Clinical and neuropsychological profile in a sample of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorders

Abstract

-The aim of this study was to evaluate clinical and neuropsychological findings in children with suspicion of attention deficity hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The assessment involved 150 children aged 7 to 14 referred to NANI at UNIFESP. Results: 75 children (55 M and 20 F) fulfilled the criteria for ADHD, among which 35 were of the inattentive type, 28 of combined type and 12 were hyperactive/impulsive. There was negative correlation between the digit score and the Corsi test. Children with hyperactivity and impulsivity had a low performance for functional memory. Children with oppositional defiant disorder presented pattern changes in adaptability when there was a change in the rhythm the stimuli were presented and lower adaptation to time variability (Hit RT), in addition to higher rates of omission in the continuous performance test. Conclusion: This study suggests multiple interrelations between the scores of neuropsychological battery useful for detailed delimitation of the clinical profile of children with ADHD.KEy woRDS: attention deficit disorder, children, hyperactivity, multidisciplinary, comorbities. perfil clínico e neuropsicológico de crianças com transtorno do deficit de atenção e hiperatividadeResumo -o objetivo deste trabalho foi delimitar indicadores clínicos e neuropsicológicos em crianças com suspeita de transtorno do déficit de atenção e hiperatividade (TDA/H). Foram avaliadas 150 crianças (idade de 7 a 14 anos) encaminhados ao NANI da UNIFESP. Resultados: 75 crianças (55 M e 20 F) preenchiam os critérios para o TDA/H, dentre os quais 35 (46,6%) pacientes eram desatentos, 28 do tipo combinado e 12 do tipo hiperatividade/impulsivo. observou-se correlação negativa com o escore de dígitos e no escore do teste de Corsi. Crianças com hiperatividade e impulsividade apresentaram baixo desempenho nas funções relacionadas à memória operacional. Crianças com transtorno opositor desafiante apresentaram alterações nos padrões de adaptação às mudanças do ritmo com menor adaptação às variações do tempo de exposição aos estímulos (Hit RT), além de maiores taxas de omissão no teste contínuo de performance. Conclusão: Este estudo sugere múltiplas interrelacões entre os escores em provas neuropsicológicas que são úteis para uma delimitação do perfil clínico de crianças com TDAH.PAlAvRAS-CHAvE: transtorno do déficit de atenção, crianças, hiperatividade, multidisciplinar, comorbidades. The attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most frequent neurodevelopmental disorders, with an estimated occurrence of 3% to 5% in schooling children 1,2 . Such oscillation is partially due to the heterogeneity and complexity of the required criteria for a precise diagnosis, which involves neuropsychological aspects as well as the delimitation of organic and neurobiological bases 3,4 . Environmental risk factors are considered fundamental in epidemiological studies on ADHD because socio-demographic variables such as the number of siblings, educational level of the family, comorbities with neuropsy...

Use of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Token Economy to Alleviate Dysfunctional Behavior in Children with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

“…In relation to compulsive behaviors, there were fewer reports, although this type of behavior translates signs of anxiety and comorbidity is quite frequent in ADHD cases (17%), while specific complaints reported in this category were more related to behavior such as fidgeting with finger nails or skin (36). …”

Rey–Osterrieth Complex Figure – copy and immediate recall (3 minutes): Normative data for Spanish-speaking pediatric populations

“…Using these norms, the performance of each child can be assessed in a more exact and standardized manner according to their age, gender, and the education of their parent(s). The creation of standardized norms will improve neuropsychological evaluation and diagnosis both in normal and clinical populations, since deficits are usually present in children with learning disabilities (Kirkwood, Weiler, Bernstein, Forbes, & Waber, 2001), brain injury (Verger et al, 2000), autism (Czermainski, Riesgo, Guimarães, Salles, & Bosa, 2014), and attention and hyperactivity disorder (Rizzutti et al, 2008), among others. Furthermore, norms to value the neuropsychological performance of children with impairments will inform their prognostic course and facilitate the implementation of cognitive rehabilitation programs among populations who may benefit.…”

Estrategias de organización en la Figura Compleja de Rey en niños con TDAH

“…Martín-González et al (2008), Robinson and Tripp (2013) and Rizzutti et al (2008) have shown that children without ADHD draw the initial design with a higher fidelity than children with ADHD, and in regards to visual memory performance, the studies of Bara-Jiménez et al (2003) and Robinson and Tripp (2013) have evidenced lower performance in children with ADHD. However, other studies did not find significant differences in the immediate recall phase (Filippetti & Mias, 2009;Martín-González et al, 2008).…”