ABSTRACT
Abstract Introduction Cognitive assessment of patients with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can help clinicians provide individually tailored treatment and advice, and researchers to identify potential associations between psychopathology and specific cognitive deficits. Assessment instruments, however, have received some criticism regarding their ecological validity, that is, the capacity to extrapolate from the performance on such tasks to aspects of everyday functioning. In order to meet this challenge we developed the Ball Search Field Task (BSFT) that takes place outdoors and uses large, open areas. In the BSFT, the goal is to search for target objects hidden under opaque containers, with experimenters assessing the efficiency of participants' strategies to collect a maximum of these. Objective Here we explore how the measures produced by one of the latest versions of this task (the patchy BSFT) match up with a traditional desktop task often used in clinical environments, the Tower of London (ToLo). Method We applied the BSFT and ToLo to children and adolescents with ADHD and compared the metrics using Spearman correlations. Results We found significant, moderate correlations between instruments, as exemplified by that of balls collected per cones lifted (BSFT) and number of moves (ToLo) (r = -.44). Discussion and conclusion Matching correlates between the BSFT and ToLo suggest these tasks may be tapping into similar cognitive processes. The addition of assessment tools with ecological validity may help provide a more comprehensive evaluation and a better understanding of the day-to-day impact of cognitive afflictions underlying psychiatric disorders such as ADHD.
Resumen Introducción La evaluación cognitiva de pacientes con déficit de atención e hiperactividad (TDAH) puede ayudar al personal clínico a personalizar el tratamiento y a los investigadores a identificar asociaciones entre psicopatología y deficitarios cognitivos específicos. Los instrumentos de evaluación han recibido críticas en cuanto a su validez ecológica, esto es, la capacidad de extrapolar el desempeño en dichos instrumentos a situaciones de la vida diaria. Con este desafío en mente, desarrollamos la Prueba de Búsqueda de Pelotas (BSFT, por sus siglas en inglés) que se lleva a cabo en áreas abiertas y amplias. La BSFT consiste en buscar objetos escondidos bajo contenedores opacos para evaluar la eficiencia de la búsqueda que intenta encontrar el mayor número posible de objetos. Objetivo Exploramos la manera en que una versión de esta tarea (la BSFT en parches) se compara con una tarea de uso común en ambientes clínicos, la Torre de Londres (ToLo, por sus siglas en inglés). Método Aplicamos la BSFT y la ToLo a niños y adolescentes con TDAH y comparamos las métricas resultantes mediante una correlación de Spearman. Resultados Encontramos correlaciones significativas entre estas pruebas, como lo ejemplifica aquella entre el número de conos levantados (BSFT) y el número de secuencias correctas (ToLo) (r = -.48). Discusión y conclusión Correlatos de equivalencia entre la BSFT y la ToLo sugieren que estas tareas demandan procesos cognitivos similares. Investigar tareas con validez ecológica puede ayudarnos a ofrecer una evaluación más completa y a entender mejor el impacto diario de las afectaciones cognitivas subyacentes a trastornos psiquiátricos como el TDAH.
