Correlates of eating behaviors in adolescence: a systematic review of qualitative studies.

CONTEXT: Nutrition plays a critical role in adolescence. Adolescents are vulnerable to the impact of different factors that distance them from healthy habits, increasing their risk of chronic diseases in adulthood. Qualitative methodologies allow for a better understanding of these factors. OBJECTIVE: This systematic review aims to consolidate qualitative research evidence from the past 10 years to analyze the facilitators and barriers influencing adolescents' eating behaviors. DATA SOURCES: Databases searched for relevant studies were Scopus, Medline/PubMed, PsycINFO, and Web of Science. DATA EXTRACTION: A total of 4176 records were identified. The authors used the GRADE-CERQual (Confidence in Evidence from Reviews of Qualitative Research) quality-assessment tool. RESULTS: Fifty articles with qualitative or mixed methodologies were finally included. The most applied techniques were focus groups and semi-structured interviews. The factors influencing adolescents' diets were classified into 4 dimensions: individual, social, community, and macrosystem factors. The most influential were the following-(1) at the individual level: gender (facilitator or barrier), taste and appearance of food (barrier), and lack of time (barrier); (2) at the social level: parents' and caregivers' influence (facilitator or barrier), peer group influence (barrier), and socioeconomic position (barrier); (3) at the community level: school food environment (facilitator or barrier), neighborhood food environment (barrier), household food environment (facilitator or barrier), food insecurity (barrier), and availability and affordability of ultra-processed foods (barrier); and (4) at the macrosystem level: digital tools (facilitator or barrier). CONCLUSIONS: This systematic review identified several facilitators and barriers influencing eating behaviors among adolescents. Qualitative research provides a rich source of knowledge to inform interventions aimed at improving adolescents' diets. Qualitative research is very useful for collecting researches that help to implement intervention programs that improve adolescent nutrition.

Dog-Assisted Therapy vs Relaxation for Children and Adolescents with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Study.

The rationale of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of Dog-assisted Therapy (DAT) in children and adolescents with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). We conducted a randomized controlled trial in a cohort of 71 children and adolescents with FASD. Participants were randomly assigned either to DAT group (n = 38) or Relaxation Group (control group) (n = 33). Results revealed that participants who were assigned to the DAT group experienced significantly reduced externalizing symptoms (CBCL Externalizing Inattention: t (69) = 2.81, p = .007; d = 0.7); CBCL Opposition: t (69) = 2.54, p = .013; d = 0.6), reduced internalizing symptoms (CBCL Social problems: t (69) = 3.21, p = .002; d = 0.8) as well as improvements on social skills (SSIS-P Problem behavior: t (68) = 2.55, p = .013; d = 0.6), and quality of life (KidScreen Autonomy and Parents: t (51) = - 2.03, p = .047; d = 0.5) compared to the relaxation control group. The relaxation control group obtained significant differences between the pre- and post-treatment evaluation, diminishing withdraw symptoms (t (32) = 3.03, p = .005; d = 0.2). Results suggest that DAT and relaxation may be promising adjunctive treatments for children and adolescents with FASD.Clinical trial registration information: http://clinicaltrials.gov/ ; NCT04038164.

Discrimination of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in adolescents: Spanish version of the Borderline Personality Features Scale for Children-11 Self-Report (BPFSC-11) Preliminary results.

BACKGROUND: Although the diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) during adolescence has been questioned, many recent studies have confirmed its validity. However, some clinical manifestations of BPD could be identifiable in adolescents with other pathologies, such as Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The objective of the present study is to examine the capacity of the self-report Borderline Personality Features Scale Children-11 (BPFSC-11) to discriminate between BPD and ADHD adolescents. METHODS: One hundred and forty-five participants were grouped based on their diagnosis: 58 with BPD, 58 with ADHD, and 29 healthy volunteers as a control group. Between-group differences and the ROC curve were performed to test if the total score for the BPFSC-11 and/or its factors can significantly discriminate between BPD and other adolescent groups. RESULTS: The results show that the total BPFSC-11 score has good discriminant capacity among adolescents diagnosed with BPD, ADHD and healthy volunteers. However, different patterns of discriminative capacity were observed between the three groups for emotional dysregulation and impulsivity/recklessness factors. CONCLUSIONS: Our results support the hypothesis that the BPFSC-11 is an adequate instrument for discriminating between BPD and ADHD in adolescents, who can present significant psychopathological overlap. Tools to identify BPD in adolescence, as well as for better differential diagnosis, would improve the possibility of offering specific treatments targeting these populations.

