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16p11.2 and 22q11.2 Copy Number Variants (CNVs) confer high risk for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), schizophrenia (SZ), and Attention-Deficit-Hyperactivity-Disorder (ADHD), but their impact on functional connectivity (FC) remains unclear. Here we report an analysis of resting-state FC using magnetic resonance imaging data from 101 CNV carriers, 755 individuals with idiopathic ASD, SZ, or ADHD and 1,072 controls. We characterize CNV FC-signatures and use them to identify dimensions contributing to complex idiopathic conditions. CNVs have large mirror effects on FC at the global and regional level. Thalamus, somatomotor, and posterior insula regions play a critical role in dysconnectivity shared across deletions, duplications, idiopathic ASD, SZ but not ADHD. Individuals with higher similarity to deletion FC-signatures exhibit worse cognitive and behavioral symptoms. Deletion similarities identified at the connectivity level could be related to the redundant associations observed genome-wide between gene expression spatial patterns and FC-signatures. Results may explain why many CNVs affect a similar range of neuropsychiatric symptoms., The impact of neurodevelopmental mutations on functional brain connectivity is poorly understood. Here the authors identify thalamo-sensorimotor dysconnectivity dimensions shared across 16p11.2 and 22q11.2 copy number variants, autism and schizophrenia, but not ADHD.

International audience; Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is frequently associated with emotion dysregulation (ED) that is characterized by excessive and inappropriate emotional reactions. Children with ADHD and ED present significant social, academic and family functioning impairments. These findings indicate that ED should be regularly monitored in children with ADHD and should be managed with targeted therapeutic interventions. However, few studies have evaluated the efficacy of psychosocial interventions to manage ED in children with ADHD. The aim of this systematic review was to assess the effects of psychosocial interventions for children with ADHD and ED, particularly their benefits and limitations. This review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) model. A systematic literature search of different databases in February 2018 allowed the identification of five randomized controlled trials, one quasi-experimental study, and four open-label uncontrolled studies. Analysis of the results reported in these studies suggested that psychosocial interventions can improve severe irritability and aggressive behavior in children with ADHD and ED. However, the short trial duration, the lack of follow-up and of control group in several studies, and the heterogeneity of the outcome measures affected the result interpretation. Future studies should use standardized measures of ED and larger samples.

ADHD is a pathology that was described and studied recently, yet we can find resembling illnesses in descriptions from all ages. Understanding of ADHD is still incomplete and physiopathological modelisation remains unsatisfying. The basis of our work is a theory that defines cerebral hemispheres as two distinct and specialised entities with very different functional characteristics. This theory is not often used in modern neuroscience despite very solid scientific bases. Following this theory, we can find a lot of similarities between the positive symptoms of ADHD patients and the characteristics of right hemisphere thinking. Also there is equivalent similarities between negative symptoms of ADHD and left hemisphere thinking. It’s just as if patients were using their right hemisphere too much and didn’t manage to use the left. We propose a model based on this observation. ADHD would be a pathology where the patient has difficulties to activate his left hemisphere for a task. This difficulties would come from a lack of sensibility in the switch system between the hemispheres that we call the stimulation/excitation system (S/E). No similar theory has ever been directly tested but our review of the literature found elements backing the theory. Our model, if correct, can help to understand ADHD with a new way of looking at the pathology. It is understandable and applicable by anyone regardless of theirtraining, and offer perspective for new specific therapeutics. It remains largely theoric and would need testing to be confirmed.; Le TDAH est un trouble de description récente mais dont on retrouve des équivalents dans les observations cliniques historiques. Malgré l'intérêt grandissant de la communauté scientifique, la compréhension du TDAH reste incomplète à ce jour et les modèles physiopathologiques restent en grande partie insatisfaisants. Nous utilisons comme base de travail une théorie qui considère les hémisphères cérébraux comme deux entités spécialisées distinctes avec des caractéristiques fonctionnelles très différentes. Cette théorie est peu utilisée aujourd’hui en neuroscience malgré des bases scientifiques très solides. On peut remarquer une analogie très forte entre les caractéristiques attribuées à l’hémisphère droit dans ce modèle théorique et les symptômes positifs de TDAH, et une analogie similaire entre les caractéristiques de l’hémisphère gauche et les symptôme négatifs de TDAH. Comme si un TDAH utilisait trop son hémisphère droit et pas assez son gauche. Nous proposons ainsi un modèle de TDAH basé sur une activation référentielle de l’hémisphère droit. Le TDAH serait un trouble où l’interrupteur qui définit quel hémisphère s’active, que nous appelons système stimulation/excitation (S/E), est trop peu sensible. Cela entraînerait un hémisphère gauche qui s'active difficilement, malgré le fait qu’il soit tout à fait fonctionnel. On retrouve dans la littérature scientifique des éléments qui peuvent être en accord avec cette théorie. Cependant aucune étude expérimentale, ne semble avoir testé une théorie similaire. Le modèle ainsi construit permet de répondre à beaucoup d’interrogations sur le TDAH et de proposer des solutions thérapeutiques. Il est utilisable par tout clinicien. Il reste cependant largement théorique et mériterait d’être exploré expérimentalement.

