A growing body of research suggests that deficient emotional self-regulation (DESR) is common and morbid among attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) patients. The main aim of the present study was to assess whether high and low levels of DESR in adult ADHD patients can be operationalized and whether they are clinically useful.

A total of 441 newly referred 18- to 55-year-old adults of both sexes with Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: Fifth Edition (DSM-5) ADHD completed self-reported rating scales. We operationalized DESR using items from the Barkley Current Behavior Scale. We used receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves to identify the optimal cut-off on the Barkley Emotional Dysregulation (ED) Scale to categorize patients as having high- versus low-level DESR and compared demographic and clinical characteristics between the groups.

We averaged the optimal Barkley ED Scale cut-points from the ROC curve analyses across all subscales and categorized ADHD patients as having high- (N = 191) or low-level (N = 250) DESR (total Barkley ED Scale score ≥8 or <8, respectively). Those with high-level DESR had significantly more severe symptoms of ADHD, executive dysfunction, autistic traits, levels of psychopathology, and worse quality of life compared with those with low-level DESR. There were no major differences in outcomes among medicated and unmedicated patients.

High levels of DESR are common in adults with ADHD and when present represent a burdensome source of added morbidity and disability worthy of further clinical and scientific attention.

To investigate whether specific symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can help identify ADHD patients with mind wandering.

Subjects were adults ages 18–55 of both sexes (n=41) who completed the Mind-Wandering Questionnaire (MWQ) and the ADHD module of the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children Epidemiologic Version. We used Spearman’s rank correlation and Pearson’s χ2 analyses to examine associations between the ADHD module and the MWQ and receiver operator characteristic (ROC) analyses to evaluate the diagnostic efficiency of the ADHD module.

Out of the three ADHD domains, the inattentive ADHD scores had the strongest association with the MWQ (total: r s=0.34, df=39, p=0.03; inattentive: r s=0.38, df=39, p=0.02; Hyperactive: r s=0.17, df=39, p=0.28). Correlation analyses between individual items on the ADHD module and the MWQ showed that two inattention items (‘failure to pay attention to detail’ and ‘trouble following instructions’) were positively associated with total scores on the MWQ (p=0.02). These two inattention items had the strongest association with the MWQ (r s=0.45, df=38, p=0.004). ROC analyses showed that the combined score of the two significant inattention items had the highest efficiency (AUC=0.71) in classifying high-level mind wanderers as defined by scores greater than the median split on the MWQ. The combined score of the two inattention items best identified high-level mind wanderers.

Results suggest a way to operationalise mind wandering using the symptoms of ADHD.

To examine the unique neuropsychological presentation in adults with high functioning autism spectrum disorders (HF-ASD) by comparison with adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Adults with ASD referred to a specialty clinic (n=26) were compared to two non-ASD groups with (n=52) and without (n=52) ADHD of similar age and sex.

No differences in IQ were found. Subjects with HF-ASD were significantly more impaired than both comparison groups in processing speed, cognitive flexibility and sight words. Subjects with HF-ASD were more impaired than controls in working memory, but not the ADHD group.

These findings suggest that there may be specific neuropsychological correlates of HF-ASD differing from ADHD that could have significant implications for identifying individuals at risk for ASD.

Assess cardiovascular effects of once-daily mixed amphetamine salts extended release (MAS XR) in adolescents (13–17 years of age) with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Blood pressure (BP), pulse, and electrocardiograms were assessed in 327 healthy subjects during a 4-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, forced dose-titration study. Placebo (n=69) or once-daily MAS XR(10, 20, 30, or 40 mg) was administered to subjects ≤75 kg (n=233); 50- and 60-mg MAS XR was administered to subjects >75 kg (n=25). One hundred thirty-eight subjects participated in a 6-month, open-label extension study.

Changes in BP and QTcB (Bazett's formula) intervals at 4 weeks with MAS XR were not significantly different from the placebo group. Pulse increased by 5.0 and 8.5 bpm after 3 weeks with MAS XR 20 and 50 mg/day, respectively (P≤.002). After 6 months of open-label MAS XR treatment, mean increases in systolic BP (1.7 mm Hg; P=.0252) and pulse (4.4 bpm; P<.0001) were statistically, but not clinically, significant diastolic BP was not significantly changed (0.6 mm Hg) A decrease in QTcB interval (-4.6±19.9 msec) was statistically (P=.009), but not clinically, significant. There were no serious cardiovascular adverse events.

Cardiovascular effects of short- and long-term MAS XR treatment (≤60 mg/day) were minimal in otherwise healthy adolescents with ADHD.

Guanfacine is a noradrenergic agonist that is believed to improve symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) through selective actions at α2A-adrenoceptors in the prefrontal cortex. A recent double-blind, multicenter trial supports the efficacy and safety of guanfacine extended release (GXR) for pediatric ADHD. This long-term, open-label extension was conducted to study the safety profile and effectiveness of GXR for up to 2 years.

Subjects were 240 children 6–17 years of age with a diagnosis of ADHD who participated in the preceding randomized trial. GXR was initiated at 2 mg/day and titrated as needed in 1-mg increments to a maximum of 4 mg/day to achieve optimal clinical response.

