Testing the Efficacy of a Smartphone Application in Improving Medication Adherence, Among Children with ADHD.

BACKGROUND: Adherence to medication is a key factor for successful treatment of children with ADHD. However, most children do not adhere to their pharmacotherapy regimen, and have no contact with their physician during the first month of pharmacotherapy. A mobile health (mHealth) approach may bridge the gap between physicians and patients, allowing for more frequent communications as well as better monitoring of adherence to the prescribed treatment. METHOD: The study sample included 39 children with ADHD (27 boys), aged 9.56±2.41 years. Participants were randomly assigned to one of the following two groups: (1) a study group in which participants and their parents were prompted to use a mobile application (i.e., mobile app or app); or to (2) a control group in which participants were treated as usual, without the app. Pill counts, which is a common strategy for confirming medication adherence, was recorded at week 4 and week 8. Clinical assessment conducted at baseline, week 4, and week 8. RESULTS: Participants who were prescribed with the app demonstrated higher overall pill counts over 8-weeks period, F=4.33, p<.05. In addition, a significant improvement in total CRS score was found among the study group compared to controls in week 4 and week 8, F=4.74, p<.05. CONCLUSIONS: The current study provides initial support for the feasibility of a new mobile app in promoting adherence to stimulants among youth with ADHD.

Shyness discriminates between children with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome and Williams syndrome and predicts emergence of psychosis in 22q11.2 deletion syndrome.

BACKGROUND: 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11.2DS) is a common neurogenetic syndrome associated with high rates of psychosis. The aims of the present study were to identify the unique temperament traits that characterize children with 22q11.2DS compared to children with Williams syndrome (WS) and typically developing (TD) controls, and to examine temperamental predictors of the emergence of psychosis in 22q11.2DS. METHODS: The temperament of 55 children with 22q11.2DS, 36 with WS, and 280 TD children was assessed using the Emotionality, Activity, Sociability (EAS) Temperament Survey, Parental Ratings. The presence of a psychotic disorder was evaluated in 49 children and adolescents with 22q11.2DS at baseline and again 5.43 ± 2.23 years after baseline temperament assessment. RESULTS: Children with 22q11.2DS scored higher on Shyness compared to WS and TD controls. Children with 22q11.2DS and WS scored higher on Emotionality and lower on Activity compared to TD controls. Shyness was more severe in older compared to younger children with 22q11.2DS. Baseline Shyness scores significantly predicted the later emergence of a psychotic disorder at follow-up, in children with 22q11.2DS. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that shyness is an early marker associated with the later emergence of psychosis in 22q11.2DS.