International audience; Objective: To compare children with Neurofibromatosis type 1 and associated ADHD symptomatology (NF1 + ADHD) with children having received a diagnosis of ADHD without NF1. The idea was that performance differences in tasks of attention between these two groups would be attributable not to the ADHD symptomatology, but to NF1 alone. Method: One group of children with NF1 + ADHD (N = 32), one group of children with ADHD (N = 31), and one group of healthy controls (N = 40) participated in a set of computerized tasks assessing intensive, selective, and executive aspects of attention. Results: Differences were found between the two groups of patients in respect of several aspects of attention. Children with NF1 + ADHD did not always perform worse than children with ADHD. Several double dissociations can be established between the two groups of patients. Conclusion: ADHD symptomatology in NF1 does not contribute to all attention deficits, and ADHD cannot account for all attention impairments in NF1.

Methylphenidate (MPH) is a piperidine similar to amphetamines, and is indicated for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Studies concerning stuttering occurring with MPH are contradictory. We investigated the association between MPH and stuttering. We analysed reports in the World Health Organization global individual case safety reports database, Vigibase, up to 31 December 2018, with the MedDRA preferred term “dysphemia” and the lower level terms “stutter” and “stuttering”. The association between exposure to MPH and occurrence of the adverse drug reaction was estimated by disproportionality analysis. Reporting odds ratios (RORs) were calculated with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). In total, 2975 cases of dysphemia were reported, of which 46 reports were associated with MPH. For the Preferred Term “dysphemia”, the ROR was 7.3 (95% CI: 5.4-9.8). With the Lower Level Term “stuttering”, 584 cases were registered in the database of which 17 involved MPH. The ROR was 13.9 (95% CI: 8.6-22.5). This study found a signal for stuttering with MPH.

Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) is a promising tool in the management of psychiatric disorders and addiction. It allows a real-time assessment of symptoms/consumption and earlier detection of relapses or treatment effectiveness. My work first helps to explain the place of EMA in psychiatric research in recent years, as well as the prospects that this tool, combined with the smartphone technology, opens up for the future. In a second step, I present two pilot studies carried out during my work and based on EMA through a smartphone application. These two studies are based on the statement of 13 cannabis users and 15 parents of children with ADHD, followed for 14 days using an application downloaded on their own smartphone. The results of the real-time data collected were reviewed in consultation with a clinician on a "dashboard" that included all user data in the form of graphics rendering. 7 out of 13 cannabis smokers and 7 out of 15 parents of ADHD children followed the protocol throughout its duration, their overall response rates to the questionnaires were 58.2% and 42.7%, with an average follow-up time of 14 and 21 days ; and six (46,1%) and 7 (70%) of them, respectively, continued to use the application after the end of the protocol. In light of the results evaluating user compliance and experience, EMA is therefore an innovative tool in the field of follow-up and early intervention studies in psychiatric disorders and addiction.; L’évaluation écologique momentanée (EMA) est un outil prometteur dans la gestion des troubles psychiatriques et en addictologie. Il permet une évaluation en temps réel des symptômes/consommations ainsi qu’une détection plus précoce des rechutes ou de l'efficacité d’un traitement. Mon travail de thèse contribue à expliquer dans un premier temps la place de l’EMA dans la recherche en psychiatrie au cours de ces dernières années, ainsi que les perspectives que cet outil, associé au smartphone, ouvre pour l’avenir. Dans un second temps, je présente deux études pilotes réalisées au cours de ma thèse et s’appuyant sur l’EMA au travers d’une application smartphone. Ces deux études s’appuient sur la déclaration de 13 consommateurs de cannabis et de 15 parents d’enfants atteint de TDAH, suivis pendant 14 jours à l’aide d’une application installée sur leur propre smartphone. Les résultats des données collectées en temps réel ont été examinés en consultation avec un clinicien, sur un « tableau de bord » regroupant toutes les données utilisateur sous forme de rendus graphiques. 7 fumeurs de cannabis sur 13 et 7 parents d’enfants TDAH sur 15 ont suivi le protocole pendant toute sa durée, leur taux de réponse global aux questionnaires était de 58,2% et 42,7%, avec une durée moyenne de suivi de 14 et 21 jours ; et 6 (46,1%) et 7 (70%) d’entre eux, respectivement, ont continué à utiliser l’application après la fin du protocole. À la lumière des résultats évaluant l’observance et l’expérience des utilisateurs, l’EMA se présente donc comme un outil innovant dans le champ des études de suivi et d’intervention précoce dans les troubles psychiatriques et en addictologie.

International audience; Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are frequently occurring conditions that are often associated (ASD + ADHD). However, there are few comparative studies concerning the clinical presentation in patients formally diagnosed with both ASD and ADHD. Here, we aimed to 1) compare social impairment and externalizing/internalizing behavioural problems across four groups of children: ASD + ADHD, ASD alone, ADHD alone, and typical development and 2) examine their bidirectional relationship with ASD and/or ADHD symptoms.Methods: This study included 186 participants from 6 to 12 years of age: single ASD (n = 98), ASD + ADHD (n = 29), single ADHD (n = 28), and TD (n = 31).Results: The results showed that children in the ASD + ADHD and single ASD groups had a higher level of social impairment than those in the single ADHD group. In addition, children in the single ADHD group presented a greater attention deficit than those in the single ASD group. Externalizing /internalizing behaviours were more frequent in all groups with neuro-developmental disorders than in typical development. In addition, externalizing behavioural problems were related to ADHD severity in the ASD + ADHD and single ADHD groups, whereas internalizing behaviours were related to ASD severity.Conclusions: These findings highlight the specific needs of children who have both ASD and ADHD and underscore the necessity of individualizing their interventions.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a chronic, disabling neurodevelopmental and behavioral disorder. It persists in three-quarters of patients as adults. The symptom associated with the morbidity and mortality of ADHD in adults is impulsivity. The neural bases of the disorder, and in particular of impulsivity, are not known to date. In addition, a recent literature describes the feeling of discomfort that arises over time during cognitive tasks is described through the cognitive fatigue concept. It is measured by the increase in impulsiveness in intertemporal monetary choices (between an immediate reward and a delayed one). It is thus defined as the increase of the ratio "Estimation of the cost of the cognitive control during a decision / Estimation of the profit of the selected reward". It is correlated with increased impulsivity and decreased activity of the lateral prefrontal cortex (CPFL), seat of executive control. Adult ADHD is characterized by impulsivity, subjective monetary devaluation over time and a hypofunctional CPFL. This suggests a link between cognitive fatigability and a lack of cognitive control in this pathology. In this work we study the ADHD hypothesis as aparadigm of very early cognitive fatigability using neuroeconomic and decision-making theories. The overall goal is to better characterize decision-making issues in this disorder, and to improve understanding of cognitive fatigue in a pathological context.; Le Trouble déficit de l’attention et hyperactivité (TDAH) est un trouble neurodéveloppemental et comportemental chronique et invalidant. Il persiste chez trois quarts des patients à l’âge adulte. Le symptôme associé à la morbi-mortalité du TDAH chez les adultes est l’impulsivité. Les bases neurales du trouble, et en particulier de l’impulsivité, ne sont pas connues à ce jour. Par ailleurs, une littérature récente décrit le sentiment d’inconfort apparaissant au cours dutemps à l’occasion de la réalisation de tâches cognitives par le concept de fatigue cognitive. Elle est mesurée par l’augmentation de l’impulsivité dans les choix monétaires intertemporels (entre une récompense immédiate et une retardée). Elle est ainsi définie comme l’augmentation du rapport "Estimation du coût du contrôle cognitif lors d’unedécision/estimation du bénéfice de la récompense choisie ". Elle est corrélée à l'augmentation de l'impulsivité et à une diminution de l’activité du cortex pré-frontal latéral (CPFL), siège du contrôle exécutif. Le TDAH de l'adulte est caractérisé par de l'impulsivité, une dévaluation monétaire subjective au cours du temps et un CPFL hypofonctionnel. Ceci suggère un lien entre la fatigabilité cognitive et un défaut de contrôle cognitif dans cette pathologie. Dans ce travail, nous étudions l’hypothèse du TDAH comme un paradigme de fatigabilité cognitive très précoce en utilisant les théories neuroéconomiques et de prise de décision. L’objectif global est de mieux caractériser les problèmes de prise de décision dans ce trouble, et d’améliorer la compréhension de la fatigue cognitive dans un contexte pathologique.

