ABSTRACT
Objective: This study compares the performance in a continuous performance test within a virtual reality classroom (CPT-VRC) between medicated children with ADHD, unmedicated children with ADHD, and healthy children. Method:N = 94 children with ADHD (n = 26 of them received methylphenidate and n = 68 were unmedicated) and n = 34 healthy children performed the CPT-VRC. Omission errors, reaction time/variability, commission errors, and body movements were assessed. Furthermore, ADHD questionnaires were administered and compared with the CPT-VRC measures. Results: The unmedicated ADHD group exhibited more omission errors and showed slower reaction times than the healthy group. Reaction time variability was higher in the unmedicated ADHD group compared with both the healthy and the medicated ADHD group. Omission errors and reaction time variability were associated with inattentiveness ratings of experimenters. Head movements were correlated with hyperactivity ratings of parents and experimenters. Conclusion: Virtual reality is a promising technology to assess ADHD symptoms in an ecologically valid environment.
Subject(s)
Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity , Methylphenidate , Attention , Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity/drug therapy , Child , Humans , Methylphenidate/therapeutic use , Neuropsychological Tests , Reaction TimeABSTRACT
AIM: To assess attitudes and opinions of primary care physicians, neuropsychiatrists, care givers, and community members regarding the management of dementia in Germany. METHODS: The IMPACT survey, a 30-minute web-based questionnaire conducted between April and May 2009, queried 350 subjects in Germany (200 community members, 100 physicians, 50 caregivers of patients with dementia) as a subpopulation of 1800 subjects involved in the management of dementia subjects across Europe. RESULTS: Community members favored dementia-screening (p < 0.001) in healthy elderly and wanted to know a diagnosis of dementia as early as possible (p = 0.092). German physicians regarded dementia as underdiagnosed and undertreated, they acknowledged the effectiveness of available antidementia drugs and saw the major reason for not-prescribing in the costs of drugs. CONCLUSION: Professional knowledge about dementia has to be enhanced and financial restrictions have to be reduced to improve dementia management on all levels of medical care.