Intervenciones psicológicas del trastorno del espectro alcohólico fetal a lo largo del ciclo vital / Psychological interventions on fetal alcohol spectrum disorder across the life span

INTRODUCCIÓN: El trastorno del espectro alcohólico fetal (TEAF) es la principal causa conocida y prevenible de discapacidad intelectual en el mundo occidental y afecta hasta al 1-5% de la población. Se considera un trastorno infradiagnosticado e infratratado, y las intervenciones psicológicas con evidencia empírica son escasas. OBJETIVO: Revisar los estudios publicados hasta el momento sobre tratamiento psicológico del TEAF a lo largo de la vida. Se realizó una búsqueda bibliográfica mediante las bases de datos de Medline, PsychINFO, PubMed y Cochrane Library usando los términos fetal alcohol syndrome disorder AND cognitive behavioral intervention OR psychological intervention OR psychological treatment OR therapy OR psychotherapy. Se incluyeron los trabajos publicados que evaluaran la eficacia de tratamientos psicológicos para estos pacientes. DESARROLLO: Cumplieron los criterios de inclusión 20 estudios publicados. Los tratamientos se clasificaron en función del tipo de intervención: la regulación emocional y conductual, el entrenamiento en habilidades sociales y las intervenciones familiares. CONCLUSIONES: Los resultados indican que los tratamientos psicológicos dirigidos a trabajar la regulación emocional y conductual, el entrenamiento en habilidades sociales y las intervenciones familiares son los que tienen mayor evidencia en el tratamiento para el TEAF. La mayoría se basa en principios cognitivo-conductuales y a niños de edad escolar, y son escasas todavía las investigaciones de tratamientos para adultos con TEAF. A pesar del progreso en las intervenciones psicológicas para el TEAF, la investigación aún refleja marcadas limitaciones

INTRODUCTION. Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is the leading known and preventable cause of intellectual disability in the western world, affecting up to 1-5% of the population. It is considered an underdiagnosed and undertreated disorder, with few psychological interventions with empirical evidence. AIM. To review all the studies published to date on the psychological treatment of FASD throughout life. A bibliographic search was carried out using the MEDLINE, PsychINFO, PubMed and Cochrane Library databases using the terms fetal alcohol syndrome disorder AND cognitive behavioral intervention OR psychological intervention OR psychological treatment OR therapy OR psychotherapy. The review included published works which evaluate the efficacy of psychological treatments for these patients. DEVELOPMENT: Twenty published studies met the inclusion criteria. The treatments were classified according to the type of intervention: emotional and behavioral regulation, social skills training and family interventions for patients with FASD. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that psychological treatments focused on emotional and behavioral regulation, social skills training and family interventions are the most evidenced treatments for these patients. These treatments are based on cognitive-behavioral principles and include school-age children. However, more research is needed on psychological interventions for adults with FASD. Despite the progress in psychological interventions for FASD, the research still reflects highlighted limitations

Prevalence of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) among Children Adopted from Eastern European Countries: Russia and Ukraine.

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is a leading cause of neurodevelopmental disorders. Children adopted internationally from countries where alcohol consumption during pregnancy is very high are at greater risk for FASD. Lack of expertise in diagnosing FASD and mixed neurodevelopmental and behavioral signs due to abandonment complicate a timely diagnosis. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of FASD in adopted children. Children between the ages of 8 and 24 adopted from Russia and Ukraine were evaluated for clinical and historical features of FASD. Of the 162 children evaluated, 81 (50%) met FASD diagnostic criteria. Thirty-three (20.4%) children had fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), 28 (17.2%) had partial FAS, 2 (1.2%) had alcohol-related birth defects (ARBD) and 18 (11.1%) had alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorder (ARND). Of the 81 children in which fetal alcohol exposure could not be confirmed, many had manifestations that would have established a diagnosis of FASD if a history of maternal alcohol consumption was confirmed. In a population of children with a high risk of prenatal alcohol exposure (adoptees from Eastern European countries), at least 50% showed manifestations associated with FASD. The reported prevalence in this study is in line with the results obtained in a previous study as well as in orphanages of origin.

Dog-Assisted Therapy for Children and Adolescents With Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders a Randomized Controlled Pilot Study.

