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Background : The diagnostics and treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in women remain insufficient. Fluctuations of reproductive hormones during the premenstrual period, postpartum period, and (peri)menopause are neglected, even though they impact ADHD symptoms and associated mood disorders. Therefore, we created a female-specific treatment group for women with ADHD and premenstrual worsening of ADHD and/or mood symptoms. Methods : We describe the group programme and underlying rationale, offering a qualitative analysis of the participants' evaluation. Results : The seven bi-weekly sessions foreground the menstrual cycle and address several ADHD-specific topics in relation to this cyclical pattern. Concurrently, women track their menstrual cycle and (fluctuating) ADHD and mood symptoms with an adjusted premenstrual calendar. In total, 18 women (25-47 years) participated in three consecutive groups. We analysed the evaluation of the last group. Participants experienced the group as a safe and welcoming space. Recognition was valued by all. The topics discussed were deemed valuable, and the structure suited them well. Completing the premenstrual calendar augmented the awareness and recognition of individual cyclical symptoms. A lifespan approach increased self-understanding. Participants took their menstrual cycle more seriously, prioritising self-acceptance and self-care. Conclusions : Exploring a cyclical approach in a group setting seems to be a positive addition to treatment for female ADHD.

Background: Three scoring methods for the widely available Adult ADHD Symptoms Rating Scale v1.1 (ASRS) have been proposed to screen for ADHD, but these three methods have rarely been compared against formal clinical diagnoses. We aimed to validate the French version of the ASRS against a clinical interview using DSM-IV and DSM-5 diagnostic algorithms., Methods: One hundred five adults from a convenience sample were evaluated with the ASRS and the DIVA 2.0, using both DSM-IV and DSM-5 criteria. We used Confirmatory Factor Analysis to investigate the underlying structure of the ASRS. Sensitivity, specificity, and classification accuracy were compared between the rating algorithms of the ASRS., Results: The full score method had worse predictive performance than the Screener and the 2-stage scoring method. All characteristics of the three scoring methods for the ASRS were worse when applying DSM-5 criteria. The best-fitting structure was a bi-factor model with a general ADHD factor and three specific factors., Conclusions: ADHD was best conceived as a one-dimensional construct. The 2-stage scoring method superseded the Screener with comparable sensitivity and specificity., (Copyright © 2022 L'Encéphale, Paris. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental condition which is underdiagnosed and undertreated in women. For decades, the ADHD field has called for more insight into female-specific therapy. Preliminary findings postulate that changes in sex hormones during the menstrual cycle may influence the effectiveness of psychostimulant medication. Yet, pharmacotherapeutic interventions tailored to women with ADHD remain scarce. Previously, our group showed an increase in mood symptoms in the premenstrual week in women with ADHD. Premenstrual worsening of depressive and ADHD symptoms represent a treatment challenge. In our adult ADHD clinic, we noted several women describing exacerbation of their ADHD and depressive symptoms in the premenstrual week and/or insufficient effect of their established dosage of psychostimulant. We responded to the need expressed by these women by increasing their stimulant dosage in the premenstrual week, while monitoring the response and side effects., Methods: This community case study of nine consecutive women being treated for ADHD and co-occurring conditions (including depression and premenstrual dysphoric disorder), reports our local experience of increasing the individually prescribed psychostimulant dosage during the premenstrual period. We methodically monitored the effect of this increased dosage on ADHD symptoms, mood and somatic symptoms for the following 6-24 months., Results: With premenstrual dose elevation, all nine women experienced improved ADHD and mood symptoms with minimal adverse events. Premenstrual inattention, irritability and energy levels improved, and now resembled the other non-premenstrual weeks more closely. All women decided to continue with the elevated premenstrual pharmacotherapy., Discussion: Our preliminary results demonstrate potential benefits of increasing premenstrual psychostimulant dosage in women with ADHD, experiencing premenstrual worsening of ADHD and mood symptoms. The results concur with previous findings of diminished response to amphetamines in the late luteal phase. Increased dosage may help combat premenstrual worsening of cognitive and emotional symptoms in women with ADHD, with significant clinical implications. Better management of premenstrual ADHD and mood symptoms in vulnerable women can improve treatment outcome and meet an unmet need. However, implementation should be individually explored. Further investigation of luteal phase psychostimulant dose adjustment is required for safe, optimal and individualised treatment for women with ADHD., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 de Jong, Wynchank, van Andel, Beekman and Kooij.)