International audience; ESSENCE refers to early symptomatic syndromes eliciting neurodevelopmental clinical examinations. It includes a broad range of early onset neurodevelopmental disorders affecting more than 10% of children before 5 years of age. ESSENCE includes among others attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), intellectual disability (ID) and autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Some degree of disability is the rule rather than the exception. The causes are heterogeneous ranging from extreme social deprivation, pre- and perinatal risk factors, genetic and metabolic diseases, immune and infectious disorders, nutritional factors, physical trauma, and postnatal toxic and environmental factors (and combinations/interactions of some or several of these). Treatments often involve a combination of psychoeducational interventions, home- and school-based programmes, and medication. Here, I will first briefly review our main knowledge on the biological pathways associated with early onset neurodevelopmental disorders and will provide useful links to be informed of the progress in the field. Five main pathways are associated with ASD and ID: chromatin remodelling, cytoskeleton dynamics, mRNA translation, metabolism and synapse formation/function. I will then detail three propositions coming from institutions, researchers and/or communities of patients and families to foster research: 1) to use more dimensional and quantitative data than diagnostic categories; 2) to increase data sharing and research on genetic and brain diversity in human populations; 3) to involve patients and relatives as participants for research. Finally, I will provide examples of very stimulating initiatives towards a more inclusive world for individuals with ESSENCE.

