Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Latest ADHD Medical and Health News Headlines

ADHD Medical and Health News Headlines

All Recent ADHD Medical Condition News Headlines

Open News Links Below in New Window
Chadd and aacap applaud michael phelps for addressing stigma of ad/hd
"Congratulations to Michael Phelps for winning eight Olympic gold medals. I applaud him and his mother for speaking about AD/HD. Mr. Phelps shows that it's possible to go beyond coping with AD/HD and truly achieve. His candor addresses stigma and, hopefully, will inspire others to seek help," said AACAP President Robert Hendren, D.O. (Source: Psychology / Psychiatry News From Medical News Today)... MORE...
POSTED 08/26/2008 at 02:00 AM --

The gottfredson-hirschi critiques revisited: reconciling self-control theory, criminal careers, and career criminals
Revisiting Gottfredson and Hirschi's critiques of criminal career research, the current study views low self-control as being analogous to criminal propensity and examines its predictive validity of career criminality among 723 incarcerated delinquent youths. Four key findings emerged. Compared to noncareer offenders, career criminals had significantly lower levels of self-control. Second, youths scoring one standard deviation above the mean on the Self-Control Scale had an odds ratio of 5.36 of becoming a career criminal. Third, self-control predicted career criminal membership with receiver operator characteristic-area under the curve sensitivity accuracies between 74% and 87%, suggesting that self-control is a potentially useful screening device for chronic criminality. Fourth, low self-control was overwhelmingly the strongest predictor of career criminality and far exceeded the impact of age, race, ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic status, mental illness, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder diagnosis, and trauma experience. Further integration between self-control and criminal career research is urged. (Source: International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology)... MORE...
POSTED 08/25/2008 at 11:00 PM --

[influential publications] stimulant therapy and risk for subsequent substance use disorders in male adults with adhd: a naturalistic controlled 10-year follow-up study
Objective: The extant literature does not provide definite answers pertaining to whether stimulant treatment increases, decreases, or does not affect the risk for subsequent substance use disorders in youths with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The authors examined the association between stimulant treatment in childhood and adolescence and subsequent substance use disorders (alcohol, drug, and nicotine) into the young adult years. Method: The authors conducted a 10-year prospective follow-up study. One hundred forty male Caucasian children with ADHD, ages 6 to 17, were examined at baseline. Of these, 112 (80%) were reassessed at the 10-year follow-up (mean age at follow-up=22 years). Assessments were made using Cox proportional hazards survival models. All models were adjusted for conduct disorder, since conduct disorder is a potent predictor of subsequent substance use disorders. Results: Of the 112 ADHD subjects who were reassessed at the 10-year follow-up, 82 (73%) had been treated previously with stimulants and 25 (22%) were undergoing stimulant treatment at the time of the follow-up assessment. There were no statistically significant associations between stimulant treatment and alcohol, drug, or nicotine use disorders. Conclusions: The findings revealed no evidence that stimulant treatment increases or decreases the risk for subsequent substance use disorders in children and adolescents with ADHD when they reach young adulthood. (Reprinted with permission from the American Journal of Psychiatry 2008; 165:597–603) (Source: FOCUS)... MORE...
POSTED 08/25/2008 at 11:00 PM --

[influential publications] practice parameter for the assessment and treatment of children and adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
This practice parameter describes the assessment and treatment of children and adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) based on the current scientific evidence and clinical consensus of experts in the field. This parameter discusses the clinical evaluation for ADHD, comorbid conditions associated with ADHD, research on the etiology of the disorder, and psychopharmacological and psychosocial interventions for ADHD. (Reprinted with permission from the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry 2007; 46(7):894–921) (Source: FOCUS)... MORE...
POSTED 08/25/2008 at 11:00 PM --