Objective: An external validation of the Wender Utah Rating Scale (WURS) against a clinical assessment is lacking, especially for French-speaking populations., Method: Participants completed three subsets of the WURS-61 and were assessed for ADHD using the DIVA 2.0 semi-structured interview. Exploratory factor analyses were performed. Logistic regression models and Receiver-Operating Curves were used to determine the cut-off scores that predicted childhood ADHD with best accuracy., Results: One hundred three adults were included. Three factors were extracted for the WURS-25 and WURS-K, and four for the WURS-29. Cut-off scores are 44, 24 and 42, respectively. When considering DSM-5 rather than DSM-IV criteria, these values changed to 44, 36 and 44, respectively. More than 83% of the participants had been correctly classified., Conclusion: All three subsets of the WURS-61 retrospectively predict the presence of ADHD in childhood. This result might prove to be useful in screening and research procedures., (Copyright © 2022 L'Encéphale, Paris. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: This study evaluated the psychometrics of the Farsi translation of diagnostic interview for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adults (DIVA-5) based on DSM-5 criteria. Methods: Referrals to a psychiatric outpatient clinic ( N  = 120, 61.7% males, mean age 34.35 ± 9.84 years) presenting for an adult ADHD (AADHD) diagnosis, were evaluated using the structured clinical interviews for DSM-5 (SCID-5 & SCID-5-PD) and the DIVA-5. The participants completed Conner's Adult ADHD Rating Scale-Self Report-Screening Version (CAARS-S-SV). Results: According to the SCID-5 and DIVA-5 diagnoses, 55% and 38% of the participants had ADHD, respectively. Diagnostic agreement was 81.66% between DIVA-5/SCID-5 diagnoses, 80% between SCID-5/CAARS-S-SV, and 71.66% between DIVA-5/CAARS-S-SV. Test-retest and inter-rater reliability results for the DIVA-5 were good to excellent. Conclusion: Findings support the validity and reliability of the Farsi translation of DIVA-5 among the Farsi-speaking adult outpatient population.

