ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To perform a pilot study to investigate the association between working memory and cortical thickness in a sample of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) children. METHODS: Seventeen children aged 7-10 years diagnosed with ADHD and 16 healthy children underwent a magnetic resonance scan for cortical thickness measurements. Data was correlated with working memory performance using the Backwards Digit Span subtest of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children. RESULTS: Working memory impairment, evidenced by lower scores on the Backwards Digit Span, was observed in patients with ADHD compared to healthy controls. There was a direct correlation between working memory and cortical thickness of the left medial temporal lobe (Spearman's correlation coefficient: 0.499; p < 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggests, for the first time, a correlation between working memory, evaluated by the Backwards Digit Span, and left medial temporal cortical thickness.
Subject(s)
Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity/physiopathology , Memory, Short-Term/physiology , Temporal Lobe/anatomy & histology , Temporal Lobe/physiopathology , Age Factors , Case-Control Studies , Child , Female , Humans , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Male , Neuropsychological Tests , Pilot Projects , Reference Values , Sex Factors , Statistics, Nonparametric , Surveys and Questionnaires , Temporal Lobe/diagnostic imaging , Wechsler ScalesABSTRACT
ABSTRACT Objective To perform a pilot study to investigate the association between working memory and cortical thickness in a sample of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) children. Methods Seventeen children aged 7-10 years diagnosed with ADHD and 16 healthy children underwent a magnetic resonance scan for cortical thickness measurements. Data was correlated with working memory performance using the Backwards Digit Span subtest of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children. Results Working memory impairment, evidenced by lower scores on the Backwards Digit Span, was observed in patients with ADHD compared to healthy controls. There was a direct correlation between working memory and cortical thickness of the left medial temporal lobe (Spearman’s correlation coefficient: 0.499; p < 0.005). Conclusions Our data suggests, for the first time, a correlation between working memory, evaluated by the Backwards Digit Span, and left medial temporal cortical thickness.
RESUMO Objetivo Realizar estudo piloto para investigar a associação entre memória de trabalho e espessura cortical em crianças com transtorno de défict de atenção e hiperatividade (TDAH). Métodos Dezessete crianças com TDAH, entre 7 e 10 anos, e dezesseis crianças saudáveis foram submetidas a ressonância magnética para aferição de espessura cortical. Os dados foram correlacionados com desempenho da memória de trabalho usando a ordem inversa do subteste Dígitos da Escala de Inteligência Wechsler para Crianças. Resultados Prejuízos na memória de trabalho, evidenciado pela menor pontuação na ordem inversa do subteste Dígitos, foram observados em pacientes com TDAH, em comparação com crianças saudáveis. Observou-se correlação direta entre memória de trabalho e espessura do lobo temporal médio à esquerda (coeficiente de correlação de Spearman: 0,499; p < 0,005). Conclusões Nossos dados sugerem, pela primeira vez, uma correlação entre memória de trabalho, avaliada através da pontuação na ordem inversa do subteste Dígitos, e espessura do córtex temporal medial à esquerda.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Child , Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity/physiopathology , Temporal Lobe/anatomy & histology , Temporal Lobe/physiopathology , Memory, Short-Term/physiology , Reference Values , Temporal Lobe/diagnostic imaging , Wechsler Scales , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Case-Control Studies , Pilot Projects , Sex Factors , Surveys and Questionnaires , Age Factors , Statistics, Nonparametric , Neuropsychological TestsABSTRACT
O Transtorno de Déficit de Atenção/Hiperatividade (TDAH) é definido a partir de um curso crônico o qual conduz a diversos comprometimentos. Em adultos, as maiores dificuldades são de organização, sustentação da atenção e memória. O transtorno apresenta como características nucleares a desatenção, a hiperatividade e a impulsividade, e seu diagnóstico é fundamentalmente clínico. Nosso objetivo é relatar o caso de uma cliente adulta diagnosticada com TDAH subtipo desatento e Depressão Maior, tratada apenas com Terapia Cognitivo-Comportamental (TCC) em 20 sessões. Inicialmente serão apresentadas as características clínicas do TDAH e breve revisão do tratamento com TCC. As medidas pré e pós-tratamento envolveram o Inventário de Depressão de Beck e Adult Self-Report Scale. Entre as intervenções utilizadas estavam a psicoeducação, o questionamento socrático e as estratégias de organização. Após a TCC a cliente não mais preenche critérios para depressão maior, além de apresentar redução dos sintomas de TDAH.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is defined from a chronic course which leads to several impairments. In adults, the greatest difficulties are in organization, sustained attention and memory. The disorder presents as core characteristics: inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity and its diagnosis is mainly clinical. Our aim is to report the case of an adult client diagnosed with ADHD inattentive subtype and Major Depression, treated only with Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) in 20 sessions. Initially we will present the clinical characteristics of ADHD and a brief review of the treatment of ADHD with CBT. We will then describe the search in the literature about the efficacy of CBT without medication in adults with ADHD inattentive subtype. The measures pre and post-treatment were: Beck Depression Inventory and Adult Self-Report Scale. Some interventions were psychoeducation, Socratic questioning and strategies to improve organization. After CBT, the client no longer meets criteria for major depression and there was a decrease in symptoms of ADHD.