Methylphenidate is a psychostimulant molecule of the amphetamine family used to treat ADHD since the discovery of its corrective effects on hyperactivity and inattention at the beginning of the twentieth century. By acting on dopaminergic regulation of the motivation neural pathways, it strongly reduces hyperactivity and loss of concentration, improves short-term psychosocial and cognitive functioning of children and adolescents with ADHD. In the long term, clinical studies do not show any clear benefit. A part of public opinion, health professionals and scientists denounces its use as an inappropriate and dangerous medicalization of childhood, masking the real psychological and social stakes to the benefit of the pharmaceutical companies’ commercial interests. The joint analyses of scientific results, arguments from social criticism and the ontologies of ADHD and methylphenidate enable to understand the stakes of the controversy between the radical naturalism and the constructivist skepticism and to propose a new way of thinking. A qualitative study with adolescents reveals that they primarily experience taking the drug as a process of biological empowerment rather than a traditional or coercive medical act. We propose perspectives to improve ADHD patients care.; Le méthylphénidate est une molécule psychostimulante de la famille des amphétamines, utilisée pour traiter le TDAH depuis la découverte clinico-empirique de ses effets correcteurs de l’hyperactivité et de l’inattention au début du vingtième siècle. En agissant sur la régulation dopaminergique des voies neurales de la motivation, il traite efficacement les symptômes d’hyperactivité et de concentration, améliore à court terme le fonctionnement psycho-social et l’efficacité cognitive des enfants et adolescents atteints de TDAH. A long terme, les études cliniques ne montrent pas de bénéfice évident. Une partie de l’opinion publique, des professionnels de santé et des scientifiques dénonce son utilisation comme une médicalisation inappropriée et dangereuse de l’enfance, masquant les enjeux psychologiques et sociaux réels au bénéfice du commerce des laboratoires pharmaceutiques. L’analyse des résultats scientifiques, des arguments de la critique sociale et de l’ontologie du TDAH et du méthylphénidate permet de comprendre les enjeux de la controverse entre le naturalisme radical et le scepticisme constructiviste et d’en proposer une voie de dégagement. Une étude qualitative auprès d’adolescents révèle qu’ils vivent avant tout la prise du médicament comme un processus d’empowerment biologique et non comme un acte médical traditionnel ou coercitif. Nous proposons de nouvelles perspectives pour améliorer les soins proposés aux patients hyperactifs et inattentifs.

Background: Clinical features of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder can be frequently observed in cases with bipolar disorders and associated with greater severity of bipolar disorders. Although designed as a screening tool for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, the Wender Utah Rating Scale could, given its factorial structure, be useful in investigating the early history of impulsive, inattentive or mood-related symptoms among patients with bipolar disorders. Methods: We rated the Wender Utah Rating Scale in 276 adult bipolar disorder cases and 228 healthy controls and tested its factorial structure and any associations with bipolar disorder phenomenology. Results: We confirmed a three-factor structure for the Wender Utah Rating Scale (‘ impulsivity/temper’, ‘ inattentiveness’ and ‘ mood/self-esteem’). Cases and controls differed significantly on Wender Utah Rating Scale total score and sub-scale scores ( p-values −5). About 23% of bipolar disorder cases versus 5% of controls were classified as ‘ WURS positive’ (odds ratio = 5.21 [2.73–9.95]). In bipolar disorders, higher Wender Utah Rating Scale score was associated with earlier age at onset, severity of suicidal behaviors and polysubstance misuse; multivariate analyses, controlling for age and gender, confirmed the associations with age at onset ( p = 0.001) and alcohol and substance misuse ( p = 0.001). Conclusion: Adults with bipolar disorders who reported higher levels of childhood symptoms on the Wender Utah Rating Scale presented a more severe expression of bipolar disorders in terms of age at onset and comorbidity. The Wender Utah Rating Scale could be employed to screen for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder but also for ‘ at-risk behaviors’ in adult bipolar disorder cases and possibly for prodromal signs of early onset in high-risk subjects.

International audience; Although Alzheimer s disease is classified as a neurodegenerative dementia, in Alzheimer s dementia there is increasing evidence of an association with vascular risk factors and vascular pathology. These observations are supported by epidemiological and pathological studies. Vascular factors may play a significant role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer s dementia. Further research is needed to explore this relationship. Modification of vascular risk factors could make a significant impact towards prevention and treatment of Alzheimer s disease, which is a distressing and prevalent condition in the community. This article considers the relationship of these vascular risk factors and potential mechanisms associated with the aetiopathogenesis of Alzheimer s dementia.

