Understanding parental causal explanations and help seeking in attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder: perspectives from a developing Asian nation.

INTRODUCTION: Research on parental understanding of causation and help-seeking for ADHD comes from ethnic minorities in developed nations; research from Asia is scarce. Our purpose was to explore perceptions of Indian parents regarding causation and diagnosis of problematic childhood behaviors diagnosed as ADHD or hyperkinetic disorder, and to understand the process of decision making and help seeking using a qualitative study design. METHOD: In-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 52 parents (33 mothers and 19 fathers), focusing on initial emotional reactions and cognitive appraisals, decision making, parental causal explanations and perceptions regarding diagnosis and symptom labeling. RESULTS: Mothers were decision makers for seeking professional help either singly or jointly in 76.1% of cases. Initial reactions ranged from those with negative valence (negative emotional reactions and cognitive appraisals) to ambi-valence (recognition of problems, but at the same time not accepting completely) and positive valence (sense of relief and hopefulness). Psycho-social explanations (63.46%) were more common than biological explanations (51.82%), with 19.23% reporting both explanations. Biological explanations included illness model (e.g. brain problem, obstetric complications), hereditary and intellectual disability. Psycho-social explanations included psychological (e.g. lack of motivation) and social (e.g. problems with disciplining at home) causations. Irrespective of initial reactions and causal explanations, a significant majority of parents were aware of the diagnosis and labeled problems as symptoms attributable to ADHD. CONCLUSION: Our findings provide insights for development of culturally sensitive psycho-social interventions; from understanding of causal attributions, process of decision making and help seeking.

Relationship between bipolar disorder and attention deficit hyperkinetic disorder: An exploratory study.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of comorbid attention deficit hyperkinetic disorder (ADHD) on Bipolar disorder (BD). METHODS: Patients aged 13-40 years with diagnosis of BD with ADHD (N = 30) were compared to those with BD without ADHD (N = 69) for clinical course, functional outcome and quality of life. RESULTS: Those with BD + ADHD had significantly lower age of onset of BD (p < 0.001), a significantly higher number of total lifetime episodes (p = 0.002), higher number of lifetime manic episodes (p = 0.008), higher number of hospitalizations (p = 0.004) and higher prevalence of family history of BD as compared to those with BD without ADHD (p = 0.043). BD + ADHD group had poor response to conventional mood stabilizers and significantly higher prescriptions of atypical antipsychotics (p = 0.001) and higher rates of antidepressant-induced switch. Also, BD + ADHD group had significantly lower level of functioning in personal, occupational and social domains and reduced quality of life. In the BD + ADHD group, 40% patients had persistence of ADHD into adulthood. Comorbid current ADHD had more negative impact on the course and outcome of BD, when compared with those with ADHD in the past. CONCLUSIONS: Comorbid ADHD has negative impact on the course and outcome of BD.

The utility of modified version of sentence completion test for children and adolescents.

INTRODUCTION: Sentence completion test (SCT) is a projective test used widely by clinicians and psychologists to explore the needs, inner conflicts, fantasies, attitudes, aspirations, adjustment difficulties, and sexual abuse in the children and adolescents. AIM: The aim of the study is to modify the existing SCT (Form S) for children and adolescents and to corroborate with clinical history. METHODOLOGY: A pilot testing was done on 35 children and adolescents who were referred to the Department of Clinical Psychology section for evaluation of conflicts after a detailed evaluation by psychiatrist(s). The clients were administered both the unmodified and the modified SCT. The information obtained was compared between (i) unmodified and the modified SCT and (ii) between clinical history and modified SCT. The psychologist was blind to the assessment of the patient done at the time of workup by a psychiatrist. The two information were analyzed. Descriptive analysis was carried out. RESULTS: The modified version of SCT gave more comprehensive information on all areas of the patient's life compared to older version. The information obtained corroborated with the clinical history explored by the psychiatrist. This test can be administered with ease and can yield detailed information in a wide range of stress-related and neurotic disorders, which can be utilized for clinical case management. CONCLUSION: The modified SCT may better complement clinical history in eliciting comprehensive information on psychosocial issues and better formulation of management plan.

Psychiatric manifestations of congenital rubella syndrome: A case report and review of literature.

Neurodevelopmental disorders are known to have varied etiology. Among known etiologic causes, congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) is reported to be one of the infections associated with neurodevelopmental disorders. CRS has been reported to be associated with large number of psychiatric manifestation. However, data from developing countries on psychiatric manifestations of CRS are nonexistent. In this report, we present the case of a 7-year-old boy, who presented with mental retardation, atypical autism, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Since birth, the child was found to have congenital cardiac defects and was found to have bilateral profound sensorineural hearing loss since the age of 6 months. Magnetic resonance imaging showed multifocal symmetrical T2/fluid attenuated inversion recovery hyperintensities in bilateral cerebral hemisphere suggestive of sequelae of congenital rubella infection.

Methylphenidate-induced obsessive-compulsive symptoms: A case report and review of literature.

Literature on the association of methylphenidate and obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS) is sparse. This report discusses a case of a 14-year-old boy, who developed OCS (in the form of need for symmetry, obsessive doubts; compulsive symptoms included the need to order/arrange articles and repeated checking behavior), within 10 days of starting methylphenidate at the dose of 15 mg/day. Stoppage of methylphenidate led to amelioration of OCS over 2 weeks. The case description suggests that whenever a child on stimulants presents with new-onset OCS, association of OCS with stimulants must be suspected before considering an independent diagnosis of comorbid OCS/obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Psychosis in an adolescent with Wilson's disease: A case report and review of the literature.

Neuropsychiatric manifestations are common in Wilson's disease and mainly include extrapyramidal and cerebellar symptoms. Presentations with psychotic symptoms have been described less frequently. In this report we present the case of a young boy with Wilson's disease who developed psychotic symptoms. A 12-year-old boy was diagnosed with Wilson's disease on the basis of the physical examination findings and low ceruloplasmin levels (8.1 mg/dl). After 2 weeks of being diagnosed with Wilson's disease, he developed an acute onset illness, characterized by delusion of persecution, fearfulness, hypervigilence and decreased sleep. These symptoms were not associated with any confusion, clouding of consciousness, hallucinations and affective symptoms. There was no past or family history of psychosis. One week after the onset of the symptoms he was prescribed tab penicillamine, initially 250 mg/day, which was increased to 500 mg/day after 3 days. After increase in the dose of penicillamine, his psychiatric symptoms worsened and led to hospitalization. A diagnosis of organic delusional disorder (F06.2) due to Wilson's disease was considered. Tab risperidone 1 mg/day was started, and the dose of penicillamine was reduced with which symptoms resolved. Whenever a young adolescent develops psychosis, especially of delusional type, the possibility of Wilson's disease must be considered.