Relationship between clinical features and cognitive function in patients with childhood and adolescence-onset schizophrenia / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the factors influencing cognitive functions in patients with childhood and adolescence-onset schizophrenia.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The clinical data of 78 patients with childhood and adolescence-onset schizophrenia who met with the criteria of ICD-10 for schizophrenia were retrospectively reviewed. The cognitive functions were evaluated by the Chinese Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (C-WISC), the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST), digit span backward and P300. The clinical symptoms were evaluated by the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The patients with a lower education level or earlier onset of age had a longer P3 latency at the P300Fz area. The patients with a higher parental education level had higher scores of full intelligence quotient (FIQ), verbal intelligence quotient (VIQ), performance intelligence quotient (PIQ), conceptual level and completed categories of WCST and backward numeric order reciting. The patients with higher PANSS negative subscale scores had lower scores of FIQ, VIQ, PIQ, completed categories and conceptual level of WCST and backward numeric order reciting. The patients with a longer stabilization time had higher backward numeric order reciting scores.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The severity of negative symptoms of the patients and the educational level of their parents are major factors influencing cognitive functions in patients with childhood and adolescence-onset schizophrenia.</p>

Effect of parent training in combination with methylphenidate treatment on family relationships for children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of parent training combined with methylphenidate treatment on family relationships in children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifty-nine parents of children with ADHD under methylphenidate treatment participated in a modified 5-week training program. The intervention effect was evaluated using the Conners Parent Symptom Questionnaire, ADHD Rating Scale-IV Home Version (ADHD-RS-IV Home Version), Caregiver Strain Questionnaire, Parent-Child Relationship Self-rating Scale and Piers-Harris Children's Self-Concept Scale. Parents also completed the training satisfaction survey before and after the intervention.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After the 5-week parent training, compared with the baseline values, total scores of Conners Parent Symptom Questionnaire and scores of conduct problems and anxiety significantly decreased, and scores of attention deficit, hyperactivity, impulsivity and oppositional defiant behaviors of ADHD-RS-IV Home Version, and Caregiver Strain Questionnaire total scores were all significantly decreased (P<0.05), while total scores of the Parent-Child Relationship Self-Rating Scale and Piers-Harris Children's Self-Concept Scale were significantly increased (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Modified 5-week parent training program may improve parent-child relationship and reduce parenting stress in ADHD families.</p>

Study on attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in children based on resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) findings of children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and normal children, and to investigate the possible mechanism of brain dysfunction in children with ADHD.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Resting-state fMRI was performed on 18 children who met the DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for ADHD (ADHD group) and 18 normal children (control group) matched for age, sex, IQ, degree of education and handedness. The two groups were compared in terms of amplitude of low frequency fluctuation (ALFF) and regional homogeneity (ReHo).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the control group, the ADHD group had decreased ALFF in the bilateral posterior lobes of the cerebellum and the left side of the pons, increased ALFF in the right precentral gyrus, decreased ReHo in the left medial frontal gyrus, right superior frontal gyrus, and left precuneus, and increased ReHo in the left anterior lobe of the cerebellum, left caudate nucleus, right parahippocampal gyrus, left precentral gyrus, and right middle frontal gyrus.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>In resting state, children with ADHD have decreased brain activity in some regions, including the cerebellum and frontal cortex, compared with normal children, which supports the hypothesis of dysfunctional fronto-cerebellar circuits in ADHD.</p>

Influential factors for methylphenidate treatment compliance in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate influential factors for the tendency to medicate and medication compliance in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 188 children aged from 5 to 16 years, who were initially diagnosed with ADHD according to DSM-IV criteria, were included in the study. They underwent symptom assessment and cognitive function test. The compliance of methylphenidate treatment was evaluated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Patients with better emotional state, and fewer oppositional and hyperactive behaviors and those who had a family history of psychiatric diseases and who obtained lower scores in the number cancellation test (NCT), were more prone to medication and/or exhibited better medication compliance. Logistic regression analysis showed that fewer oppositional and hyperactive behaviors and lower NCT scores were the predictive factors for a higher tendency to medicate, and a better emotional state was the predictive factor for better medication compliance. Patients of predominantly inattentive type were more prone to medication and showed better medication compliance, as compared with those of combined type. Gender, age and symptom severity were not associated with the tendency to medicate and/or medication compliance.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>There is a need to enhance medication compliance in children with ADHD who have hyperactive, impulsive and oppositional behaviors, and to improve their long-term social functions.</p>