International audience; Poor parallel letter-string processing in developmental dyslexia was taken as evidence of poor visual attention (VA) span, that is, a limitation of visual attentional resources that affects multi-character processing. However, the use of letter stimuli in oral report tasks was challenged on its capacity to highlight a VA span disorder. In particular, report of poor letter/digit-string processing but preserved symbol-string processing was viewed as evidence of poor visual-to-phonology code mapping, in line with the phonological theory of developmental dyslexia. We assessed here the visual-to-phonological-code mapping disorder hypothesis. In Experiment 1, letter-string, digit-string and colour-string processing was assessed to disentangle a phonological versus visual familiarity account of the letter/digit versus symbol dissociation. Against a visual-to-phonological-code mapping disorder but in support of a familiarity account, results showed poor letter/digit-string processing but preserved colour-string processing in dyslexic children. In Experiment 2, two tasks of letter-string report were used, one of which was performed simultaneously to a high-taxing phonological task. Results show that dyslexic children are similarly impaired in letter-string report whether a concurrent phonological task is simultaneously performed or not. Taken together, these results provide strong evidence against a phonological account of poor letter-string processing in developmental dyslexia.

International audience; BACKGROUND: A prospective study of infectious encephalitis was conducted in France in 2007. In total, 253 patients were enrolled with a proven etiological diagnosis for 52%. The cohort of surviving patients with encephalitis was assessed for sequelae and impairment 3 years after enrollment. METHODS: Patients, their family, and general practitioners (GPs) were interviewed by phone to document persisting symptoms, return to work, and past and current leisure activities, with standardized questionnaires. The IQCODE (Informant Questionnaire on Cognitive Decline in the Elderly) was completed with relatives. The global outcome was determined in all patients with the Glasgow outcome scale. RESULTS: In 2010, 20 patients (10%) were unavailable for follow-up, 2 (1%) were excluded, and 18 (9%) had died since hospital discharge. Data were available for 167 survivors and 9 patients whose death was related to the encephalitis. The outcome was favorable in 108 of 176 patients (61%) (71 with complete resolution), 31 (18%) were mildly impaired, 25 (14%) were severely impaired, and 3 (1%) were in a vegetative state. The most frequent symptoms were difficulty concentrating (42%), behavioral disorders (27%), speech disorders (20%), and memory loss (19%). Fifteen of 63 patients (24%) previously employed were still unable to resume work. Long-term outcome was significantly associated with comorbid conditions, age, level of education, and the causative agent of encephalitis. CONCLUSIONS: Most patients with encephalitis experienced a favorable outcome 3 years after hospital discharge. However, minor to severe disability persists in a high number of cases with consequences for everyday life. Physical and mental impairment should be evaluated in all patients with encephalitis, and neuropsychological rehabilitation implemented whenever needed.

PurposeTo examine the link between symptoms of hyperactivity-inattention and conduct disorder in childhood, and the initiation of tobacco and cannabis use, controlling for other behavioral symptoms, temperament and environmental risk factors.MethodThe sample (N = 1107 participants, aged 4 to 18 years at baseline) was recruited from the population-based longitudinal Gazel Youth study with a follow-up assessment 8 years later. Psychopathology, temperament, environmental variables, and initiation of tobacco and cannabis use were self-reported. Event time analyses were performed to assess the effects of childhood disruptive symptoms on age at first use of tobacco and cannabis.ResultsProportional hazard models revealed that participants with high levels of childhood symptoms of both hyperactivity-inattention and conduct disorder were at highest risk of early tobacco initiation (in males: hazard ratio [HR] = 2.05; confidence interval [CI]: 1.24–3.38; in females: HR = 2.01; CI: 1.31–3.09), and, in males, of early cannabis initiation (HR = 1.95; CI: 1.04–3.64). Temperament, through activity in both males and females and negative emotionality in females, was also associated to early substance use initiation.ConclusionsChildren who simultaneously have high levels of symptoms of hyperactivity-inattention and conduct disorder are at increased risk for early substance initiation. These associations may guide childhood health professionals to consider the liability for early substance initiation in high-risk groups.