OBJECTIVE: The rationale of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of dog-assisted therapy (DAT) combined with pharmacological treatment in children and adolescents with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). METHOD: We conducted a randomized, rater-blinded, controlled pilot trial in a cohort of 33 children and adolescents with FASD. Participants were randomly assigned either to DAT group (n = 17) or Treatment as Usual (TAU control group) (n = 16). RESULTS: Of the initial 39 participants enrolled, 33 completed treatment. A mixed-effects model analysis revealed that participants who were assigned to the DAT group experienced significantly improvements on social skills (SSIS-P social skills: p = 0.02, d = 0.8), reductions on externalizing symptoms (CBCL externalizing: p = 0.03; d = 0.56), and lower scores on FASD severity (CGI-S clinician: p = 0.001, d = 0.5). CONCLUSION: DAT is a promising adjunctive treatment for children and adolescents with FASD. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: Dog-assisted therapy for children and adolescents with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders: a randomized controlled pilot study; http://clinicaltrials.gov/, identifier NCT04038164.

Terapia Asistida con Perros en niños y adolescentes con Trastorno del Espectro Alcohólico Fetal / Dog-Assisted Therapy for children and adolescents with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders

OBJETIVO: El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar la eficacia de la Terapia Asistida con Perros (TAP) en niños y adolescentes con Trastorno del Espectro Alcohólico Fetal (TEAF). MÉTODO: Realizamos un ensayo piloto aleatorizado y controlado, cegado por el evaluador, en una cohorte de 33 niños y adolescentes con TEAF. Los participantes fueron asignados aleatoriamente al grupo TAP (n=17) o al tratamiento habitual (n=16). RESULTADOS: De los 39 participantes iniciales inscritos, 33 completaron el tratamiento. Un análisis de modelo de efectos mixtos reveló que los participantes que fueron asignados al grupo TAP experimentaron mejoras significativas en habilidades sociales (SSIS-P Habilidades sociales: p = 0.02; d = 0.8), reducciones en los síntomas de externalización (CBCL Externalización p = 0.03; d = 0.56) y puntuaciones más bajas en la severidad del TEAF (CGI-S Clínico: p = 0.001; d = 0.5). CONCLUSIONES: La TAP parece ser un tratamiento complementario prometedor para niños y adolescentes con TEAF

OBJECTIVE: The rationale of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of Dog Assisted Therapy (DAT) in children and adolescents with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). METHOD: We conducted a randomized, rater-blinded, controlled pilot trial in a cohort of 33 children and adolescents with FASD. Participants were randomly assigned either to DAT group (n=17) or Treatment as Usual (TAU control group) (n=16). RESULTS: Of the initial 39 participants enrolled, 33 completed treatment. A mixed-effects model analysis revealed that participants who were assigned to the DAT group experienced significantly improvements on social skills (SSIS-P Social Skills: p = 0.02, d=0.8), reductions on externalizing symptoms (CBCL Externalizing: p = 0.03; d=0.56), and lower scores on FASD severity (CGI-S Clinician: p = 0.001, d=0.5). CONCLUSIONS: DAT is a promising adjunctive treatment for children and adolescents with FASD

Tratamiento del trastorno por déficit de atención/ hiperactividad en la edad adulta a través de la realidad virtual mediante un programa de mindfulness / Treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in adults using virtual reality through a mindfulness programme

Introducción. El trastorno por déficit de atención/hiperactividad (TDAH) es un trastorno del neurodesarrollo altamente prevalente, presenta una elevada comorbilidad con sintomatología afectiva y ansiosa, afecta a la funcionalidad de la persona que lo padece, tienen una baja adhesión terapéutica y genera unos costes sociales y personales elevados. El mindfulness es un tratamiento psicológico que ha demostrado ser eficaz para el TDAH. La realidad virtual es un tratamiento altamente utilizado en fobias y extendido a otras patologías con resultados positivos. Objetivo. Desarrollar el primer tratamiento con realidad virtual y mindfulness para el TDAH en la edad adulta, que suponga un aumento en la adhesión terapéutica y reduzca costes. Pacientes y métodos. Estudio piloto de 25 pacientes tratados con realidad virtual, mediante cuatro sesiones de 30 minutos, y 25 mediante psicoestimulantes. Se tomarán medidas de evaluación pretratamiento, postratamiento y postratamiento a los 3 y 12 meses, tanto de TDAH como de depresión, ansiedad, funcionalidad y calidad de vida. Se analizarán posteriormente con el programa SPSS v. 20 y se realizará un ANOVA de grupos independientes para ver las diferencias entre tratamientos y un test-retest para detectar el mantenimiento de los cambios. Resultados y conclusiones. Es necesaria la utilización de tratamientos que sean efectivos, supongan una reducción en los costes y un aumento en la adhesión terapéutica. El tratamiento con realidad virtual se plantea como una alternativa a los tratamientos clásicos, que sea más breve y atractiva para los pacientes (AU)