Study Objectives: We evaluated the relationship between leukocyte telomere length (LTL) and sleep duration, insomnia symptoms, and circadian rhythm, to test whether sleep and chronobiological dysregulations are associated with cellular aging., Methods: Data from the Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety (N = 2,936) were used at two waves 6 years apart, to measure LTL. Telomeres shorten during the life span and are important biomarkers for cellular aging. LTL was assessed by qualitative polymerase chain reaction and converted into base pair number. Sleep parameters were: sleep duration and insomnia symptoms from the Insomnia Rating Scale. Circadian rhythm variables were: indication of Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome (DSPS), mid-sleep corrected for sleep debt on free days (MSFsc), sleep-onset time, and self-reported chronotype, from the Munich Chronotype Questionnaire. Generalized estimating equations analyzed the associations between LTL, sleep, and chronobiological factors, adjusted for baseline age, sex, North European ancestry, and additionally for current smoking, depression severity, obesity, and childhood trauma., Results: Indicators of delayed circadian rhythm showed a strong and consistent effect on LTL, after adjustment for sociodemographic and health indicators. Late MSFsc (B = -49.9, p = .004), late sleep-onset time (B = -32.4, p = .001), indication of DSPS (B = -73.8, p = .036), and moderately late chronotype in adulthood (B = -71.6, p = .003) were associated with significantly shorter LTL across both waves; whereas sleep duration and insomnia symptoms were not. Extremely early chronotype showed significantly less LTL shortening than intermediate chronotype (B = 161.40, p = .037). No predictors showed accelerated LTL attrition over 6 years., Conclusions: Individuals with delayed circadian rhythm have significantly shorter LTL, but not faster LTL attrition rates., (© Sleep Research Society 2019. Published by Oxford University Press [on behalf of the Sleep Research Society]. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Background Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is among the most common psychiatric disorders of childhood that often persists into adulthood and old age. Yet ADHD is currently underdiagnosed and undertreated in many European countries, leading to chronicity of symptoms and impairment, due to lack of, or ineffective treatment, and higher costs of illness. Methods The European Network Adult ADHD and the Section for Neurodevelopmental Disorders Across the Lifespan (NDAL) of the European Psychiatric Association (EPA), aim to increase awareness and knowledge of adult ADHD in and outside Europe. This Updated European Consensus Statement aims to support clinicians with research evidence and clinical experience from 63 experts of European and other countries in which ADHD in adults is recognized and treated. Results Besides reviewing the latest research on prevalence, persistence, genetics and neurobiology of ADHD, three major questions are addressed: (1) What is the clinical picture of ADHD in adults? (2) How should ADHD be properly diagnosed in adults? (3) How should adult ADHDbe effectively treated? Conclusions ADHD often presents as a lifelong impairing condition. The stigma surrounding ADHD, mainly due to lack of knowledge, increases the suffering of patients. Education on the lifespan perspective, diagnostic assessment, and treatment of ADHD must increase for students of general and mental health, and for psychiatry professionals. Instruments for screening and diagnosis of ADHD in adults are available, as are effective evidence-based treatments for ADHD and its negative outcomes. More research is needed on gender differences, and in older adults with ADHD., (Copyright © 2018 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.. All rights reserved.)

Study Objectives: Insomnia and short or long sleep duration are important comorbid conditions in adults with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), but reports of the association vary. In a general population study, we evaluated the relationship between ADHD symptom severity, insomnia symptoms, and sleep duration in adults., Methods: Data were from the third wave of the Netherlands Mental Health Survey and Incidence Study-2 (NEMESIS-2; n = 4,618). ADHD symptom severity and symptom dimensions (hyperactivity and inattention) were assessed using the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale screener. Self-reported insomnia symptoms (Insomnia Rating Scale; IRS) were defined as clinically relevant if IRS ≥ 9. Self-reported short sleep duration was defined as ≤ 6 hours, and long sleep duration as ≥ 10 hours., Results: Within the group with clinically relevant ADHD symptoms, 43% reported significant insomnia symptoms (odds ratio [OR] = 2.66, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.74-4.07); 41% short sleep duration (relative risk ratio [RRR] = 1.94, 95% CI 1.31-2.85) and 6% long sleep (RRR = 5.87, 95% CI 1.97-17.45). Increased inattention symptoms were associated with IRS ≥ 9, short and long sleep duration in fully adjusted models (OR = 1.10, 95% CI 1.06-1.14; RRR = 1.06, 95% CI 1.02-1.09; RRR = 1.16, 95% CI 1.05-1.28, respectively). Increased hyperactivity symptoms were associated with IRS ≥ 9 (OR = 1.17, 95% CI 1.11-1.23) and short sleep duration (RRR = 1.12, 95% CI 1.05-1.19)., Conclusions: Both clinically significant ADHD symptoms and inattention and hyperactivity symptom dimensions were consistently associated with insomnia symptoms and altered sleep duration. These associations confirm that sleep disturbances should be assessed and given appropriate clinical attention in adults with ADHD., (© 2018 American Academy of Sleep Medicine.)

