week 5 - ADHD

Question 1

what is ADHD

Answer 1

attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Question 2

ADHD
symptoms

Answer 2

hyperactivity
impulsivity
inattention
beginning in childhood

3x more likely in boys
4x more likely in socio-economic deprivation

increased likelihood of risk-taking behaviours in adolescence

Question 3

ADHD
subtypes

Answer 3

predominantly inattentive
- difficultly in finishing a task, following intructions, easily distracted

prefominantly hyperactive/impulsive
- difficulty in sitting still for long periods, fidgeting, speaks or acts at inappropriate times

combined inattentive and hyperactive/impulsive
- the most common subtype

Question 4

ADHD
diagnostic criteria

Answer 4

DSM-V

need at least 6
present before 12
need to have sig impairment in functioning of the child
- academic
- social
- occupational (adult)

need to be in 2 or more settings (work/school, home, recreational)

not due to another disorder
- autism, mood/anxiety disorder

Question 5

ADHD
aetiology

Answer 5

heritability

pre-natal exposure to alcohol and nicotine

premature birth and low birth weight

perinatal brain injury

environmental toxins (lead, pesticides)

Question 6

ADHD
neural dysfunction
structural

Answer 6

3-4% reduced overall cortical (especially prefrontal) volume
reduced grey matter (fronto-parietal attnetion network)
reduced cortical connectivity (white matter tracts) between hemispheres and within fronto-parietal attention networks

Question 7

ADHD
neural dysfunction
functional

Answer 7

hypo-activity (less baseline activity) in prefrontal cortex

especially dACC

Question 8

ADHD
neural dysfunction
molecular

Answer 8

imbalance in dopamine (rewards subcortical (basal ganglia) and noradrenaline circuits

Question 9

ADHD
neural dysfunction
endogenous attention system

Answer 9

reduced volume, activity and connectivity in brain regions also linked to the endogenous attention system

but also to those linked to execuative functions

Question 10

ADHD
treatment

Answer 10

methylphenidate and dextroamphetamine
- effective and commonly perscribed

function by blocking the reuptake of norepinephrine (NOR) and dopamine (DOP) and facilitating their release, enhancing availability in prefrontal cortex and basal ganglia

Question 11

ADHD
gender

Answer 11

have to be very careful with diagnosis

present differently

Question 12

ADHD
age

Answer 12

younger kids in same age group more likely to have symptoms

????

is this right