Comparing Intelligence Test Profiles to Assess Tourette's Disorder with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

OBJECTIVES: The study compared the intelligence test profiles of Tourette's Disorder (TD), attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and TD with ADHD (TD+ADHD) groups. METHODS: The Korean Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-third edition (K-WISC-III) and Korean Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-fourth edition (K-WISC-IV) were administered to 13 children and adolescents with TD, 17 children and adolescents with ADHD, and 15 children and adolescents with TD+ADHD. Each parameter was compared among the groups using the Kruskal-Wallis test. RESULTS: The mean scores of the freedom from distractibility/working memory index (FD/WMI) and the digit span and arithmetic subtests of the TD+ADHD group were significantly lower than those of the TD group. CONCLUSION: According to the intelligence test results, the comorbid ADHD+TD group showed a significant decrease in working memory compared to the TD group. These findings are similar to those of previous research on cognitive functions and suggest that the TD+ADHD comorbid and TD alone groups exhibit different endophenotypes. The results also imply that WISC-III and WISC-IV, the most commonly used intelligence tests clinically, are effective in evaluating cognitive functions such as attention. Further research is required to confirm these results.

Internet Game Addiction and Emotional and Behavioral Characteristics in Upper Grade Elementary School Students and Middle School Students

OBJECTIVES: This study was aimed at investigating the relationship between internet game addiction and emotional and behavioral characteristics of students both in the 5th and 6th grade of elementary school and in middle school. METHODS: Two elementary schools and two middle schools were chosen to participate. The students completed self-report questionnaires designed by the authors, called the Internet Game Addiction Scale, Korean youth self-report (K-YSR). RESULTS: Compared to previous studies, the rates of those in the obvious game addiction group were much lower in this study. We defined the upper 10% of internet game addiction scores as a high risk user group and the lower 10% as a control group. There were significant differences between the groups with respect to the the ages at which internet gaming began, the frequency of game play per week, and the average length of each game playing session. Significant associations were also found between the level of internet game addiction and the withdrawn and delinquency subscales of the K-YSR. However, the association between game addiction and the withdrawn subscale was found only in middle school students. CONCLUSION: The findings from this study suggested that withdrawn and delinquent behaviors could be predictors of internet game addiction. Results also suggested the importance of early childhood intervention for preventing the development of more severe psychopathology in early adolescence.

A Family-based and Case-control Association Study of the Dopamine D5 Receptor Gene Polymorphism in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: Recent genetic studies have suggested a preferential transmission of the Dopamine D5 receptor gene (DRD5) 148bp marker allele. The aim of this study is to test the association between DRD5 and ADHD. METHODS: 106 Korean children with ADHD and their parents were analyzed using the transmission disequilibrium test (TDT) and haplotype-based haplotype relative risk test (HHRR). And also the ADHD children were compared with 212 age and gender matched normal controls. RESULTS: We found the evidence for an association of short alleles of DRD5 dinucleotide repeat polymorphism in both case control and family based studyies. Additionally, we observed some evidence for biased transmission of allele 152 bp and 144 bp. CONCLUSION: Our results lend credence to the notion that the relationship between ADHD and DRD5 is complex. The number of cases and informative transmissions in our study were small, therefore it would be premature to make any conclusions concerning the role of DRD5 in ADHD. Further work is needed to support these findings.

A Family-based and Case-control Association Study of the Dopamine D5 Receptor Gene Polymorphism in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: Recent genetic studies have suggested a preferential transmission of the Dopamine D5 receptor gene (DRD5) 148bp marker allele. The aim of this study is to test the association between DRD5 and ADHD. METHODS: 106 Korean children with ADHD and their parents were analyzed using the transmission disequilibrium test (TDT) and haplotype-based haplotype relative risk test (HHRR). And also the ADHD children were compared with 212 age and gender matched normal controls. RESULTS: We found the evidence for an association of short alleles of DRD5 dinucleotide repeat polymorphism in both case control and family based studyies. Additionally, we observed some evidence for biased transmission of allele 152 bp and 144 bp. CONCLUSION: Our results lend credence to the notion that the relationship between ADHD and DRD5 is complex. The number of cases and informative transmissions in our study were small, therefore it would be premature to make any conclusions concerning the role of DRD5 in ADHD. Further work is needed to support these findings.