Objective: ADHD may predispose to obesity, a metabolic syndrome component. Affective disorders are also associated with MetSyn and ADHD. This study examined whether ADHD confers any added risk of MetSyn and obesity-related associations in a large sample with varying stages of affective disorders., Method: Participants included 2,303 adults from the Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety. Three groups were compared (controls, those with depressive/anxiety disorders without ADHD; and those with depressive/anxiety disorders and ADHD) for presence of MetSyn risk factors, body mass index, and waist-hip ratio. ADHD symptoms were identified by using a T-score > 65 (Conners Adult ADHD Rating Scale)., Results: Multivariable analyses were additionally adjusted for sociodemographic, lifestyle, health factors, and affective disorders. Analyses showed no significant association between MetSyn, obesity-related variables, and comorbid ADHD. High Inattention and Hyperactivity/Impulsivity symptoms were not associated with MetSyn., Conclusion: This study did not confirm that MetSyn and obesity-related parameters are increased in comorbid ADHD.

Purpose of Review: Insomnia is diagnosed when there is dissatisfaction with sleep quantity or quality. It has a prevalence in the general population ranging from 31 to 56%. Insomnia has previously been associated with adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In this review, we address three topics: (1) the cross-sectional relationship between ADHD and insomnia in adulthood, (2) the longitudinal relationship between ADHD and insomnia, and (3) insomnia as a side effect of pharmacological treatments for adult ADHD., Recent Findings: Three cross-sectional, clinical, and population studies report a prevalence of insomnia in ADHD adults ranging from 43 to 80%. Longitudinal evidence for a link between childhood-onset ADHD and insomnia at later age is mixed, with one study confirming and another study not supporting such a longitudinal association. In randomized, placebo-controlled trials, insomnia is reported significantly more often in the treatment arm than in the placebo arm. In varying percentages of trial participants, insomnia is a treatment-emergent adverse effect in triple-bead mixed amphetamine salts (40-45%), dasotraline (35-45%), lisdexamfetamine (10-19%), and extended-release methylphenidate (11%). Ten to seventeen percent of subjects in placebo-controlled trials of atomoxetine report insomnia, possibly related to poor metabolizer status. The mechanisms explaining the relationship between ADHD and sleep problems are incompletely understood, but both genetic and non-shared environmental influences may be involved. Adults with ADHD should be assessed for insomnia, which is frequently comorbid, and both conditions should be treated.

This review discusses the unmet needs of patients with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) who are transitioning into adulthood. Although awareness and recognition of ADHD in children, adolescents, and adults have improved in recent years, there is often an interruption in management of the disorder when adolescent patients transition to adult health care services. This review has the following objectives: (1) to identify key issues patients with ADHD (with or without an early diagnosis) face during transition into adulthood; (2) to review the current clinical practice and country-specific approaches to the management of the transition into adulthood for patients with ADHD; (3) to discuss challenges facing clinicians and their patients when drug treatment for ADHD is initiated; (4) to review current ADHD guidelines on transition management in Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea, Turkey, and Africa; and (5) to examine economic consequences associated with ADHD. The review suggests that the transition period to adult ADHD may be an underresearched and underserved area. The transition period plays an important role regarding how ADHD symptoms may be perceived and acted upon by adult psychiatrists. Further studies are needed to explore the characteristics of the transition period. If only a fraction of adolescents go on to have mental disorders during adulthood, especially ADHD, it is crucial to identify their characteristics to target appropriate interventions at the beginning of the course of illness. There continues to be low recognition of adult ADHD and a severe lack of medical services equipped to diagnose and care for patients with ADHD transitioning from child to adult services., (© 2016 John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.)