Introduction. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a highly prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder, which presents a high comorbidity with anxiety and affective signs and symptoms. It has repercussions on the functioning of those suffering from it, who also have low therapy compliance and generate a significant cost both at a personal level and for society. Mindfulness is a psychological treatment that has proved to be effective for ADHD. Virtual reality is widely used as treatment in cases of phobias and other pathologies, with positive results. Aims. To develop the first treatment for ADHD in adults based on virtual reality and mindfulness, while also resulting in increased treatment adherence and reduced costs. Patients and methods. We conducted a pilot study with 25 patients treated by means of virtual reality, in four 30-minute sessions, and 25 treated with psychostimulants. Measures will be taken pre-treatment, post-treatment and at 3 and 12 months post-treatment, to evaluate both ADHD and also depression, anxiety, functionality and quality of life. Data will be later analysed with the SPSS v. 20 statistical program. An ANOVA of independent groups will be performed to see the differences between treatments and also a test-retest to detect whether the changes will be maintained. Results and conclusions. It is necessary to use treatments that are effective, reduce costs and increase therapy adherence. Treatment with virtual reality is an interesting alternative to the classical treatments, and is shorter and more attractive for patients (AU)

Dopamine receptor DRD4 gene and stressful life events in persistent attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

We performed a case-control association study in persistent ADHD considering eight candidate genes (DRD4, DAT1/SLC6A3, COMT, ADRA2A, CES1, CYP2D6, LPHN3, and OPRM1) and found additional evidence for the involvement of the Dup 120bp and VNTR 48bp functional variants within the dopamine receptor DRD4 gene in the etiology of adult ADHD. We subsequently investigated the interaction of stressful life events with these two DRD4 polymorphisms, and the impact of such events on the severity of ADHD symptomatology. The gene-by-environment analysis revealed an independent effect of stressful experiences on the severity of persistent ADHD, and a gene-by-environment interaction on the inattentive dimension of the disorder, where non carriers of the Dup 120bp (L) - VNTR 48bp (7R) haplotype were more sensitive to environmental adversity than carriers. These results are in agreement with previous works reporting a relationship between DRD4 and the effect of adverse experiences, which may explain the discordant findings in previous genetic studies and strengthen the importance of gene-by-environment interactions on the severity of ADHD. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Group therapy for adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy of group cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) on adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) who were in pharmacological treatment but still had persistent symptoms. METHOD: We conducted a multicenter, randomized, rater-blinded, controlled trial between April 2012 and May 2014 in a cohort of 119 adolescents (15-21 years of age). Participants were randomly assigned to 12 manualized group CBT sessions (n = 45) or a waiting list control group (n = 44). Primary outcomes were assessed by a blinded evaluator (ADHD Rating Scale [ADHD-RS], Clinical Global Impression Scale for Severity [CGI-S], Global Assessment of Functioning [GAF]) before and after treatment, as well as by self-report and parent informant ratings. RESULTS: Of the initial 119 participants enrolled, 89 completed treatment. A mixed-effects model analysis revealed that participants who were assigned to the group CBT sessions experienced significantly reduced ADHD symptoms compared to the control group (ADHD-RS Adolescent: -7.46, 95% CI = -9.56 to -5.36, p < .001, d = 7.5; ADHD-RS Parents: -9.11, 95% CI = -11.48 to -6.75, p < .001, d = 8.38; CGI-S Self-Report: -0.68, 95% CI = -0.98 to -0.39, p < .001, d = 3.75; CGI-S Clinician: -0.79, 95% CI = -0.95 to -0.62, p < .001; d = 7.71). Functional impairment decreased significantly in the CBT group according to parents (Weiss Functional Impairment Scale -4.02, 95% CI = -7.76 to -0.29, p < .05, d = 2.29) and according to the blinded evaluator (GAF: -7.58, 95% CI = -9.1 to -6.05, p < .001, d = 7.51). CONCLUSION: Group CBT associated with pharmacological treatment is an efficacious intervention for reducing ADHD symptoms and functional impairment in adolescents. Clinical trial registration information-CBT Group for Adolescents With ADHD: a Randomized Controlled Trial; http://clinicaltrials.gov/; NCT02172183.