Two lots of noven, shire adhd patch recalled
Noven Pharmaceuticals Inc said on Monday that its marketing partner, Shire Ltd, is voluntarily recalling two batches of its skin patch to treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, because of difficulties removing the release liner when the patch is peeled open. Reuters Health Information (Source: Medscape Pharmacist Headlines)... MORE...
POSTED 08/25/2008 at 10:59 PM --

Noven partner recalls adhd drug lots
Noven Pharmaceuticals said its partner, Shire Ltd., has issued a voluntary recall of two lots of Daytrana, a transdermal patch used to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. (NOVN) (Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Pharmaceuticals headlines)... MORE...
POSTED 08/25/2008 at 09:03 AM --

Differential association between maoa, adhd and neuropsychological functioning in boys and girls
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is more common in boys than in girls. It has been hypothesized that this sex difference might be related to genes on the X-chromosome, like Monoamine Oxidase A (MAOA). Almost all studies on the role of MAOA in ADHD have focused predominantly on boys, making it unknown whether MAOA also has an effect on ADHD in girls, and few studies have investigated the relationship between MAOA and neuropsychological functioning, yet this may provide insight into the pathways leading from genotype to phenotype. The current study set out to examine the relationship between MAOA, ADHD, and neuropsychological functioning in both boys (265 boys with ADHD and 89 male non-affected siblings) and girls (85 girls with ADHD and 106 female non-affected siblings). A haplotype was used based on three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (rs12843268, rs3027400, and rs1137070). Two haplotypes (GGC and ATT) captured 97% of the genetic variance in the investigated MAOA SNPs. The ATT haplotype was more common in non-affected siblings (P = 0.025), conferring a protective effect for ADHD in both boys and girls. The target and direction of the MAOA effect on neuropsychological functioning was different in boys and girls: The ATT haplotype was associated with poorer motor control in boys (P = 0.002), but with better visuo-spatial working memory in girls (P = 0.01). These findings suggest that the genetic and neuropsychological mechanisms underlying ADHD may be different in boys and girls and underline the importance of taking into account sex effects when studying ADHD. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. (Source: American Journal of Medical Genetics Part B: Neuropsychiatric Genetics)... MORE...
POSTED 08/24/2008 at 11:00 PM --

Hayes evaluates test and treatment options for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder
Hayes, Inc., an industry leader in providing independent, unbiased analyses of healthcare technologies, today announced that it has completed an exhaustive study of a wide range of medications to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)... MORE...
POSTED 08/24/2008 at 03:00 AM --

Chadd and aacap applaud michael phelps for addressing stigma of adhd
Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD) and the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) applaud Olympic gold-medalist Michael Phelps and his mother, Mrs. Deborah Phelps for educating the public about succeeding with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD). "Congratulations to Michael Phelps for winning eight Olympic gold medals. (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)... MORE...
POSTED 08/23/2008 at 04:00 AM --

