) cortisol parameters were associated with child emotional symptoms at medium effect size. CONCLUSIONS: The present study showed both the biological association of intrauterine alcohol exposure with the cortisol stress system, partly dose-dependent, and the functional association with emotional and behavioral symptoms.

[Sleep behavior and problems in children and adolescents of a psychiatric day clinic sample: results and requirements for systematic diagnostic]. / Schlafverhalten und -auffälligkeiten von Kindern und Jugendlichen einer teilstationären kinder- und jugendpsychiatrischen Inanspruchnahmepopulation: Ergebnisse und Anforderungen an eine systematische Diagnostik.

Sleep behavior and problems in children and adolescents of a psychiatric day clinic sample: results and requirements for systematic diagnostic Abstract. Sleep disorders are common in adults as well as children and adolescents. Children and adolescents in psychiatric treatment (CAP) are especially affected by sleep problems. Cognitive behavioral therapy represents the first-line treatment, preceded by a standardized procedure for sleep diagnostics. To date, no study has investigated sleep behavior in CAP day clinics in Germany. In this study, N = 46 children/adolescents receiving CAP treatment in a day clinic completed a sleep diary (7 days) and a sleep anamnesis scheme with the help of their parents, and their sleep behavior was assessed by a clinician. Furthermore, a parent- and a self-report questionnaire plus a clinical assessment of the mental disorders in the children/adolescents were collected. 52 % of the children/ adolescents exhibited sleep disorders or sleep abnormalities (= sleep disorder symptoms in the context of comorbid disorders), in particular problems falling asleep or to falling asleep and sleeping through the night (26 %). In addition, 33 % reported having nightmares. Their sleep behavior correlated significantly with their external behavior problems (r = .38 .61, p = .02-.04); their sex (female: p = .01-≤ .001, |d| = 1.57-2.50) and their age (older: p = .05, |d| = .78) also significantly influenced sleep behavior. Particularly external behavior problems were associated with sleep problems in this day-care population. In summary, a multi-method-multi-informant procedure should be established for the systematic diagnostics of sleep abnormalities, together with individualized cognitive-behavioral therapy of sleep problems, especially in patients with external behavior problems.

Pavlovian-to-instrumental transfer in Anorexia Nervosa: A pilot study on conditioned learning and instrumental responding to low- and high-calorie food stimuli.

Anorexia Nervosa is characterized by persistent restraint eating despite severe negative consequences and often a chronic course of the disease. Recent theoretical models suggest that abnormalities in reward processing and incentive salience of disorder-compatible stimuli as observed in addictive behaviours contribute to the development and maintenance of Anorexia Nervosa. The aim of the present study was to investigate the process of the acquisition of food-related conditioned responses and the influence of conditioned low-calorie and high-calorie food stimuli on instrumental responding for different foods. A Pavlovian-to-instrumental transfer paradigm and questionnaires on eating disorder psychopathology (EDE-Q, EDI-2) were administered to patients with Anorexia Nervosa (n = 39) and healthy controls (n = 41). Results indicated that patients with Anorexia Nervosa showed deficits of the acquisition of knowledge of the experimental contingencies. Nevertheless, in patients with Anorexia Nervosa and healthy controls instrumental responding for low- and high-calorie food rewards was affected by stimuli conditioned to these rewards; no group differences were observed. Importantly, in Anorexia Nervosa, instrumental responding for low-calorie food increased with increasing severity of eating disorder psychopathology suggesting weight-loss directed behaviour. Future studies are warranted to enhance our understanding of deficits of reward-associated learning and to replicate and extend findings with regard to the impact of conditioned stimuli on instrumental responding. At present, our findings suggest that cognitive treatment interventions might be warranted that challenge dysfunctional beliefs about weight loss.

Exploring Reference Values for Hair Cortisol: Hair Weight Versus Hair Protein.