[Cognitive-behavioural guidance interventions in adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder]. / Intervenciones de orientación cognitivo-conductual en adolescentes con trastorno por déficit de atención/hiperactividad.

INTRODUCTION: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that may become manifest at any time in life. In 50-70% of children diagnosed with the disorder it presents in adolescence. Young people with ADHD have high rates of comorbidity with other psychiatric disorders and a high degree of functional compromise. AIMS: To review the literature on cognitive-behavioural interventions that have been applied to the treatment of ADHD in adolescence. DEVELOPMENT: The studies that have been conducted on psychological treatment to date were reviewed, and the interventions were classified into: psychosocial treatments, mindfulness therapy and cognitive-behavioural treatment (individual and in groups). The only study on cognitive-behavioural therapy for adolescents with ADHD is also reviewed, as well as a new intervention protocol for application to groups designed at the Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron. CONCLUSIONS: Although there has been a recent increase in the number of publications dealing with the psychological treatment of ADHD in adolescents, there is a need for a greater development of intervention protocols and studies on their efficacy/effectiveness.

TITLE: Intervenciones de orientacion cognitivo-conductual en adolescentes con trastorno por deficit de atencion/hiperactividad.Introduccion. El trastorno por deficit de atencion/hiperactividad (TDAH) es un trastorno del neurodesarrollo que se puede manifestar a lo largo de la vida. Un 50-70% de los niños diagnosticados presenta el trastorno en la adolescencia. Los jovenes con TDAH tienen elevadas tasas de comorbilidad con otros trastornos psiquiatricos y una elevada afectacion funcional. Objetivo. Revisar la bibliografia de las intervenciones cognitivo-conductuales que se han aplicado al tratamiento del TDAH en la adolescencia. Desarrollo. Se revisan los estudios sobre tratamiento psicologico, clasificando las intervenciones en: tratamientos psicosociales, tratamiento en mindfulness y tratamiento cognitivo-conductual (individual y en formato de grupo). Se revisa el unico estudio publicado sobre terapia cognitivo-conductual para adolescentes con TDAH, asi como un nuevo protocolo de intervencion en formato de grupo diseñado en el Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron. Conclusiones. Aunque recientemente se ha incrementado el numero de publicaciones sobre el tratamiento psicologico del TDAH en el adolescente, se requiere un desarrollo mayor de protocolos de intervencion y estudios sobre la eficacia/efectividad de estos.

Intervenciones de orientación cognitivo-conductual en adolescentes con trastorno por déficit de atención/ hiperactividad / Cognitive-behavioural guidance interventions in adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Introducción. El trastorno por déficit de atención/hiperactividad (TDAH) es un trastorno del neurodesarrollo que se puede manifestar a lo largo de la vida. Un 50-70% de los niños diagnosticados presenta el trastorno en la adolescencia. Los jóvenes con TDAH tienen elevadas tasas de comorbilidad con otros trastornos psiquiátricos y una elevada afectación funcional. Objetivo. Revisar la bibliografía de las intervenciones cognitivo-conductuales que se han aplicado al tratamiento del TDAH en la adolescencia. Desarrollo. Se revisan los estudios sobre tratamiento psicológico, clasificando las intervenciones en: tratamientos psicosociales, tratamiento en mindfulness y tratamiento cognitivo-conductual (individual y en formato de grupo). Se revisa el único estudio publicado sobre terapia cognitivo-conductual para adolescentes con TDAH, así como un nuevo protocolo de intervención en formato de grupo diseñado en el Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron. Conclusiones. Aunque recientemente se ha incrementado el número de publicaciones sobre el tratamiento psicológico del TDAH en el adolescente, se requiere un desarrollo mayor de protocolos de intervención y estudios sobre la eficacia/ efectividad de éstos (AU)

