Developing the Symptoms and Functional Impairment Rating Scale:A Multi-Dimensional ADHD Scale

Objective: This research developed a practical, multi-dimensional attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) rating scale (i.e., the Symptoms and Functional Impairment Rating Scale, SFIRS) for Chinese children, aged 6-12 years, with ADHD. Methods: The structural validity, criterion validity, internal consistency, and test-retest reliability of the scale were evaluated. Item screening was conducted with 412 ADHD patients and 322 developmentally typical controls. Results: The scale includes 44 items, divided among Hyperactivity-Impulsivity, Self-Control, Inattention, Self-Management, Academic Performance, and Social Interaction. The six-factor model showed good data fit, with each factor significantly correlated with its corresponding criterion (r=0.690-0.841). The Cronbach's α of the full scale was 0.976. Total score test-retest reliability was r=0.816 (p<0.01). Conclusion: The SFIRS thus demonstrated good reliability and validity and may be used to assess ADHD among children aged 6-12 years in China

The effects of a mindfulness-based program on the incidence of injuries in young male soccer players

We tested the effectiveness of a mindfulness-based program in reducing sport injury incidence. 168 young male elite soccer players were randomly assigned to mindfulness (MG) and control (CG) groups. The MG consisted of 7 sessions based on the Mindfulness-Acceptance-Commitment approach while the CG consisted of 7 presentations on sport injury psychology. Athlete-exposure and injury data were recorded during one season. State and trait mindfulness, sport anxiety, stress, and attention control of participants were assessed. Number of injuries, average of injuries per team, and days lost to injury in the MG weresignificantly lower than in the CG. Mindfulness and attention control werelower and sport anxiety and stress were higher in injured players than innon-injured players. Psychological variables were associated with injury. Mindfulness training may reduce the injury risk of young soccer players due to improved mindfulness and attention control and reduced sport anxiety

Are language production problems apparent in adults who no longer meet diagnostic criteria for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder?

In this study, we examined sentence production in a sample of adults (N = 21) who had had attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as children, but as adults no longer met DSM-IV diagnostic criteria (APA, 2000). This “remitted” group was assessed on a sentence production task. On each trial, participants saw two objects and a verb. Their task was to construct a sentence using the objects as arguments of the verb. Results showed more ungrammatical and disfluent utterances with one particular type of verb (i.e., participle). In a second set of analyses, we compared the remitted group to both control participants and a “persistent” group, who had ADHD as children and as adults. Results showed that remitters were more likely to produce ungrammatical utterances and to make repair disfluencies compared to controls, and they patterned more similarly to ADHD participants. Conclusions focus on language output in remitted ADHD, and the role of executive functions in language production

Preferences for treatment of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): a discrete choice experiment

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>While there is an increasing emphasis on patient empowerment and shared decision-making, subjective values for attributes associated with their treatment still need to be measured and considered. This contribution seeks to define properties of an ideal drug treatment of individuals concerned with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Because of the lack of information on patient needs in the decision-makers assessment of health services, the individuals' preferences often play a subordinate role at present. Discrete Choice Experiments offer strategies for eliciting subjective values and making them accessible for physicians and other health care professionals.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The evidence comes from a Discrete Choice Experiments (DCE) performed in 2007. After reviewing the literature about preferences of ADHS we conducted a qualitative study with four focus groups consisting of five to eleven ADHS-patients each. In order to achieve content validity, we aimed at collecting all relevant factors for an ideal ADHS treatment. In a subsequent quantitative study phase (n = 219), data was collected in an online or paper-pencil self-completed questionnaire. It included sociodemographic data, health status and patients' preferences of therapy characteristics using direct measurement (23 items on a five-point Likert-scale) as well as a Discrete-Choice-Experiment (DCE, six factors in a fold-over design).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Those concerned were capable of clearly defining success criteria and expectations. In the direct assessment and the DCE, respondents attached special significance to the improvement of their social situation and emotional state (relative importance 40%). Another essential factor was the desire for drugs with a long-lasting effect over the day (relative importance 18%). Other criteria, such as flexibility and discretion, were less important to the respondents (6% and 9%, respectively).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Results point out that ADHD patients and their family members have clear ideas of their needs. This is especially important against the backdrop of present discussions in the healthcare sector on the relevance of patient reported outcomes (PROs) and shared decision-making. The combination of the methods used in this study offer promising strategies to elicit subjective values and making them accessible for health care professionals in a manner that drives health choices.</p

Polymorphism of major histocompatibility complex class II B genes in different carp lines of the common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.)

Regular observation of survival of the carp breeding lines constituting a living gene bank at the Institute of Ichthyobiology and Aquaculture in Golysz (Poland) over a period of at least 15 years showed different survival rates for various lines. In this study, we have examined the polymorphism of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) gene class II B in nine carp lines. The class II B gene encodes for the part of the MHC class II molecule which presents peptides from pathogens and protein antigens that are present in the extracellular milieu and have been taken up into the endocytic vesicles of antigen-presenting cells. Polymerase chain reaction was used to amplify Cyca-DAB gene fragments comprising part of exon 1, complete intron 1 and almost complete exon 2. Exon 2 encodes for the beta(1) domain which is the most polymorphic fragment of MHC class II molecules. Single-strand conformational polymorphism (SSCP) was applied to detect different MHC class II B haplotypes. The analysis revealed the presence of seven different haplotypes occurring with various frequencies. (C) 2003 Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS and Ifremer/IRD/Inra/Cemagref. All rights reserved