ABSTRACT
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) generates controversy among the general population on its diagnosis and treatment. This could be explained by the sparse level of education about mental health, which affects the parent's knowledge and beliefs about this disorder. ADHD is highly prevalent and 3-5% of school-age children can be diagnosed. In Mexico it represents 1.5 million cases. It represents more than 30% of all cases in clinical pediatric settings. The reports in health services have shown that the time gap between symptoms identification and treatment is around 8 to 15 years. Moreover, only 25% of the affected children's parents recognize conduct or emotional problems on them and 13% receive mental health care. Attention seeking has been associated with higher severity of the disorder and parent's superior educational level. Despite the advances in the research on neurobiology and psychopharmacology, understanding of the social context that surrounds the disorder is incomplete. Comparatively little is known regarding how parents conceive the symptoms and causes of ADHD and how these parental views may relate to children's treatment. Understanding these factors is important due to the central role of parents in selecting and accessing treatments and service providers for children with ADHD. For parents and children, getting information about ADHD is a lottery that depends on which professional they see and what they read or gather from television and the Internet. Mental health professionals most give complete information to parents and children, so risks and benefits of the different treatments may be considered along with the family's needs, values and cultural background. A better understanding about the parent's knowledge, beliefs and attitudes regarding ADHD would help to improve the communication mechanisms between mental health professionals and parents during the treatment. Objective To describe the knowledge, beliefs and attitudes regarding ADHD in Mexican parents. Methods The study was approved by the local investigation review board. Informed consent was obtained and parents of children and adolescents diagnosed with ADHD were recruited at four mental health facilities (three public and one private) in two cities. Each parent completed the questionnaire of knowledge and beliefs about ADHD (CASE ADHD, parent's version). The questionnaire was created for this study as an instrument with three versions: a) Parents, b) Teachers, c) Health professionals. Results of parent's version were included in this report. This questionnaire incorporates information of other instruments such as Barkley's Evaluation Questionnaire and the one used in the National Colombian Survey for the Consensus of treatment of ADHD 2008. CASE ADHD includes three parts: 1. An identification record with the mother's or father's general data, 2. The ADHD Rating Scale-IV, and 3. A 36 multiple choice questionnaire related to six main areas: a) The caretaker report of symptoms and clinical characteristics related with ADHD, b) The knowledge about ADHD, c) The pathways to care report, d) The Beliefs about ADHD treatment, e) The professional mental health's performance, and f) The parent's perceptions about ADHD. The questionnaire must be completed with the assistance of a mental health professional. The average application time is 30 minutes. For statistical analysis central tendency measures were used; as means, standard deviations and percentages. Results The total sample was integrated by 288 parents of children or adolescents. The 80.1% of the questionnaires were fulfilled by the mother. The mean age of those who answered was 40.06 years, 25.4% reported to complete professional studies. The mean age of patients was 11.15 years (SD = 3.54), 58% were children and 74% were male, their ADHDRS-IV average score was 27.5 (SD = 14.03). Knowledge about ADHD. The 85.4% (N = 246) of the surveyed sample considered ADHD as a disease and 8.3% as a rearing difficulty. The 69.2% (N = 198) of parents said they knew what is ADHD, but only 62.1% reported to receive information by the physician or psychologist about this condition. Attitudes about ADHD. When questioned about what would they do if they suspected that their child had ADHD, 35.1 % (N = 101) would consult a psychiatrist, 21.2% a psychologist, and 12.2% a neurologist or pediatric neurologist. The 28% of parents were deemed unable to manage their child's behavior problem. When we asked about who is able to diagnose ADHD, 49.5% answered that the psychologist, 48.5% the psychiatrist and 19.8% that the pediatrician. The psychiatrist was considered able to treat this condition by 45.8% of the sample followed by psychologist (19.8%), and neurologist (10.4%). Beliefs about diagnosis and treatment. Nearly 63% of the sample (N = 183) considered that the best treatment for ADHD was the combined treatment; 16.3% preferred the psychological approach and psychopharmacology was chosen by only 6.6%. Almost half (48.5%, N= 129) of the sample considered that drug treatment only supports the psychosocial treatment and does not have a therapeutic effect by itself, 46.2% (N = 133) of the sample believed that <