BACKGROUND: As a marker of cumulative cortisol activity, hair cortisol has received attention in clinical and methodological research. Currently, it is a common practice to relate the hair cortisol concentration (HCC) to hair weight. This article explores the hair protein concentration (HPC) as another possible reference value for HCC. METHODS: For n = 18 hair samples cut from the posterior vertex, the HCC, HPC, and hair sample weight were determined, and the cortisol-to-weight and cortisol-to-protein ratios were calculated. Correlations were analyzed between the HCC, HPC, and hair sample weight as well as between the cortisol-to-weight and cortisol-to-protein ratios. Hair sample weight and HPC were included as independent variables in a stepwise linear regression model to predict HCC. RESULTS: The HCC and HPC did not correlate significantly (r = 0.393, P = 0.106); however, the correlation between HCC and hair sample weight was significant (r = 0.520, P = 0.027). The HPC and hair sample weight (r = 0.605, P = 0.008) as well as the cortisol-to-weight and cortisol-to-protein ratios (r = 0.858, P < 0.000) showed a high correlation. The hair sample weight was the better predictor of the HCC (ß = 0.520, P = 0.027) than HPC (ß = 0.125, P = 0.657). CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that the hair sample weight is the more suitable reference value for the HCC. Thus, the standard cortisol-to-weight ratio should be used as the preferred expression for the cumulative cortisol activity measured in the scalp hair. However, calculating the cortisol-to-protein ratio can be considered as an alternative if the hair sample weight is not available.

Exploring Reference Values for Hair Cortisol: Hair Weight versus Hair Protein.

BACKGROUND: As a marker of cumulative cortisol activity, hair cortisol has received attention in clinical and methodological research. Currently, it is common practice to relate hair cortisol concentration (HCC) to hair weight. The present paper explores hair protein concentration (HPC) as another possible reference value for HCC. METHODS: For n = 18 hair samples cut from the posterior vertex, the HCC, HPC, and hair sample weight were determined, and the cortisol-to-weight and cortisol-to-protein ratios were calculated. Correlations were analyzed between HCC, HPC, and hair sample weight as well as between the cortisol-to-weight and cortisol-to-protein ratios. Hair sample weight and HPC were included as independent variables in a stepwise linear regression model to predict HCC. RESULTS: HCC and HPC did not correlate significantly (r = .393, p = .106); however, the correlation between HCC and hair sample weight was significant (r = .520, p = .027). HPC and hair sample weight (r = .605, p = .008) as well as the cortisol-to-weight and cortisol-to-protein ratios (r = .858, p < .000) showed a high correlation. Hair sample weight was the better predictor of HCC (ß = .520, p = .027) than HPC (ß = .125, p = .657). CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that hair sample weight is the more suitable reference value for HCC. Thus, the standard cortisol-to-weight ratio should be used as the preferred expression for cumulative cortisol activity measured in scalp hair. However, calculating the cortisol-to-protein ratio can be considered as an alternative if the hair sample weight is not available.

Child neurodevelopment and mental health after surgical ventricular septal defect repair: risk and protective factors.

AIM: This case-control study examined the long-term consequences of surgical correction for ventricular septal defect (VSD; the most common congenital heart defect) in infancy. It assessed children who had undergone VSD surgery and the factors related to maternal conditions, surgery, and hospital stay. METHOD: Thirty-nine children (23 females, 16 males; age range 6y 1mo-9y 7mo [mean 7y 4mo, SD 1y]) with repaired isolated, non-syndromic, non-genetic VSD were compared with 39 typically developing children (22 females, 17 males; age range 6y-9y 2mo [mean 7y 3mo, SD 10mo]). The children completed behavioural tests of neurodevelopment and a quality of life (QoL) questionnaire. Mothers rated children's emotional/behavioural symptoms and QoL. Measures of maternal parenting behaviour and psychopathology were treated as moderators. RESULTS: Affected children showed reduced language skills (p=0.002) unless mothers reported high parenting behaviour subscale scores (p=0.04). Children's anxiety symptoms were elevated when mothers had anxiety symptoms (p=0.01). Longer hospital stay was associated with lower intelligence (p=0.003) and psychomotor scores (p=0.006). Longer scars predicted elevated child anxiety (p=0.008), and age at surgery and QoL were inversely related (p=0.01). INTERPRETATION: Impairments could be mitigated if VSD repair was performed early in life with a relatively small scar and uncomplicated hospital stay. This outcome depends on maternal parenting behaviour and anxiety symptoms. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS: Children's cognitive and psychomotor development after surgical ventricular septal defect repair was unimpaired. Children showed no mental health restrictions when their mothers reported few anxiety symptoms themselves. Language impairments might be preventable by pro-active parenting. The outcome also depends on variables related to surgery and hospital stay.

Associations of prenatal depressive symptoms with DNA methylation of HPA axis-related genes and diurnal cortisol profiles in primary school-aged children.