The most common adverse events were somnolence (30.4%), headache (26.3%), fatigue (14.2%), and sedation (13.3%). Somnolence, sedation, and fatigue were usually transient. Cardiovascular-related adverse events were uncommon, although small reductions in mean blood pressure and pulse rate were evident at monthly visits. ADHD Rating Scale, Version IV, total and subscale scores improved significantly from baseline to endpoint for all dose groups (P<.001 for all comparisons, intent-to-treat population).

Long-term treatment with GXR was generally safe for up to 24 months of treatment, and effectiveness was maintained over this treatment period.

Pediatric bipolar diorder is a serious neuropsychiatric disorder asociated with high levels of morbidity and disabilty.

This is a systematic chart review of all outpatient youth with the diagnosis of bipolar disorder and bipolar spectrum disorder treated with aripiprazole either alone or as add-on to ongoing treatments.

Medical records were reviewed to identify all subjects with bipolar and bipolar spectrum disorder prescribed aripiprazole in our clinic. During the chart review, the Clinical Global Impression scale was completed by the treating clinicians to determine usefullness.

Forty-one youths (mean age±SD: 11.4±3.5 years) with bipolar spectrum disorder who had been treated with aripiprazole were identified. These children received a mean daily dose of aripiprazole 16.0±7.9 mg over an average of 4.6 months. Using a Clinical Global Impression-Improvement scale score of <2 (very much/much improved) to define robust improvement, 71% showed improvement in manic symptoms. Treatment with aripiprazole was well tolerated.

This study suggests that aripiprazole may be a useful and well-tolerated treatment for youth with bipolar disorder and it supports the need for controlled clinical trials of this compound in juvenile mania.

Many adults with current impairing symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) do not report an age at onset before 7 years of age and cannot, therefore, be assigned the full Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) diagnosis of ADHD. We hypothesized that treatment with oral-release osmotic system (OROS) methylphenidate (MPH) will be safe and efficacious for the treatment of adults with late-onset ADHD.

This was a 6-week, open-label, prospective treatment study of OROS MPH monotherapy in 36 adult patients with late-onset ADHD (onset later than the required 7 years of age) using standardized instruments for diagnosis and a robust oral daily dose of up to 1.3 mg/kg/day. Symptom severity was assessed with the Adult ADHD Investigator Symptom Report Scale (AISRS) and the Clinical Global Impression (CGI) scale.

Subjects reported robust current symptoms of ADHD at pre-treatment baseline (11.1±2.8 DSM-IV symptoms), but had an atypical mean age at onset of 14.2±8.6 years. Treatment with OROS MPH at an average daily dose of 78.2±29.4 mg was associated with a statistically and clinically significant reduction in ADHD symptoms relative to baseline as assessed through the AISRS (−16.4±10.5; P<.001). Using a categorical definition of response (CGI-I much or very much improved), a majority (n=26; 72%) of subjects were rated as improved at endpoint.

These results extend previous findings in adults with full ADHD to adults meeting criteria for late-onset ADHD and support the need for further controlled clinical trials in this population.

Assess long-term tolerability and efficacy of once-daily mixed amphetamine salts extended release (MAS XR) for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adolescents (13–17 years of age).

Efficacy of MAS XR (10–60 mg/day) in 138 adolescents with ADHD was assessed in a 6-month, openlabel, extension study following participation in a 4-week, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of MAS XR. Efficacy was based on ADHD Rating Scale-IV (ADHD-RS-IV) scores and Clinical Global Impressions-Improvement (CGI-I) ratings at end point. Tolerability was based on reported adverse events, physical and laboratory examintions, vital signs, and electrocardiographic measures.

Patients exhibited sustained improvement in ADHD symptoms in this 6-month, open-label study of MAS XR 10–60 mg/day. End point ADHD-RS-IV total score was significantly decreased from baseline (-7.9; P<.0001); similar decreases were seen for hyperactivity/impulsivity (-4.0; P<.0001) and indttentiveness (-3.8; P<.0001). Based on CGI-I ratings, 60.9% of patients were very much/much improved, 33.3% were unchanged, 5.8% were much worse, and 0% were very much worse. The most common adverse events related to MAS XR were anorexia (24.6%), weight loss (24.6%), headache (14.5%), and nervousness (13.0%).

Long-term MAS XR therapy is generally well tolerated and exerts sustained control of ADHD symptoms in otherwise healthy adolescents.

We previously documented that cigarette smoking is a risk factor for subsequent alcohol and drug misuse and dependence in adolescent girls with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

To revisit this hypothesis with a large longitudinal sample of both genders followed up for 10 years into young adulthood.

We used data from two identically designed, longitudinal, case–control family studies of boys and girls with and without ADHD ascertained from psychiatric and paediatric sources. We studied 165 individuals with ADHD and 374 controls followed up longitudinally and masked for 10 years. We assessed ADHD, smoking and substance use status using structured diagnostic interviews. We tested the association between cigarette smoking and subsequent substance use outcomes using Cox proportional hazard regression models.

Youth with ADHD who smoked cigarettes (n = 27) were significantly more likely to subsequently develop drug misuse and dependence compared with youth with ADHD who did not smoke (n = 138, P<0.05).

These results confirm that cigarette smoking increases the risk for subsequent drug and alcohol use disorders among individuals with ADHD. These findings have important public health implications, and underscore the already pressing need to prevent smoking in children with ADHD.