Introducción A pesar de la evidencia científica acerca de las características neurobiológicas del Trastorno por Déficit de Atención e Hiperactividad (TDAH) que apoya el uso de medicamentos para su tratamiento, este padecimiento sigue generando controversia con respecto a su existencia, su persistencia a lo largo de la vida y su tratamiento óptimo. La prevalencia del TDAH a nivel mundial es alta. Los estudios epidemiológicos muestran que 3 a 5% de los niños en edad escolar pueden recibir este diagnóstico. En México se estima que hay aproximadamente 33 millones de niños y adolescentes, de los cuales 1.5 millones podrían ser diagnosticados con TDAH. En el contexto clínico, al menos 30% de los pacientes que acuden a valoración de primera vez en los servicios de psiquiatría infantil presentan problemas de inatención, hiperactividad o impulsividad. Algunos estudios epidemiológicos han mostrado que sólo el 25% de los padres de sujetos con síntomas de trastornos de conducta o del afecto consideraban que sus hijos necesitaban atención médica, y de ellos, el 13% acudió a los servicios de salud mental. La búsqueda de atención especializada se ha asociado con una mayor intensidad del trastorno y un mayor nivel educativo de los padres. Diversas publicaciones relacionadas con el tratamiento del TDAH a lo largo de la vida resaltan la importancia de la intervención multimodal, es decir, un tratamiento multidisciplinario que va más acorde al modelo biopsicosocial el cual, a su vez, se encuentra relacionado con los factores etiológicos y de pronóstico a mediano y largo plazo en el TDAH. En diversos estudios se ha subrayado la importancia de brindar educación adecuada sobre el trastorno y su tratamiento. También sugieren que un mejor entendimiento acerca de las creencias y conocimientos de los padres de niños y adolescentes con TDAH ayudará a mejorar los mecanismos de comunicación, atención y colaboración entre los distintos elementos participantes en el tratamiento del TDAH y reducirá el tiempo entre la identificación del problema y el inicio del tratamiento. Objetivo Describir los conocimientos, las creencias y actitudes de los padres de niños y adolescentes con TDAH acerca de la naturaleza de la enfermedad, la conducta en la búsqueda de atención médica y su tratamiento. Material y métodos La muestra fue conformada por padres de niños y adolescentes que habían recibido el diagnóstico de TDAH por un clínico calificado. Participaron cuatro centros de atención psiquiátrica, tres en la Ciudad de México y otro en la ciudad de San Luis Potosí. El instrumento principal (CASO ADH padres) es un cuestionario autoaplicable y fue escrito específicamente para este estudio. CASO ADHD es un instrumento con tres versiones: a) Padres, b) Maestros y c) Profesionales de la salud. En este estudio se exponen los resultados de la primera versión. Resultados La muestra total se conformó de 288 padres. El 69.2% dijo saber qué es el TDAH, 85.4% consideró al TDAH como una enfermedad y el 8.3% como una dificultad de la crianza; el resto lo consideró un mito, una moda, un invento de la industria farmacéutica o no existente. Alrededor del 63% de la muestra consideró que el mejor tratamiento para el TDAH sería el tratamiento combinado, el 16.3% prefirió el enfoque psicológico y sólo 6.6% eligió la psicofarmacología. Casi la mitad de la muestra, 48.5%, consideró que el tratamiento farmacológico solamente apoya al tratamiento psicosocial. La mayoría de los padres (60%) identificaron los síntomas de sus hijos en su propia conducta durante los años escolares. Conclusiones Es importante mejorar la cantidad y la calidad de educación acerca del TDAH y su tratamiento entre los padres de los pacientes, para que sus decisiones terapéuticas sean más informadas y tengan mejor efecto sobre el pronóstico del paciente.
ABSTRACT
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Summary The diagnostic criteria for the Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) have been changing according to international classifications. It is currently included in the ICD-10 as an hyperkinetic disorder and in the DSM-IV as a disorder having its onset during childhood and adolescence. The reported prevalence for ADHD is between 3% and 6%; up to 60% of the patients remain symptomatic through adolescence and adulthood. Population-based surveys of physicians who treat children and adolescents reveal that the rate and the proportion of office visits associated with ADHD are high and have increased over the past decade. This fact points to the need of elaborating clinical guidelines for the treatment of this disorder. Evidence from controlled clinical trials confirms the superiority of medication management for ADHD over behavioral therapy and the combination of medication and behavioral treatment. Stimulants are the most studied drugs for ADHD and constitute the first treatment of choice. Methylphenidate (MPH) is the only stimulant available in Mexico. Its mechanism of action is based on the blocking of the dopamine reuptake, which increases the availability of this neurotransmitter in the synaptic cleft. Based on the dopaminergic theories of ADHD, dopamine genes have been the initial candidates for molecular studies regarding response to MPH. Variations of the dopamine D4 receptor gene (DRD4) and the dopamine transporter gene (DAT1) have been related with the response to MPH. The short half life of this drug (less than three hours) supports the shift from once-a-day to twice-a-day or thrice-a-day dosing. The Osmotic Release Oral System (OROS) of MPH allows to maintain therapeutic plasmatic doses with once-a-day dose. Its efficacy and tolerability have been shown in clinical trials. Regarding the long-term effects of MPH, this drug has demonstrated