Epigenetic DNA modifications in genes related to the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis are discussed as a mechanism underlying the association between prenatal depression and altered child HPA activity. In a longitudinal study, DNA methylation changes related to prenatal depressive symptoms were investigated in 167 children aged 6 to 9 years. At six candidate genes, 126 cytosine-guanine dinucleotides were considered without correcting for multiple testing due to the exploratory nature of the study. Further associations with the basal child HPA activity were examined. Children exposed to prenatal depressive symptoms exhibited lower bedtime cortisol (p = .003, ηp2 = 0.07) and a steeper diurnal slope (p = .023, ηp2 = 0.06). For total cortisol release, prenatal exposure was related to lower cortisol release in boys, and higher release in girls. Furthermore, prenatal depressive symptoms were associated with altered methylation in the glucocorticoid receptor gene (NR3C1), the mineralocorticoid receptor gene (NR3C2), and the serotonin receptor gene (SLC6A4), with some sex-specific effects (p = .012-.040, ηp2 = 0.03-0.04). In boys, prenatal depressive symptoms predicted bedtime cortisol mediated by NR3C2 methylation, indirect effect = -0.07, 95% confidence interval [-0.16, -0.02]. Results indicate relations of prenatal depressive symptoms to both child basal HPA activity and DNA methylation, partially fitting a mediation model, with exposed boys and girls being affected differently.

Effects of prenatal alcohol consumption on cognitive development and ADHD-related behaviour in primary-school age: a multilevel study based on meconium ethyl glucuronide.

BACKGROUND: Alcohol intake during pregnancy is considered to be a risk factor for child development. Child biomarkers of intrauterine alcohol exposure have been rarely studied. We investigated whether a meconium alcohol metabolite (ethyl glucuronide, EtG) was associated with cognitive development, ADHD-related behaviour and neurophysiological markers of attention and executive control of children at primary-school age. METHODS: Mothers provided self-report on prenatal alcohol consumption during their 3rd trimester. Meconium samples were collected at birth. A total of 44 children with a meconium EtG above the detection limit (≥10 ng/g) and 44 nonexposed matched controls were compared. A second threshold (≥154 ng/g) was applied to study the dose effects. When children reached primary-school age, mothers rated ADHD-related behaviour, child cognitive development was measured using an IQ test battery, and event-related potentials were recorded during a cued go/nogo task. RESULTS: Children in both EtG-positive groups allocated fewer attentional resources than controls to the go/nogo task (reduced P3 component in go-trials). Children with a meconium EtG above 154 ng/g were also found to have an IQ that was six points lower than the other groups. Within the EtG ≥ 154 ng/g group, there was a positive correlation between EtG value and ADHD-related behaviour. These significant effects were not observed in relation to the maternal self-report data. CONCLUSIONS: Associations between EtG and cognitive deficits, attentional resource capacity and ADHD-related behaviour could be documented with effects that were partially dose-dependent. In addition to maternal self-reports, this biomarker of intrauterine alcohol exposure may be considered as a predictor of child development.

[Epigenetic modifications in children associated with maternal emotional stress during pregnancy]. / Affektive Belastungen der Mutter in der Schwangerschaft und assoziierte epigenetische Veränderungen beim Kind: Eine Übersicht.

Besides typical physical and hormonal changes during pregnancy, this life period is often associated with an increased emotional and mental stress for women. For the child, the time in utero is regarded as a critical developmental period since adverse stimuli during pregnancy can have lasting consequences for the fetal and postnatal health and development. Thus, prenatal depression, anxiety and stress are considered as risk factors for developmental delay, emotional and behavioral problems. Epigenetic modifications, especially modifications in DNA methylation, are discussed as a possible biological mechanism that could explain the association between prenatal emotional stress and altered developmental and health outcomes of the child. This review summarizes evidence for DNA methylation changes related to prenatal emotional stress from studies with a candidate-gene approach as well as epigenome-wide association studies. Problematic issues are discussed and recommendations for future research are presented.

[Parenting stress and the reliability of parental information in the diagnostics of children and adolescents with symptoms of psychiatric and behavioral disorders]. / Elterliche Belastung und die Zuverlässigkeit von Elternangaben in der Diagnostik psychisch und verhaltensauffälliger Kinder und Jugendlicher.

Objective: Information from parents is regularly used in the diagnostic process of children and adolescents with psychiatric symptoms. But the reliability of this information is debatable, because the parents' own stress can distort their perceptions of the child's symptoms. Method: For each of N = 68 children and adolescents (11­18 years) who were using mental health services for the first time, we evaluated the ratings of a parent and a professional clinician (internalizing, externalizing symptoms, total-problem score). In addition, parenting stress was scored on the Eltern-Belastungs-Inventars (EBI, Tröster, 2011), which measures both child-related stress and parent-related stress as well as total stress. Results: Highly stressed parent ratings differed more from the clinicians' ratings than the ratings of less stressed parents. Additionally, correlations showed that higher parenting stress resulted in larger differences between the parent's and the clinician's assessments. Multiple regressions proved the predictive value of child-caused parenting stress for these differences. These results apply for internalizing symptoms, externalizing symptoms, and total-problem score. Conclusions: Parenting stress should be evaluated systematically in order to carefully assess the value of the information from parents and to determine how it should be included in diagnostic and therapeutical decisions.