Phelps trades olympic gold for processed sugar: endorsement of frosted flakes earns harsh criticism
(NaturalNews) Super-Olympian Michael Phelps, who famously follows a horrendous junk food diet, has now signed a lucrative deal to promote Kellogg's Corn Flakes and Frosted Flakes. In doing so, he will leverage his celebrity status to push sugary, processed foods onto a generation of children who already suffer from unprecedented rates of obesity and diabetes. Processed sugar, as you know, promotes both diseases and causes nutritional deficiencies at the same time.The deal has earned Phelps harsh criticism from some doctors, such as nutritionist Rebecca Solomon of Mount Sanai Medical Center. In a Daily News article posted this morning, Solomon said, "I would not consider Frosted Flakes the food of an Olympian."That's the understatement of the day. I would consider Frosted Flakes to be the food of a generation of obese, diabetic, ADHD kids who need real role models they can follow, not sellout junk food promoters who trade fame for unethical profits.Does Phelps have the right to promote Frosted Flakes? He has the legal right, sure, but given his considerable notoriety, he has the moral obligation to more carefully consider the consequences of his endorsements. Still, to expect a junk-food-eating 23-year-old to understand nutrition and ethics may be asking a bit too much, but it's not exactly rocket science to understand that processed sugar promotes obesity.Michael "Sellout" PhelpsIn my view, by endorsing Frosted Flakes cereal, Michael Phelps has gone from a Super Olympian to a Super Sellout. He has now proven himself no different than anybody else who pushes unhealthy substances to American kids, other than the fact he can swim really fast. Why couldn't Phelps have sought out a superfood company to endorse instead? Or at least a healthy food product? (Answer: Because cereal companies operate on much higher markups and have a lot more money to burn on celebrity endorsements.)Alchemists say you can't turn lead into gold, but with this Kellogg's deal, Phelps has done something even more amazing: He's turned gold into fool's gold, because sugared-up corn flakes is not the breakfast of champions; it's the breakfast of fools.Continuing the destructive alchemy, Phelps has also transformed himself from a likeable champion to a corporate-sponsored jerk who puts his own profits ahead of the welfare of his millions of fans. While his fans get fat, Phelps gets rich. But money can't buy back the lost opportunity to have a positive influence on our nation's youth.There may be a day when Phelps realizes his error in judgment. When his swimming career is over, if he's still eating and promoting junk foods, he will join his many fans in experiencing the onset of diabetes and obesity, and he'll come to realize that processed, genetically-modified sugar is simply not the breakfast of champions. It is the breakfast of an over-fed, under-nourished, sugared-up generation of fat kids who are being put on dangerous medications to treat diseases caused by poor nutritional habits. Way to go, Phelps!I find it fascinating that the Olympics Committee has nothing to say about all this. They have such strict rules about athletes' behavior during the event. If you insult your fellow athletes, you can be stripped of your medals. But if you insult the intelligence of your fans, that's considered business as usual, apparently.None of this, by the way, takes away from the fact that Phelps really did earn eight gold medals. He is a fantastic swimmer, but he's a lousy role model. And that's sad, because he could have been a true champion on a whole new level by promoting healthful foods, green products and socially-responsible organizations.Swimmer Dana Torres, by comparison, is powered by superfoods (LivingFuel) and healthy habits. She's an astonishing 41 years old and still earned two silver medals. In my view, Dana is the far greater champion. (Source: NaturalNews.com)... MORE...
POSTED 08/20/2008 at 02:00 AM --

Empathy and social perspective taking in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
Related Articles

Empathy and Social Perspective Taking in Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.

J Abnorm Child Psychol. 2008 Aug 20;

Authors: Marton I, Wiener J, Rogers M, Moore C, Tannock R

This study explored empathy and social perspective taking in 8 to 12 year old children with and without Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The sample comprised 92 children, 50 with a diagnosis of ADHD and 42 typically developing comparison children. Although children with ADHD were rated by their parents as less empathic than children without ADHD, this difference was accounted for by co-occurring oppositional and conduct problems among children in the ADHD sample. Children with ADHD used lower levels of social perspective taking coordination in their definition of problems, identification of feelings, and evaluation of outcomes than children without ADHD, and these differences persisted after the role of language abilities, intelligence and oppositional and conduct problems were taken into account. Girls were more empathic and had higher overall social perspective taking scores than boys. Implications for research and practice are discussed.

PMID: 18712471 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

(Source: Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology)... MORE...
POSTED 08/19/2008 at 11:00 PM --

