1997-1998 Medline Abstracts for AD(H)D

Medline ADD, ADHD search - top articles 1997 and 1998 <bracketed italics = my notes>

Note: called "hyperkinetic disorder" outside the US

Gender differences in ADHD: a meta-analysis and critical review J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 1997 Aug;36(8):1036-45

Gender differences were not found in impulsivity, academic performance, social functioning, fine motor skills, parental education or parental depression. ADHD girls (compared with boys) had greater intellectual impairment, lower hyperactivity, and lower rates of other externalizing behaviors.

Lack of effect of methylphenidate on serum growth hormone, GH binding protein and insulin like growth factor I Clin Neuropharmacol 1997 Jun;20(3):264-9 (from Tel Aviv)

No significant change with methylphenidate, no drug holiday is needed.

Cerebellum in ADHD: a morphometric MRI study Neurology 1998 Apr;50(4):1087-93 (from France)

The posterior inferior lobe (lobules VIII to X) are smaller. "A cerebello-thalamo-prefrontal circuit dysfunction may subserve the motor control, inhibition, and executive function deficits encountered in ADHD.

Does ADHD affect the course of substance abuse? Findings from a sample of adults with and without ADHD Am J Addict 1998 Spring;7(2):156-63

ADHD is associated with a longer, duration of PSUD and a significantly slower remission rate. (PSUD = psychoactive substance use disorder)

Effect of nutritional supplements on ADHD Integr Physiol Behav Sci 1998 Jan-Mar;33(1):49-60

Saccharides used by the body in glycoconjugate synthesis may help severity of ADHD and associated Oppositional Defiant Disorder and Conduct Disorder symptoms. They were from fruits and vegetables.

Description of mothers with ADHD with children of ADHD Psychiatry 1998 Spring;61(1):12-9 (from Harvard)

"Neuropsychiatric disorders, alcoholism in the family of origin, and atypical sexual events are reported at a significantly higher rate in the mothers with ADHD with ADHD children."

Substance-dependent, conduct-disordered adolescent males: severity of diagnosis predicts 2-year outcome Drug Alcohol Depend 1998 Feb 1;49(3):225-37

Substance abuse toughest to get improvements in. Earlier conduct disorder onset, more severe conduct disorder and more drug dependence predicted worse outcomes.

Learning disability, attention-deficit disorder, and language impairment as outcomes of prematurity: a longitudinal descriptive study. J Learn Disabil 1998 May-Jun;31(3):294-306

Mildly preterm children have a higher than expected percentage (75%) of learning disabilities, ADD, language impairment, mild neurological impairment, and general school concerns by Grade 5. This is particularly true of attention problems, which can manifest at 13-15 months. At 20 months mothers’ perception of problems correlated well with the subsequent development of ADD, weakly with the other disorders.

Clinical utility of the Test of Variables of Attention (TOVA) in the diagnosis of AD(H)D J Clin Psychol 1998 Jun;54(4):461-76

The TOVA test is somewhat helpful, correctly identifying 80% and 72% of those without it.

Parent-reported symptoms of hyperactivity and attention deficit predict teacher-reported symptoms Acta Paeditr 1997 Feb;86(2):178-82 (from Oslo, Norway)

"The positive predictive power for individual symptoms was reasonably high with a mean score of 80%, while the parent-teacher agreement was low. Our results indicate that in most children referred because of hyperactivity, inattention and impulsivity, parent reports are sufficient to make a diagnostic evaluation. However, when multiple informants are available, data should be obtained from different sources.

Temporal lobe arachnoid cyst - attention deficit disorder syndrome: role of the EEG in diagnosis Neurology 1997 May;48(5):1435-9

Arachnoid cyst in the temporal lobe can mimic ADD - EEG should be done if headaches or seizures are present.