Vigilance deficits have been found in both schizophrenic and ADHD subjects. The two patient groups have never been directly compared on any vigilance measure, however. In the present study 20 early-onset schizophrenics were compared to 20 ADHD adolescents on a Degraded Stimulus Continuous Performance Test (DS-CPT). A comparison group of 30 normal adolescents was also included. Results showed no significant differences between the three groups on any of the DS-CPT measures. Different hypotheses are put forth to explain the findings, among them that the task may be insensitive to identifying sustained attention deficits in adolescent populations.

Of the 12 children who represent the complete cohort of Norwegian patients surviving the complete palliative operative programme for hypoplastic left heart syndrome, 10 were studied by a pediatric cardiologist, a pediatric neurologist, a neuropsychologist and a child psychiatrist. We found significant morbidity. Hemodynamic function was relatively uncompromised in eight of the patients, but one had significant cyanosis due to use of an operative technique subsequently abandoned and one had obstruction of the flow of blood from the left to the right atrium. Five children had disturbances of rhythm, with one requiring insertion of a pacemaker. One child had epilepsy. Delayed motor development, most often to mild degree, was found in seven children, while six had attention problems. Mental retardation was found in two children and autistic traits in one. Despite these various problems, the parents were seemingly satisfied with their own lives, and the quality of life of their children.

Summary:The pathway for the olfactory response may be affected at an early stage of Alzheimer's disease. Measurement of the olfactory response in the elderly is therefore of particular interest. In this feasibility study, near-infrared spectroscopy was used to measure the olfactory response in 21 patients aged 56 to 79 years. Eight subjects had no memory complaints whereas 13 had subjective memory complaints, mild cognitive impairment, or very mild Alzheimer's disease. The optodes were placed over the temporal lobe, with the emitting optode over the pole and the receiving optode over the superior gyrus. The response to vanilla (1% in sterile H 2 O) in a test tube held immediately beneath the nostrils was compared to the response to sterile H 2 O only. Four control subjects had a clearly definable response with increased oxyhemoglobin and decreased deoxyhemoglobin bilaterally. The response was measured as the sum of the deviation of oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin from baseline mean. With a cut-off determined after examination of responses to vanilla and sham stimulus, group difference was significant for response to vanilla ( 2 test, P ‫ס‬ 0.03). Response amplitudes to vanilla in the patient group were within the range of those to sham stimuli.

The response to methylphenidate was examined in 36 boys, aged 7–11 y, with attention‐deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in a double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, crossover design. Hyperactivity and conduct problems were significantly reduced during methylphenidate treatment. Stimulant medication was associated with improvements on tests of sustained attention, working memory and motor steadiness. When individual changes were studied, it was found that 83% showed a significant improvement in their hyperactivity at home or at school, and for 60% their levels of hyperactive behaviour were within the normal range. High levels of hyperactivity at school and relatively low age were significant predictors of normalization of hyperactivity in at least one setting. However, these predictors could only classify correctly 71% of the children. In clinical practice a trial with stimulants is indicated in ADHD children who show symptoms that are sufficiently severe to cause impairment at home and at school.