A Novel Robot-Assisted Kinematic Measure for Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Preliminary Study

Objective@#Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. In contrast to neurocognitive measurements of inattention and impulsivity, there has been limited research regarding the objective measurement of hyperactivity in youths with ADHD. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the clinical effectiveness of a newly developed Robot-assisted Kinematic Measure for ADHD (RAKMA) in children with ADHD. @*Methods@#In total, 35 children with ADHD aged 5 to 12 years and 50 healthy controls (HCs) were recruited, and the parents completed the Child Behavior Checklist and the Korean ADHD Diagnostic Scale. RAKMA performance was represented by RAKMA stimulus–response and hyperactivity variables. We compared the RAKMA performance of those with ADHD and with that of HCs and also investigated the correlation between the RAKMA variables and ADHD clinical scale scores. @*Results@#Significant differences between the ADHD and HC groups were observed regarding most RAKMA variables, including correct reactions, commission errors, omission errors, reaction times, migration distance, and migration speed scores. Significant correlations were detected between various ADHD clinical scale scores and RAKMA variables. @*Conclusion@#The RAKMA was a clinically useful tool for objectively measuring hyperactivity symptoms in children with ADHD. Further studies with larger samples are warranted.

A Novel Robot-Assisted Kinematic Measure for Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Preliminary Study

Objective@#Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. In contrast to neurocognitive measurements of inattention and impulsivity, there has been limited research regarding the objective measurement of hyperactivity in youths with ADHD. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the clinical effectiveness of a newly developed Robot-assisted Kinematic Measure for ADHD (RAKMA) in children with ADHD. @*Methods@#In total, 35 children with ADHD aged 5 to 12 years and 50 healthy controls (HCs) were recruited, and the parents completed the Child Behavior Checklist and the Korean ADHD Diagnostic Scale. RAKMA performance was represented by RAKMA stimulus–response and hyperactivity variables. We compared the RAKMA performance of those with ADHD and with that of HCs and also investigated the correlation between the RAKMA variables and ADHD clinical scale scores. @*Results@#Significant differences between the ADHD and HC groups were observed regarding most RAKMA variables, including correct reactions, commission errors, omission errors, reaction times, migration distance, and migration speed scores. Significant correlations were detected between various ADHD clinical scale scores and RAKMA variables. @*Conclusion@#The RAKMA was a clinically useful tool for objectively measuring hyperactivity symptoms in children with ADHD. Further studies with larger samples are warranted.

Cognitive Function, Emotional and Behavioral Problems, and Temperament of Premature Children

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to compare preterm, neurodevelopmentally disordered and healthy full-term children. METHODS: We enrolled 47 children who were born preterm, 40 neurodevelopmentally disordered children, and 80 healthy children as control participants, in order to assess the cognitive functioning and the risk of behavioral problems at the age of 5. Children were assessed using the Korean Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence-4th edition (K-WPPSI-IV), the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), and the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI). RESULTS: The mean K-WPPSI-IV score of the preterm group was 87.19±17.36, which was significantly higher than that of the neurodevelopmental disorder group (69.98±28.63; p < 0.001) but lower than that of the control group (107.74±14.21; p < 0.001). The cumulative CBCL scores of the preterm children were not significantly different from those of the control group. Additionally, the TCI scores for reward dependence of the preterm children were higher than those of the control group. CONCLUSION: The cognitive performance of preterm infants was lower than that of healthy full-term infants at the age of 5, and there was an association between slower growth and decreased cognitive ability.

The Effect of Low Birth Weight and Age on the Cognitive Performance of Preterm Preschoolers

OBJECTIVES: The current study examined the effect of birth weight on the relationship between age and IQ of children, who were born preterm with very low birth weight (VLBW) or extremely low birth weight (ELBW). METHODS: The study subjects were 82 children, aged between 3–5 years, who visited the neonatal intensive care unit of a university hospital located in Seoul. The children had been born prematurely with VLBW or ELBW. Their IQ was tested using the performed Korean-Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence fourth edition. RESULTS: A hierarchical regression analysis showed a significant interaction effect of birth weight and age on Full Scale IQ (FSIQ); the effect of age on FSIQ differed according to birth weight. For the group with VLBW, FSIQ was more likely to be higher with increasing age. Conversely, for the group with ELBW, FSIQ remained low regardless of the age level. In addition, birth weight and age had a significant interaction effect on the Visual Spatial Index. Birth weight had a significant main effect on Verbal Comprehension Index. CONCLUSION: This research suggested the possibility of predicting the cognitive developmental of premature children, by highlighting the fact that prematurely born children, with VLBW/ELBW, have different cognitive developmental trajectories.

Life Persistence of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder / 한양의대학술지

This paper is to review Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in the developmental perspective, focusing on clinical features, diagnosis and treatment of ADHD throughout life stage. When diagnosed with ADHD, before entering elementary school early diagnosis and early intervention is encouraged to reduce various impairments that occur during development. Thirty to eighty percent of school-age ADHD symptoms remain throughout the adolescence or meet the ADHD diagnosis criteria. During adolescence, hyperactivity and impulsiveness from other existing symptoms become less severe but children have insufficiency to continue studying or task compared to their peers. Pharmacologic treatment had been shown to be the most effective treatment regimen for adolescents who continue to have ADHD symptoms. In adults, representative symptoms of ADHD, hyperactivity and impulsiveness, often gradually decrease while lack of concentration remains. As Conner's Adult ADHD Diagnostic Interview for DSM-IV (CAADID), a structured interview for the diagnosis of adulthood ADHD has been translated into Korean, it can be applied clinically. Pharmacological and nonpharmacological treatment in adults had been shown to be effective.

The Predictor of Suicidal Ideation and Attempt of Middle School Adolescents in an Urban Community / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted in order to explore the prevalence of suicidal behavior and the risk or protecting factors. In addition, childhood trauma, school violence, and social support were hypothesized to have an association with suicidal behavior. METHODS: Data were collected by self-report questionnaire from 1219 students selected from middle schools in Guri-city, Korea. The students were asked to complete self-questionnaires and sociodemographic variables were collected for identification of factors associated with suicidal behavior. RESULTS: The prevalence of suicidal attempt was 1.1% (0.6%, 1.3%) from the total sample. Meaningful predictors of suicidal ideation were female, low socioeconomic status, low self-esteem, emotional abuse, neglect, delinquency, perpetration of school violence, family support, and friend support, in addition to the significant effect of depressive mood. In the case of suicidal attempt, female, low socioeconomic status, or delinquency showed a significant incremental effect, in addition to the explaining variance of depressive mood and suicidal ideation. CONCLUSION: Childhood experience should be dealt with, and school violence should be controlled in order to modulate mood disturbance and pessimistic ideation, which can block the channel to suicidal attempt. In addition, development of strategies for management of depression and delinquency is needed for prevention of suicidal attempt.

Blonanserin-induced Mood Alteration in Schizophrenia and Schizoaffective Disorder: Two Cases

We report two outpatients, one with schizophrenia and one with schizoaffective disorder, who developed manic or hypomanic episodes following the initiation of blonanserin during the course of treatment. Blonanserin is a novel antipsychotic that acts as a 5-HT and D2 receptor antagonist. Both patients developed hypomanic episodes within 2 weeks of receiving a small dose (6-8 mg) of blonanserin, and one patient later developed full-blown mania; both episodes ended within 1 month of discontinuing blonanserin. The mood alteration observed in these cases suggests a possible antidepressant effect of blonanserin; thus, clinicians should monitor mood changes when administering this antipsychotic.