Introduction. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that may become manifest at any time in life. In 50-70% of children diagnosed with the disorder it presents in adolescence. Young people with ADHD have high rates of comorbidity with other psychiatric disorders and a high degree of functional compromise. Aims. To review the literature on cognitive-behavioural interventions that have been applied to the treatment of ADHD in adolescence. Development. The studies that have been conducted on psychological treatment to date were reviewed, and the interventions were classified into: psychosocial treatments, mindfulness therapy and cognitive-behavioural treatment (individual and in groups). The only study on cognitive-behavioural therapy for adolescents with ADHD is also reviewed, as well as a new intervention protocol for application to groups designed at the Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron. Conclusions. Although there has been a recent increase in the number of publications dealing with the psychological treatment of ADHD in adolescents, there is a need for a greater development of intervention protocols and studies on their efficacy/effectiveness (AU)

Case-control genome-wide association study of persistent attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder identifies FBXO33 as a novel susceptibility gene for the disorder.

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder with high heritability. At least 30% of patients diagnosed in childhood continue to suffer from ADHD during adulthood and genetic risk factors may play an essential role in the persistence of the disorder throughout lifespan. To date, genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of ADHD have been completed in seven independent datasets, six of which were pediatric samples and one on persistent ADHD using a DNA-pooling strategy, but none of them reported genome-wide significant associations. In an attempt to unravel novel genes for the persistence of ADHD into adulthood, we conducted the first two-stage GWAS in adults with ADHD. The discovery sample included 607 ADHD cases and 584 controls. Top signals were subsequently tested for replication in three independent follow-up samples of 2104 ADHD patients and 1901 controls. None of the findings exceeded the genome-wide threshold for significance (PGC<5e-08), but we found evidence for the involvement of the FBXO33 (F-box only protein 33) gene in combined ADHD in the discovery sample (P=9.02e-07) and in the joint analysis of both stages (P=9.7e-03). Additional evidence for a FBXO33 role in ADHD was found through gene-wise and pathway enrichment analyses in our genomic study. Risk alleles were associated with lower FBXO33 expression in lymphoblastoid cell lines and with reduced frontal gray matter volume in a sample of 1300 adult subjects. Our findings point for the first time at the ubiquitination machinery as a new disease mechanism for adult ADHD and establish a rationale for searching for additional risk variants in ubiquitination-related genes.

Prevalencia de síntomas de trastorno por déficit de atención con hiperactividad en adolescentes y adultos jóvenes con otros trastornos psiquiátricos refractarios a tratamientos previos / Prevalence of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms in outpatient adolescents and young adults with other psychiatric disorders refractory to previous treatments

Introducción. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar la prevalencia de síntomas de trastorno por déficit de atención con hiperactividad (TDAH) en adolescentes y adultos jóvenes diagnosticados de otros trastornos psiquiátricos primarios que no habían respondido a tratamientos previos. Material y métodos. Se incluyeron 795 pacientes ambulatorios de 15-24 años. Se estudió la presencia de un TDAH según los criterios DSM-IV y la frecuencia de los síntomas utilizando la escala de valoración del TDAH de DuPaul de 18 ítems. Resultados. Se objetivó la presencia de un TDAH (criterios DSM-IV) en 48 pacientes (6%), ninguno de los cuales previamente había recibido este diagnóstico. Un total de 260 pacientes (32,7%) presentaron síntomas moderados de TDAH y en ellos la gravedad del trastorno psiquiátrico de base era mayor según la ICG-S (p = 0,007). Los factores de riesgo para tener síntomas moderados de TDAH fueron la presencia de trastornos por uso de sustancias (TUS) (odds ratio = 1,543; p = 0,01) y de trastorno límite de la personalidad (odds ratio = 2,173; p = 0,0001). Conclusiones. El TDAH no diagnosticado previamente estaba presente en el 6% de los pacientes, observándose asimismo una elevada frecuencia de síntomas moderados del trastorno (32,7%) en la muestra. Por estos motivos sería recomendable hacer un minucioso estudio del TDAH en los jóvenes refractarios al tratamiento del trastorno primario, principalmente en aquellos con trastornos por uso de sustancias, trastornos de conducta y de personalidad, debido a la elevada comorbilidad entre el TDAH y estos trastornos (AU)