A bimodal neurophysiological study of motor control in attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: a step towards core mechanisms?

Knowledge about the core neural mechanisms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, a pathophysiologically heterogeneous psychiatric disorder starting in childhood, is still limited. Progress may be achieved by combining different methods and levels of investigation. In the present study, we investigated neural mechanisms of motor control in 19 children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (aged 9-14 years) and 21 age-matched typically developing children by relating neural markers of attention and response control (using event-related potentials) and measures of motor excitability/inhibition (evoked by transcranial magnetic stimulation). Thus, an interplay of processes at a subsecond scale could be studied. Using a monetary incentives-based cued Go/No-Go task, parameters that are well-known to be reduced in attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder were analysed: event-related potential components P3 (following cue stimuli; in Go and No-Go trials) and contingent negative variation as well as the transcranial magnetic stimulation-based short-interval intracortical inhibition measured at different latencies in Go and No-Go trials. For patient and control groups, different associations were obtained between performance, event-related potential and transcranial magnetic stimulation measures. In children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, the P3 amplitude in Go trials was not correlated with reaction time measures but with short-interval intracortical inhibition at rest (r=0.56, P=0.01). In No-Go trials, P3 and short-interval intracortical inhibition after inhibiting the response (at 500 ms post-stimulus) were correlated in these children only (r=0.62; P=0.008). A classification rate of 90% was achieved when using short-interval intracortical inhibition (measured shortly before the occurrence of a Go or No-Go stimulus) and the amplitude of the P3 in cue trials as input features in a linear discriminant analysis. Findings indicate deviant neural implementation of motor control in children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder reflecting compensatory cognitive mechanisms as a result of a basal motor cortical inhibitory deficit (reduced activation of inhibitory intracortical interneurons). Both deviant inhibitory and attentional processes, which are not related to each other, seem to be characteristic for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder at the neural level in motor control tasks. The underlying neural mechanisms, which are probably not restricted to the motor cortex and the posterior attention network, may play a key role in the pathophysiology of this child psychiatric disorder. The high classification rate can further be interpreted as a step towards the development of neural markers. In summary, the bimodal neurophysiological concept may contribute to developing an integrative framework for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Perception and evaluation of women's bodies in adolescents and adults with anorexia nervosa.

Body image disturbance in anorexia nervosa (AN) has been widely studied with regard to the patient's own body, but little is known about perception of or attitude towards other women's bodies in AN. The aim of the present study was to investigate how 20 girls aged 12-18 years and 19 adult women suffering from AN compared to 37 healthy adolescent girls and women estimate weight and attractiveness of women's bodies belonging to different BMI categories (BMI 13.8-61.3 kg/m²). Weight and attractiveness ratings of the participant's own body and information on physical comparisons were obtained, and effects on others' weight and attractiveness ratings investigated. Differential evaluation processes were found: AN patients estimated other women's weight higher than control participants. Patients showed a bias towards assessing extremely underweight women as more attractive and normal weight and overweight women as less attractive than healthy girls and women. These effects were more pronounced in adult than in adolescent AN patients. The tendency to engage in physical comparison with others significantly correlated with weight as well as attractiveness ratings in patients. A logistic regression model encompassing own attractiveness ratings, attractiveness bias towards strongly underweight others' bodies and the interaction of this bias with age as predictors differentiated best between AN patients and controls. Our results indicate that females suffering from AN and healthy girls and women perceive other women's bodies differently. Assessment of others' weight and attractiveness may contribute to the maintenance of dysfunctional physical comparison processes.

Motor cortical inhibition in ADHD: modulation of the transcranial magnetic stimulation-evoked N100 in a response control task.