efficacy in a two-year follow-up controlled study. In addition, animal models have shown that the chronic exposure to MPH during developmental periods produces changes in the function of brain dopaminergic cells, as well as changes in behavior. The association between MPH and substance abuse has also been explored. The pharmacokinetic and pharmacodinamic differences between MPH and cocaine, which also acts by blocking the dopamine transporter, were examined: When administered intravenously, MPH, like cocaine, has a reinforcing effects at doses that exceed a 60% dopamine transporter blockade threshold. When administered orally at clinical doses, the pharmacological effects of MPH also exceed this threshold, but reinforcing effects rarely occur. So, the pharmacokinetic properties of MPH in brain differ for oral and intravenous routes of administration, suggesting that the oral administration of MPH mimics the tonic dopamine cell firing, which may be a critical factor associated with clinical effects. In addition, therapeutic doses of MPH do not act at the nucleus accumbens, a brain structure highly associated with reinforcing. These data suggest that oral administration of MPH does not lead to abuse. Follow-up studies have also shown that stimulant therapy is not associated with increased risk of substance abuse. Since 30% of the patients do not respond to stimulant treatment, the efficacy and safety of other drugs have been evaluated. Among them, tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) are considered a good choice for the management of ADHD and conduct disorders. Their half life is longer than that of MPH, which allows a once-a-day or twice-a-day dosing. It has also been described that TCAs are effective for the treatment of comorbid tics. The main disadvantage of these drugs is their effect on cardiac conduction, which has been associated with sudden death. Bupropion is another antidepressant having an effect on dopamine activity. It has shown efficacy for the treatment of ADHD in children, adolescents, and adults, particularly in patients with nicotine dependence, patients with comorbid conduct disorder, or depression. Bupropion is available in a extended-release, once-daily formulation (XL). The main side effects of this antidepressant are the increased risk of seizure development, rash and mild elevation of blood pressure. This drug is not recommended for the treatment of patients with comorbid eating disorders. Venlafaxine (a serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor) and reboxetine (a norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor) are recently introduced antidepressants which have shown efficacy in open label trials on patients with and without comorbid depressive disorder. Atomoxetine is another non-stimulant medication; its main mechanism of action is the inhibition or the reuptake of norepinephrine. Several clinical trials have shown its efficacy for the treatment of ADHD in children, adolescents and adults. This drug can also be administered in a single dose; in addition, it has a low potential for cardiotoxicity and a reduction of tic frequency and severity has been reported with its use. It is also recommended for the ADHD comorbid with anxiety or depression. Nausea and decreased appetite are the most common side effects of atomoxetine. Modafinil is another non-stimulant drug which was initially described for the treatment of narcolepsy. This drug increases the dopamine and norepinephrine activity through its direct effect on glutamate and GABA, among other neuromodulators. Some clinical trials have shown its superiority over placebo on ADHD symptoms. The main side effects of modafinil are gastrointestinal distress and insomnia. Clonidine and risperidone are drugs considered as second treatment of choice or adjunctive treatments for patients with comorbidity. Although medication is the first treatment of choice, patients often get benefits from psychosocial interventions, particularly parent training in contingency management methods and classroom applications of contingency management techniques. The value of these measurements lies in the temporary reduction of symptom levels and/or in the reduction of related behavioral and emotional difficulties, such as defiance and conduct problems, depression, low self-esteem, or academic underachievement. Parents' training focus on general contingency management tactics, such as contingent application of reinforcement or punishment following appropriate/inappropriate behaviors. Reinforcement procedures have typically relied on praise or tokens, while punishment methods have usually been the loss of tokens or time-out from reinforcement. The classroom management include a continuous communication with teachers, in order to maintain them informed about the illness and its treatment, as well as training on contingency management tactics. The aforementioned information was used in the elaboration of clinical guidelines for the treatment of youngsters with ADHD, either alone or comorbid with internalizing or externalizing disorders. Another guideline for the management of preschool children with ADHD is included. Psychoeducation follows the assessment of the children in each case. The pharmacological treatment recommendations give priority to monotherapy. Stimulants are the first treatment of choice in each guideline. The use of non-stimulant medications as second choice will depend on the age and comorbidity of patients.