Search

Objective: Assess executive function (EF) improvement with SHP465 mixed amphetamine salts (MAS) extended-release in adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) using responder analyses of the Brown Attention-Deficit Disorder Scale (BADDS)., Methods: Post hoc analyses examined data from placebo-controlled SHP465 MAS dose-optimization (12.5-75 mg) and fixed-dose (25-75 mg) studies. Treatment response was assessed using two definitions (BADDS total score at endpoint <50 [no EF impairment] vs. ≥50 [impaired]; BADDS total score at endpoint relative to the in-treatment 90% CI range for baseline total score [below the range = improved])., Results: Response rates (SHP465 MAS vs. placebo) favored SHP465 MAS (all nominal p < .0001) in the dose-optimization (BADDS <50: 41.9% vs. 19.2%; below 90% CI range: 57.4% vs. 29.6%) and fixed-dose (BADDS <50: 51.9% vs. 16.7%; below 90% CI range: 70.6% vs. 32.3%) studies., Conclusion: Improvement in EF measured by BADDS response rates was approximately 2-fold greater with SHP465 MAS than placebo.

Objective: This study tests the hypotheses that (a) adolescents and adults with ADHD score lower on two normed measures of verbal working memory, relative to their overall verbal abilities, than the general population and (b) a specific story memory test is a more sensitive and relevant measure of working memory impairment than a numerically based test. Method: Scores on normed story memory and numerical memory tests of 220 adolescents and adults with ADHD were corrected for the individual's verbal abilities and compared with each other and national norms. Results: Participants with ADHD scored significantly below their verbal ability measure on both verbal and numerically based memory tests in comparison with national norms. Scores on verbal memory test were lower than scores for numerically based memory tests. Conclusion: This story memory test is a more sensitive measure of working memory impairments in adolescents and adults with ADHD than measures based on recall of numerical data.

Objective: To assess the effect of atomoxetine on ADHD-related executive functions over a 6-month period using the Brown Attention-Deficit Disorder Scale (BADDS) for Adults, a normed, 40-item, self-report scale in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial., Method: In a randomized, double-blind clinical trial, adults with ADHD received either atomoxetine 25 to 100 mg/day or placebo for 6 months. Patients completed the BADDS to report their current daily functioning in 5 clusters of ADHD-related impairments of executive functioning: (1) Organizing and Activating to Work; (2) Focusing for Tasks; (3) Regulating Alertness and Effort; (4) Modulating Emotions; and (5) Utilizing Working Memory., Results: Mean scores were significantly more improved in the atomoxetine group compared to the placebo group: total score, -27.0 versus -19.0 (p < .001); all 5 cluster scores, p < .01., Conclusions: Once-daily atomoxetine can improve executive function impairments in adults with ADHD as assessed by the BADDS.

Objective: Validation of the Adult ADHD Investigator Symptom Rating Scale (AISRS) that measures aspects of ADHD in adults., Method: Psychometric properties of the AISRS total and AISRS subscales are analyzed and compared to the Conners' Adult Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Rating Scale-Investigator Rated: Screening Version (CAARS-Inv:SV) and the Clinical Global Impression-ADHD-Severity Scale using data from a placebo-controlled 6-month clinical trial of once-daily atomoxetine., Results: The AISRS has high internal consistency, good convergent, and discriminant validities; modest divergent validity; and small ceiling and floor effects (

Objectives: To demonstrate that high IQ adults diagnosed with ADHD suffer from executive function (EF) impairments that: a) can be identified with a combination of standardized measures and self-report data; and b) occur more commonly in this group than in the general population., Method: 157 ADHD adults with IQ >/= 120 were assessed with 8 normed measures of EF- 3 index scores from standardized tests of memory and cognitive abilities, and 5 subscales of a normed self-report measure of EF impairments in daily life., Results: 73% of subjects were significantly impaired on >/= 5 of these 8 EF markers. On all 8 measures, incidence of these impairments was significantly greater than in the general population., Conclusion: High IQ adults with ADHD tend to suffer EF impairments that can be assessed with these measures; incidence of such impairments in this group is significantly higher than in the general population.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether a brief measure of verbal memory can assess short-term verbal memory impairments relative to verbal abilities in adolescents and adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and to ascertain whether significant differences between short-term verbal memory and verbal abilities are more common among persons with ADHD than in the general population. One hundred seventy-six adolescents and adults diagnosed with ADHD (DSM-IV criteria) were assessed with a measure of short-term verbal memory. The short-term verbal memory score of each subject was compared with the verbal abilities on two measures. Percentages of ADHD subjects with "significant discrepancy" between verbal IQ and short-term verbal memory were compared with the standardization sample for the verbal memory measure. A majority of adolescents and adults diagnosed with ADHD demonstrated significant discrepancy between performance on the short-term verbal memory measure and verbal IQ. The percentage of ADHD subjects with a significant discrepancy between these two measures greatly exceeded the percentage of persons in the general population showing such a discrepancy. This brief measure of short-term verbal memory may be a useful measure to include in a comprehensive assessment for ADHD symptoms in adolescents and adults. Replication in other groups of ADHD patients is needed to test the generalizability of the findings.