International audience; Nicotine exerts beneficial effects on various neurological and psychiatric pathologies, yet its effects on cognitive performance remain unclear. Mice lacking the beta2 subunit of the nicotinic receptor (beta2-/-) show characteristic deficits in executive functions and are suggested as reliable animal models for some specific endophenotypes of human pathologies, notably ADHD. We use beta2-/- and their controls to investigate the consequences of chronic nicotine exposure on cognitive behaviour. We show that in control mice, this treatment elicits somewhat slight effects, particularly affecting nocturnal activity and self-grooming. By contrast, in beta2-/- mice, chronic nicotine treatment had restorative effects on exploratory behaviour in the open-field and affected rearing, but did not modify motor functions. We confirmed that beta2-/- mice exhibit impaired exploratory and social behaviour, and further demonstrated their nocturnal hyperactivity. These data support the proposal that beta2-/- mice represent a relevant model for cognitive disorders in humans and that nicotine administered chronically at low dose may relieve some of these.

International audience; no abstract

International audience; Children with epilepsy often have attention deficits, even when epilepsy is idiopathic and benign. The mechanisms underlying attention deficits are still unknown and appear to be different between focal and generalized epilepsy. In this study, an attentional capture paradigm was used to study and compare one aspect of attentional control, the resistance to interference from distractors, in 18 children with benign epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes (BECTS), 18 children with idiopathic generalized epilepsy and 18 controls aged 7-12 years. The results showed longer response times (RT) and more omissions in the two groups with epilepsy compared to controls. Attentional capture with longer response times in trials with a moving distractor compared to baseline condition with stationary distractors was found in both controls and children with epilepsy. The magnitude of interference from moving distractors was greater in the BECTS group than in the idiopathic generalized epilepsy group and in the controls group. These results suggest an impact of epilepsy on resistance to interference from distractors in children with BECTS.

International audience; Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a multifactorial and heterogeneous disorder, highly prevalent in children and characterized by three main components: inattention, lack of inhibitory control and hyperactivity. Epidemiological evidence reveals that ADHD is associated with nicotine exposure, mostly, with prenatal cigarette smoking. Mice deleted for the beta2-subunit gene of the neuronal nicotinic receptor are proposed as a simple and reliable animal model for ADHD. CONCLUSION: Nicotinic agonists targeting the alpha4beta2 nicotinic receptors alleviate ADHD symptoms and may possibly contribute to an efficient therapy of ADHD children.

International audience; Synaptogenesis, the formation of functional synapses, is a crucial step for the development of the central nervous system. Among the genes involved in this process are cell adhesion molecules, such as protocadherins and neuroligins, which are essential factors for the identification of the appropriate partner cell and the formation of synapses. In this work, we studied the expression and the genetic variability of two closely related members of the protocadherin family PCDH11X/Y, located on the X and the Y chromosome, respectively. PCDH11Y is one of the rare genes specific to the hominoid lineage, being absent in other primates. Expression analysis indicated that transcripts of the PCDH11X/Y genes are mainly detected in the cortex of the human brain. Mutation screening of 30 individuals with autism identified two PCDH11Y polymorphic amino acid changes, F885V and K980N. These variations are in complete association, appeared during human evolution approximately 40,000 years ago and represent informative polymorphisms to study Y chromosome variability in populations. We studied the frequency of these variants in males with autism spectrum disorders (n = 110), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD; n = 61), bipolar disorder (n = 61), obsessive-compulsive disorder (n = 51), or schizophrenia (n = 61) and observed no significant differences when compared to ethnically-matched control populations. These findings do not support the role of PCDH11Y, or more generally of a frequent specific Y chromosome, in the susceptibility to these neuropsychiatric disorders.

International audience; Moclobemide is a specific and reversible monoamine oxidase-A (MAO-A) inhibitor. Studies show that it is an effective and well-tolerated treatment for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). A number of reports suggest that ADHD may have a causal influence on the development of substance use disorders. The authors describe the use of moclobemide in a 27-year-old patient with comorbid opiate addiction and ADHD (residual type). The positive clinical response shown suggests that moclobemide may have a particular interest in the treatment of drug-dependent patients with current ADHD.