Structured intervention utilizing state professional societies to foster quality improvement in practice
Introduction: Despite the existence of guidelines for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), clinical practices vary substantially. Practitioners can apply quality improvement (QI) strategies to adapt office processes and clinical practice towards evidence-based care. We identified facilitators and barriers to participation in a professional society-led structured collaborative to learn QI methods and improve care.Methods: Ten chapters of the American Academy of Pediatrics participated in the effort. Support to chapter leaders included conference calls, listserv, technical support, and data aggregation. Support from the chapters to participating pediatricians included online continuing medical education modules, a workshop, chart reviews, and QI coaching. Qualitative data were obtained through interviews of 22 project leaders and reviews of project progress reports. Quantitative results were obtained from surveys of 186 physician participants. Outcomes included facilitators/barriers to program implementation, evidence for sustained chapter QI infrastructure, and participant assessment of improvements in care.Results: Facilitators included physician opinion leaders, a workshop, conference calls, QI support, and opportunities for shared learning. Barriers included lack of time, competing clinical priorities, challenges of using the online module, and underutilization of listservs. Seven chapters planned ongoing activities around attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), eight had specific plans to use QI infrastructure for additional clinical topics, and three developed significant QI infrastructure. Physicians believed care improved.Discussion: As requirements grow for participation in QI for maintenance of certification, national and state-level professional societies are interested in and can develop infrastructure to support quality improvement. Coaching, tools, and support from the national organization and QI experts are helpful in facilitating efforts. (Source: Journal of Continuing Education in the Health Professions)... MORE...
POSTED 08/18/2008 at 11:00 PM --

Adhd and 8 gold medals
It is awesome that Michael Phelps found success despite or maybe because of his ADHD (his mom has been interviewed on this interesting situation). (Source: Huliq Health News)... MORE...
POSTED 08/17/2008 at 08:35 PM --

The heart of the adhd debate
It's estimated up to 12 percent of children in the United States have some form of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, but some of the medication used to treat the condition may be doing more harm than good. (Source: Medical Headlines From Ivanhoe.com)... MORE...
POSTED 08/15/2008 at 12:00 AM --

Combined type versus adhd predominantly hyperactive-impulsive type: is there a difference in functional impairment?
Page: 270DOI: 10.1097/DBP.0b013e31816b6afeAuthors: Riley, Catherine MD *; DuPaul, George J. PhD +; Pipan, Mary MD ++; Kern, Lee PhD [S]; Van Brakle, John MD [P]; Blum, Nathan J. MD ++ (Source: Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics)... MORE...
POSTED 08/13/2008 at 05:59 AM --

American academy of pediatrics/american heart association clarification of statement on cardiovascular evaluation and monitoring of children and adolescents with heart disease receiving medications for adhd: may 16, 2008.
Page: 335DOI: 10.1097/DBP.0b013e31318185dc14 (Source: Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics)... MORE...
POSTED 08/13/2008 at 05:59 AM --

Adhd, substance use disorders, and psychostimulant treatment: current literature and treatment guidelines
Objective: This review explores the relationship between ADHD and substance use disorder (SUD), factors that determine the abuse potential of psychostimulants, and strategies for identifying and treating at-risk ADHD patients. Method: This study uses a Medline review of literature. Results: Psychostimulants, such as methylphenidate and amphetamines, are effective first-line pharmacotherapy for ADHD and when used appropriately in individuals with ADHD do not appear to be frequently abused by patients. Diversion and misuse of prescription stimulants are growing concerns, especially among young adults and college students. Short-acting psychostimulant formulations may have higher potential for abuse, misuse, and diversion, but more data are needed to substantiate this observation. Nonstimulant treatments for ADHD may be considered for patients at particularly high risk for substance use, misuse, or diversion of stimulants. Conclusion: In treating patients with ADHD and comorbid substance use, psychostimulants may be a useful pharmacologic alternative. However, the risks of such treatment with high-risk populations must be considered alongside potential benefits. (J. of Att. Dis. 2008; 12(2) 115-125) (Source: Journal of Attention Disorders)... MORE...
POSTED 08/12/2008 at 11:00 PM --