The N100 component, evoked by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and electroencephalography is associated with the activation of inhibitory cortical circuits and has recently been suggested as a potential marker of inhibition in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The aim of the present ADHD study was to investigate the modulation of the TMS-N100 in go and nogo trials of a response control task considering stages of response preparation, activation, execution and inhibition. Eighteen children with ADHD and 19 typically developing children, aged 10-14 years, were assessed. TMS was delivered over the left motor cortex, the TMS-N100 was measured at electrode P3. The TMS-N100 was determined at rest and at different time points (50 ms before S2; 150, 300 and 500 ms after S2) in a cued go/nogo task (S1-S2 paradigm). Correlations between the TMS-N100 measures, MEP-related TMS measures (e.g., short-interval intracortical inhibition) and performance measures were calculated. At rest, the amplitude of TMS-N100 was not found to be significantly reduced in the ADHD group. During the go/nogo task, children with ADHD showed a smaller increase of TMS-N100 amplitude in go trials and a smaller decrease after inhibiting a response. In go trials, a lower TMS-N100 was associated with a smaller variability of reaction times. A smaller TMS-N100 modulation extends the picture of cortical inhibition deficits in ADHD. Findings suggest a functional involvement of the mechanisms underlying the TMS-N100 at the motor output stage.

Neurofeedback in ADHD: further pieces of the puzzle.

Among the different neuromodulation techniques, neurofeedback (NF) is gaining increasing interest in the treatment of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In this article, a methodological framework is summarised considering the training as a neuro-behavioural treatment. Randomised controlled trials are selectively reviewed. Results from two smaller-scale studies are presented with the first study comprising a tomographic analysis over the course of a slow cortical potential (SCP) training and a correlational analysis of regulation skills and clinical outcome in children with ADHD. In the second study, ADHD-related behaviour was studied in children with tic disorder who either conducted a SCP training or a theta/low-beta (12-15 Hz) training (single-blind, randomised design). Both studies provide further evidence for the specificity of NF effects in ADHD. Based on these findings, a refined model of the mechanisms contributing to the efficacy of SCP training is developed. Despite a number of open questions concerning core mechanisms, moderators and mediators, NF (theta/beta and SCP) training seems to be on its way to become a valuable and ethically acceptable module in the treatment of children with ADHD.

[Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), inhibition processes and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) - an overview]. / Transkranielle Magnetstimulation (TMS), Inhibitionsprozesse und Aufmerksamkeitsdefizit-/ Hyperaktivitätsstörung (ADHS).

Motor system excitability can be tested by transcranial magnetic stimulation CFMS). In this article, an overview of recent methodological developments and research findings related to attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is provided. Different TMS parameters that reflect the function of interneurons in the motor cortex may represent neurophysiological markers of inhibition in ADHD, particularly the so-called intracortical inhibition. In children with a high level of hyperactivity and impulsivity, intracortical inhibition was comparably low at rest as shortly before the execution of a movement. TMS-evoked potentials can also be measured in the EEG so that investigating processes of excitability is not restricted to motor areas in future studies. The effects of methylphenidate on motor system excitability may be interpreted in the sense of a 'fine-tuning' with these mainly dopaminergic effects also depending on genetic parameters (DAT1 transporter). A differentiated view on the organization of motor control can be achieved by a combined analysis of TMS parameters and event-related potentials. Applying this bimodal approach, strong evidence for a deviant implementation of motor control in children with ADHD and probably compensatory mechanisms (with involvement of the prefrontal cortex) was obtained. These findings, which contribute to a better understanding of hyperactivity/impulsivity, inhibitory processes and motor control in ADHD as well as the mechanisms of medication, underline the relevance of TMS as a neurophysiological method in ADHD research.

Heart Rate as a Correlate for the Emotional Processing of Body Stimuli in Anorexia Nervosa.

In anorexia nervosa, aberrant emotional reactions toward body stimuli have been discussed. We investigated heart rate as a physiological marker when viewing body stimuli and hypothesized altered HR reactions toward those highly significant and emotional stimuli in anorexia nervosa. In total, 37 anorexia nervosa patients and 43 control participants viewed pictures of women of five different weight categories, while their cardiac activity was recorded. R-R intervals following picture onset were determined, and means were calculated for three distinct time periods. The overall change in HR relative to baseline across all picture categories was greater in the patient group than in the control group (significant effect of "group", p = 0.002, partial η2 = 0.120). A significant decrease in HR 2 to 8 s after picture presentation was found for pictures of women of extreme weight in both participant groups (significant "category ∗ time segment interaction", p = 0.01, partial η2 = 0.037) and correlated with scores of sociocultural attitudes toward the appearance for the extremely underweight category (r = -0.33, p = 0.005). Therefore, differential HR reactions for anorexia nervosa patients and control participants were found for body stimuli in general. The highest HR decelerations in response to pictures of strongly underweight and overweight women may reflect emotional processes such as anxiety due to social comparison.