Week 7 Flashcards
What is the definition of ADHD?
Developmentally inappropriate hyperactivity, impulsivity &/or inattention, leading to impairment in social, behavioural &/or academic
What are the 3 subtypes of ADHD?
- Hyperactive/impulsive (15%)
- Inattentive (20-30%)
- Combined (75%)
Describe the “Inattention” symptom group of ADHD?
- Does not attend
- Fails to finish tasks
- Can’t organise
- Avoids sustained effort
- Forgetful
- Easily distracted
Describe the “Hyperactivity” symptom group of ADHD?
- Fidgets
- Runs/climbs excessively
- Cannot play/work quietly
- Always ‘on the go’
Describe the “Impulsivity” symptom group of ADHD?
- Talks excessively
- Blurts out answers
- Cannot await turn
- Interrupts/ Intrudes others
What are the additional co-morbidities/co-occuring problems associated with ADHD?
- Mental retardation
- Sleep disorders
- Epilepsy
- Reading/writing disorder
- Developmental coordination disorder
- Asperger’s
- Tic
- Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD)
- Sensory/Motor difficulties
What are the functional impairments of ADHD diagnosis?
- SELF: low self-esteem, accidents, smoking, drugs, delinquency
- SCHOOL: difficulties, employment, underachieve
- HOME: stress, parenting difficulties
- SOCIAL: poor, relationship difficulties
What is the global prevalence of ADHD?
~5%
What is the “administrative prevalence” of ADHD in Scotland?
0.5%
What is the male/female ratio of ADHD?
- 3:1 in population studies
- 10:1 in clinics
What is increased prevalence of ADHD associated with?
Lower socioeconomic status
What studies is there evidence of core symptoms of ADHD being highly heritable?
- Family pedigree studies
- Adoption studies
- Twin studies
- Linkage data
- Association analysis
What does linkage data for ADHD suggest?
It’s associated with widely distributed
markers e.g. at chromosomes 4, 5, 6, 8, 11, 16, & 17
What does association analysis for ADHD suggest?
Linkage with various dopamine receptor & transporter
genes, serotonin transport genes & others (Faraone et al 2005)
What are the ante/peri-natal potential factors contributing to ADHD causation?
- Pre-term delivery.
- Smoking
- Alcohol
- Maternal stress
- Intrapartum asphyxia
What are the postnatal potential factors contributing to ADHD causation?
- Brain trauma
- Epilepsy
- Deprivation/
attachment
Where are the “Anterior attentional pathways” for ADHD?
- Frontal lobes
- Cingulate gyrus
- Basal ganglia (corpus striatum, esp. caudate nucleus)
Where are the “posterior attentional pathways” for ADHD?
- Locus Caeruleus
- Cerebellum
What does the imaging evidence base for ADHD show?
- Volumetric CT & MRI studies: reduced volume of key structures
- PET, SPECT, Functional MRI: reduced activation of key brain areas,
esp. frontostriatal
What does the neuropharmacology evidence base for ADHD show?
Improved core symptoms in response to drugs which modify release & reuptake of key neurotransmitters (Dopamine & Noradrenaline), region specific for key brain pathways for self regulation & attention
What does the neuropsychology evidence base for ADHD show?
Identifiable alterations & deficiencies in frontal lobe functions ie. working memory, executive function, focus, distractibility
What is ADHD linked to?
Malfunctioning prefrontal cortex
What prefrontal regions cause the 3 classical symptoms associated with ADHD?
- Impulsivity = orbital frontal cortex
- Hyperactivity = prefrontal motor cortex
- Inattention = dorsal anterior cingulate & dorsolateral prefrontal
What is the role of Dopamine & Norepinephrine in information processing?
- Tune prefrontal cortex to make info processing efficient
- Too much/little DA/NE input disruptive in regulating cortical info processing