Introduction. The aim of the current study was to assess the prevalence of symptoms of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adolescents and young adults diagnosed with other primary psychiatric disorders, who had not responded to previous treatments. Material and methods. A total of 795 outpatients aged 15 to 24 years were included. The presence of ADHD was studied using DSM-IV criteria and the frequency of symptoms using the 18 item DuPaul ADHD Rating Scale. Results. ADHD (DSM-IV criteria) was present in 48 patients (6%), none of whom had previously received the diagnosis. A total of 260 patients (32.7%) met the criteria for moderate ADHD and between them, severity of primary psychiatric disorder was higher according to the CGI-S (P = .007). Risk factors for moderate ADHD symptoms were the presence of substance use disorders (SUD) (odds ratio = 1.543, P = .01) and borderline personality disorders (odds ratio = 2.173, p = .0001). Conclusion. Unrecognized ADHD was present in 6% of patients; moreover 32.7% of the sample also presented moderate symptoms of the disorder. Screening for ADHD in young patients with refractory response to primary disorder treatment, mainly those with substance use disorders, conduct and personality disorders is highly advisable, due to the high frequency of ADHD comorbidity in these psychiatric disorders (AU)

Emotional lability: the discriminative value in the diagnosis of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder in adults.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to assess the discriminative value of emotional lability (EL) in the diagnosis of adults with ADHD. METHODS: A group of adults who met ADHD DSM-IV diagnostic criteria (n=589), a clinical control group (n=138) and a community control group (n=98) were compared in EL scores. SCID-I, SCID-II and CAADID were used to select subjects. The specific subscale on EL of the Conners Adult ADHD Rating Scale (CAARS) was used to evaluate EL. RESULTS: An analysis of the covariance was carried out in order to explore the association between EL, ADHD and comorbidity. The group factor (ADHD, clinical or community group) and the comorbidity factor (presence or absence of other psychiatric disorders different from ADHD) showed to be significant on EL intensity (group: F=81.78 p=0.000; comorbidity: F=25.48 p=0.000). However, no significant differences were found in the group × comorbidity interaction (F=1.006, p=0.366). EL showed a sensitivity of 87.1% and a specificity of 46.6% in discriminating between ADHD patients and subjects with other psychiatric disorders. CONCLUSION: EL is specifically related to ADHD and this association is not explained for the presence of other psychiatric disorders. The presence of comorbid disorders is only related to a major intensity of EL.

[Prevalence of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms in outpatient adolescents and young adults with other psychiatric disorders refractory to previous treatments]. / Prevalencia de síntomas de trastorno por déficit de atención con hiperactividad en adolescentes y adultos jóvenes con otros trastornos psiquiátricos refractarios a tratamientos previos.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of the current study was to assess the prevalence of symptoms of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adolescents and young adults diagnosed with other primary psychiatric disorders, who had not responded to previous treatments. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 795 outpatients aged 15 to 24 years were included. The presence of ADHD was studied using DSM-IV criteria and the frequency of symptoms using the 18 item DuPaul ADHD Rating Scale. RESULTS: ADHD (DSM-IV criteria) was present in 48 patients (6%), none of whom had previously received the diagnosis. A total of 260 patients (32.7%) met the criteria for moderate ADHD and between them, severity of primary psychiatric disorder was higher according to the CGI-S (P=.007). Risk factors for moderate ADHD symptoms were the presence of substance use disorders (SUD) (odds ratio=1.543, P=.01) and borderline personality disorders (odds ratio =2.173, p=.0001). CONCLUSION: Unrecognized ADHD was present in 6% of patients; moreover 32.7% of the sample also presented moderate symptoms of the disorder. Screening for ADHD in young patients with refractory response to primary disorder treatment, mainly those with substance use disorders, conduct and personality disorders is highly advisable, due to the high frequency of ADHD comorbidity in these psychiatric disorders.

Functioning Assessment Short Test (FAST): validity and reliability in adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