Background: Comorbid ADHD symptoms may partly account for circadian rhythm disturbances in depression and anxiety disorders., Methods: Self-reported sleep characteristics of 2090 participants in the Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety were assessed using the Munich Chronotype Questionnaire. We defined 3 groups: healthy controls (HC), persons with lifetime depression and/or anxiety disorders (LDA), and those with both LDA and high ADHD symptoms (LDA+ADHD), using the Conner's Adult ADHD Rating Scale., Results: Sleep characteristics were least favorable in the LDA+ADHD group. Important group differences between LDA+ADHD, LDA and HC were found for extremely late chronotype (12% vs. 5% vs. 3%; p<.001), sleep duration <6h (15% vs. 5% vs. 4%; p<.001), and for an indication of the Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome (DSPS; 16% vs. 8% vs. 5%; p<.001). After adjustment for covariates, including depression and anxiety, presence of ADHD symptoms increased the odds ratio for late chronotype (OR=2.6; p=.003), indication of DSPS (OR=2.4; p=.002), and sleep duration <6h (OR=2.7; p=.007)., Limitations: ADHD conceptually overlaps with symptom presentation of depression and anxiety. We used a cross-sectional study design, and used self reported sleep characteristics., Conclusions: High ADHD symptoms were associated with an increased rate of circadian rhythm sleep disturbances in an already at-risk population of people with depression and/or anxiety disorders. Circadian rhythm sleep disorders, as often seen in ADHD are not entirely due to any comorbid depression and/or anxiety disorder. Adequate treatment of such sleep problems is needed and may prevent serious health conditions in the long term., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Many atypical antipsychotics show antagonism at both serotonergic and dopaminergic neurones and show fewer extrapyramidal side effects (EPS). Nefazodone blocks postsynaptic 5HT2A receptors and weakly inhibits serotonin reuptake. This study aimed to elucidate the role of nefazodone in the treatment of antipsychotic-induced EPS. The trial was a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial of patients requiring antipsychotic treatment with haloperidol 10mg daily; from which a subgroup of patients who developed EPS were selected for the study. Patients were randomised to add-on therapy with either placebo (n=24) or nefazodone (n=25) 100mg bd. EPS were measured on days 0, 3 and 7 using the Simpson Angus, Barnes akathisia, abnormal involuntary movement and Chouinard scales. Nefazodone significantly reduced EPS as measured by both the Simpson Angus scale and CGI (p=0.007 and 0.0247, respectively). Akathisia and tardive dyskinesia did not differ between the two groups (p=0.601; p=0.507, respectively). These results suggest the role of 5HT2 antagonism in the mechanism of action of atypical antipsychotics with respect to lowering rates of drug-induced EPS. In addition, a therapeutic role for nefazodone is suggested in the treatment of antipsychotic-induced EPS., (Copyright 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)

The aim of the study was to assess the efficacy and tolerability of fluoxetine treatment of acral lick dermatitis (ALD) in dogs and to investigate ALD as an animal model of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Sixty-three dogs with ALD were treated with fluoxetine 20 mg daily, or placebo, for 6 weeks. In the fluoxetine group, owners rated both appearance of the lesion (t = 10.2, df = 29, P < 0.0001) and licking behavior (t = 10.2, df = 29, P < 0.0001) as significantly improved by the end of the trial. Veterinarian-rated pre- and post-treatment photographs showed statistically significant improvement in the fluoxetine group (mean = 2.55). There were no significant changes in the placebo group as rated by owners and veterinarians. These results demonstrate the efficacy of fluoxetine in the treatment of ALD and lend further support to ALD as an animal model of OCD.

A study was conducted to determine emigration intentions of medical students at the University of Cape Town. Students from 1st to 5th year complete a self-administered questionnaire. A response rate of 86% was achieved. Over half the students (54%) were considering emigration. The most frequently selected motivating factors were moral dissatisfaction with the present government and career opportunities abroad. Men who were eligible for military conscription rated this factor as an important deterrent to remaining in South Africa, and 81% stated objections to national service. However, 71% would be less likely to emigrate were an alternative national service (ANS) instituted. Should a compulsory community service be implemented, 41% of those eligible would be more inclined to emigrate. Recommendations include the implementation of ANS; a re-evaluation of the compulsory community service proposal; and further investigation of emigration trends and of ways to curb emigration. Suggestions offered are a reappraisal of both selection criteria and medical education; and the provision of incentives for doctors to work in rural areas.