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Now that it is recognized that Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) often persists into adulthood, there are many adults being identified with ADHD who were not diagnosed as children. Individuals identified with ADHD during adulthood may be at risk for maladaptive attributional styles based on the notion that they were exposed to more negative feedback during childhood than adults without identified ADHD. This study examined current attributions and perceptions of childhood of 51 women identified in adulthood with ADHD symptomatology and 51 nonADHD women. Women with ADHD symptomatology had more uncontrollable, stable, and global attributions, reported more dissatisfaction in their childhood parent, peer, and teacher relationships, and felt less in control of negative childhood events as compared with the nonADHD women. Both depression and ADHD contributed significantly to these group differences, suggesting that negative perceptions and attributions are more than reflections of current thinking and mood. ADHD symptomatology also may be an important risk factor for maladaptive attributions. [C] 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Clin Psychol 56: 711-722, 2000. Keywords: ADHD; attributions; perceptions; women; adults; childhood

This study investigated whether the likelihood of motor impairment in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) increases with the presence of other disorders, and whether the cooccurring diagnoses of reading disability (RD) and oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) account for the motor deficits seen in ADHD. A total of 291 children (218 boys, 73 girls) participated. Six groups of children were compared: ADHD only (n = 29); RD only (n = 63); ADHD and RD (n = 47); ADHD and ODD (n = 19); ADHD, RD, and ODD (n = 21); and typically developing control children (n = 112). Motor skills were assessed with the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency and the Beery Test of Visual?Motor Integration. We found that the motor skills of the ADHD-only group did not differ from the typical control group. Furthermore, motor impairment in ADHD increased as a function of co-occurring disorders, and the presence of RD rather than ADHD predicted motor impairment.

Background: To address nutrition-related population mental health data gaps, we examined relationships among food insecurity, diet quality, and perceived mental health. Methods: Stratified and logistic regression analyses of respondents aged 19-70 years from the Canadian Community Health Survey, Cycle 2.2 were conducted (n = 15,546). Measures included the Household Food Security Survey Module, diet quality (i.e., comparisons to the Dietary Reference Intakes, Healthy Eating Index), perceived mental health (poor versus good), sociodemographics, and smoking. Results: In this sample, 6.9% were food insecure and 4.5% reported poor mental health. Stratified analysis of food security and mental health status by age/gender found associations for poor diet quality, protein, fat, fibre, and several micronutrients (p-values < 0.05); those who were food insecure tended to have higher suboptimal intakes (p-values < 0.05). After adjustment for covariates, associations in relation to mental health emerged for food insecurity (OR = 1.60, 95% CI 1.45-1.71), poor diet quality (1.61, 95% CI 1.34-1.81), and suboptimal intakes of folate (OR = 1.58, 95% CI 1.17-1.90) and iron (OR = 1.45,95% CI 1.23-1.88). Conclusions: Population approaches that improve food security and intakes of high quality diets may protect people from poor mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Depue & Collins model is intended to explain a normal human personality, trait: extraversion. In contrast, attention-deficit/hyperactivity, disorder (ADHD) is generally considered to be a type of psychopathology not found in so-called normals; however, the clinical and neurobiological research done on ADHD seems to amplify and support Depue & Collins's model.

Background: The aims of this study were to determine if pregnant women consumed the recommended vitamin D through diet alone or through diet and supplements, and if they achieved the current reference range vitamin D status when their reported dietary intake met the current recommendations. Methods: Data and banked blood samples collected in second trimester from a subset of 537 women in the APrON (Alberta Pregnant Outcomes and Nutrition) study cohort were examined. Frozen collected plasma were assayed using LC-MS/MS (liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry) to determine 25(OH)D2, 25(OH)D3, 3-epi-25(OH)D3 concentrations. Dietary data were obtained from questionnaires including a Supplement Intake Questionnaire and a 24-hour recall of the previous day’s diet. Results: Participants were 87% Caucasian; mean (SD) age of 31.3 (4.3); BMI 25.8 (4.7); 58% were primiparous; 90% had education beyond high school; 80% had a family income higher than CAN $70,000/year. 25(OH)D2, 25(OH)D3, and 3-epi-25(OH)D3) were identified in all of the 537 plasma samples;3-epi-25(OH)D3 contributed 5% of the total vitamin D. The median (IQR) total 25(OH)D (D2+D3) was 92.7 (30.4) nmol/L and 20% of women had 25(OH)D concentration < 75 nmol/L. The median (IQR) reported vitamin D intake from diet and supplements was 600 (472) IU/day. There was a significant relationship between maternal reported dietary vitamin D intake (diet and supplement) and 25(OH)D and 3-epi-25(OH)D3 concentrations in an adjusted linear regression model. Conclusions: We demonstrated the current RDA (600 IU/ day) may not be adequate to achieve vitamin D status >75 nmol/L in some pregnant women who are residing in higher latitudes (Calgary, 51°N) in Alberta, Canada and the current vitamin D recommendations for Canadian pregnant women need to be re-evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One goal of the regulatory approach to tap water scald prevention is the installation of hot water heaters at thermostat settings considered safe. In this strategy, it is assumed that consumers will not change preset thermostat settings, an assumption evaluated in a study of 62 families. It was found that 60% of the sample did not change their preset thermostats. Surprisingly, some of those families (27%) who did not increase their settings still had unsafe (> 54 [degrees] C) water temperatures., There is empirical evidence to support the efficacy of regulatory methods to prevent tap water scalds. This information is consistent with a recent study of the effects of statewide legislation. One objective of the regulatory approach to tap water scald prevention is the installation of hot water heaters at thermostat settings considered safe. In this schema, the assumption is that consumers will not change preset thermostat settings, a premise evaluated in a study of 62 families. It was found that 60% of the sample made no change in their preset thermostats; however, the study did demonstrate that 40% of the families did raise preset safe thermostat settings. It was surprising that some of those families (27%) who did not move up their settings still attained hazardous (>54 degrees C) water temperatures.