Studies highlight that the functional deficits in different areas of a subject's life are an important characteristic that define adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). On the other hand, in the scientific literature, there are no evaluation instruments with psychometric studies concerning their reliability and validity for this variable in adults with ADHD. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Functioning Assessment Short Test (FAST), regarding its reliability and validity, as a measure of adult ADHD functioning. A case-control study was carried out in a sample of 152 adult subjects (88 with ADHD diagnosis and 64 healthy controls). The psychometric properties of the instrument were analyzed regarding feasibility, internal consistency, concurrent validity, discriminant validity (ADHD vs. controls) and factor analysis. For the total scale, Cronbach's alpha was of 0.83, and strong values in the measures of its discriminant capacity were obtained, AUC ROC = 0.98, IC (0.96-0.99). The test is reliable as the internal consistency was high. Significant differences are observed in the correlation between domains, between healthy subjects and subjects with ADHD. ADHD subjects showed impairments in all areas of their life, especially in the cognitive functioning domain, followed by the autonomy, occupational functioning and interpersonal relationships domains. The FAST is an easily administered short interview and has good psychometric properties, in terms of reliability and validity, as a measure of the functional level in adults with ADHD. The study also showed that subjects with adult ADHD may be functionally impaired.

Genome-wide copy number variation analysis in adult attention-deficit and hyperactivity disorder.

Attention-deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common psychiatric disorder with a worldwide prevalence of 5-6% in children and 4.4% in adults. Recently, copy number variations (CNVs) have been implicated in different neurodevelopmental disorders such as ADHD. Based on these previous reports that focused on pediatric cohorts, we hypothesize that structural variants may also contribute to adult ADHD and that such genomic variation may be enriched for CNVs previously identified in children with ADHD. To address this issue, we performed for the first time a whole-genome CNV study on 400 adults with ADHD and 526 screened controls. In agreement with recent reports in children with ADHD or in other psychiatric disorders, we identified a significant excess of insertions in ADHD patients compared to controls. The overall rate of CNVs >100 kb was 1.33 times higher in ADHD subjects than in controls (p = 2.4e-03), an observation mainly driven by a higher proportion of small events (from 100 kb to 500 kb; 1.35-fold; p = 1.3e-03). These differences remained significant when we considered CNVs that overlap genes or when structural variants spanning candidate genes for psychiatric disorders were evaluated, with duplications showing the greatest difference (1.41-fold, p = 0.024 and 2.85-fold, p = 8.5e-03, respectively). However, no significant enrichment was detected in our ADHD cohort for childhood ADHD-associated CNVs, CNVs previously identified in at least one ADHD patient or CNVs previously implicated in autism or schizophrenia. In conclusion, our study provides tentative evidence for a higher rate of CNVs in adults with ADHD compared to controls and contributes to the growing list of structural variants potentially involved in the etiology of the disease.

Psychoeducation for adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder vs. cognitive behavioral group therapy: a randomized controlled pilot study.

The aim of the present study was to assess the efficacy of psychoeducation as compared with cognitive behavioral group therapy in adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) who still had significant symptoms and were in pharmacological treatment. This is the first study on psychoeducation in adults with ADHD. Thirty-two individuals were randomized to two treatment conditions: 15 were in the psychoeducation group and 11 were in the cognitive behavioral group therapy. A total of 30 completed treatment, and 26 completed the follow-up assessments. The results indicated that both treatments were associated with statistically significant improvements on inattention, hyperactivity, impulsivity, and self-esteem. The patients in both groups showed a decrease in anxiety symptoms and obtained significantly lower scores in depression. Measures on functional impairment showed statistically significant differences on improved quality of life and on lower global severity as perceived in self-report and assessed by clinician report. Psychoeducation demonstrated to be an effective treatment in reducing ADHD core symptoms.

[The neuroanatomy of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in adults: structural and functional neuroimaging findings]. / Neuroanatomia del trastorno por deficit de atencion/hiperactividad en el adulto: hallazgos de neuroimagen estructural y funcional.

The objective of this work is to review the existing literature on findings from structural and functional magnetic resonance and connectivity. For a long time it was thought that children 'grew out' of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) on reaching adolescence. Yet, it is now known that up to 70% of children who present ADHD in childhood go on to present symptoms in the behavioural and cognitive sphere in adulthood. Neuroimaging studies conducted in adults with ADHD have shown alterations in the brain at the structural and functional levels, and also in terms of connectivity. These findings have been observed mainly in the inferior frontal and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, as well as in striatal, anterior cingulate, parietotemporal and cerebellar regions. However, certain inconsistencies have also been found, which may be related with the presence of comorbidity, a history of medication, gender-related differences and the small size of the sample used in some studies. Differences have also been noted in relation to studies carried out in children with ADHD. Hence the importance for future studies of avoiding the existence of variables that can affect the findings in ADHD in adults and, moreover, of being able to determine whether the anatomical and functional deficits continue into adulthood.