Adhd with comorbid oppositional defiant disorder or conduct disorder: discrete or nondistinct disruptive behavior disorders?
Objective: In children with ADHD who have comorbid disruptive behavior diagnoses distinctions between oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) and conduct disorder (CD) remain unclear. The authors investigate differences between ODD and CD in a large clinical sample of children with ADHD. Method: Consecutively referred and systematically assessed male children and adolescents with either ADHD (n = 65), ADHD with ODD (n = 85), or ADHD with CD (n = 50) were compared using structured diagnostic interviews and parent, teacher, and clinician rating scales. Results: In children with ADHD, significant differences emerged between ODD and CD in the domains of delinquency, overt aggression, and ADHD symptom severity; ADHD with CD was most severe, followed by ADHD with ODD, and ADHD had the least severe symptoms. Distinctions between ADHD with CD and the other two groups were found for parenting, treatment history, and school variables. Conclusion: Within the limits of a cross-sectional methodology, results support clinically meaningful distinctions between ODD and CD in children with ADHD. (J. of Att. Dis. 2008; 12(2) 126-134) (Source: Journal of Attention Disorders)... MORE...
POSTED 08/12/2008 at 11:00 PM --

Inattention, hyperactivity, and oppositional- defiant symptoms in brazilian adolescents: gender prevalence and agreement between teachers and parents in a non-english speaking population
Objective: To assess hyperactivity (H/I), inattention (IN), and oppositional—defiant (OP) symptoms in a nonclinical Brazilian sample of adolescents, and to investigate the association between scoring profiles of teachers and parents, symptom levels, and gender. Method: Symptoms were assessed through the Swanson, Nolan, and Pelhman (SNAP-IV) Questionnaires distributed for teachers and parents to fill out. Score means and prevalence rates based on Criterion A of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed.) for ADHD or oppositional—defiant disorder were estimated. Agreement rates between teachers and parents were calculated for each group of symptoms. Mean scores were compared by gender. Results: Between 7% and 33% of students were rated as having high scores of symptoms. Boys and girls had the same level of symptoms, when scored by parents. Teachers rated boys as having more H/I and OP symptoms. Parents gave scores significantly higher for H/I and OP symptoms, and teachers rated more students as inattentive. Conclusions: H/I, IN, and OP symptoms were highly prevalent in this nonclinical sample. Few differences between boys and girls were observed in symptom levels. Teachers and parents have different scoring profiles for the different SNAP subscales and are probably influenced by cultural aspects. (J. of Att. Dis. 2008; 12(2) 135-140) (Source: Journal of Attention Disorders)... MORE...
POSTED 08/12/2008 at 11:00 PM --

Long-term psychosocial and health economy consequences of adhd, autism, and reading-writing disorder: a prospective service evaluation project
Objective: The study aims to evaluate psychosocial, societal, and family cost consequences of a psychoeducational intervention program. Methods: Sixty boys with ADHD, Asperger syndrome/high-functioning autism (AS/HFA), and reading and writing disorder (RD/WD) were allocated to participate in a service evaluation project. Every other boy in each diagnostic group was randomly allocated to receive either (a) a special education program (clinical index group) or (b) follow-up without the special education program (clinical comparison group). Nine years after initial assessments the stability of the psychosocial and economic resource consequences over time was studied. Results: ADHD, AS/HFA, and RD/WD all had severe impact on family life quality. The societal costs were high, but no significant differences in resource use or in total costs were found between the clinical index and the comparison groups. Conclusions: The results underscore the very long-term need for support including individually tailored reevaluations and carefully monitored intervention programs adapted to family needs and severity of child disorder. (J. of Att. Dis. 2008; 12(2) 141-148) (Source: Journal of Attention Disorders)... MORE...
POSTED 08/12/2008 at 11:00 PM --

 

IMPORTANT NOTICE:
The information provided on this site is intended for your general knowledge only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease without consulting with a qualified healthcare provider. Please consult your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your condition.
 

Featured Product!

Total Balance
Men's Plus

"The restoration and maintenance of normal organ and brain function, a strong immune system, and the balancing of hormones is the key to vibrant health and in avoiding premature-aging!"

CLICK HERE
for more info...