Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

Author(s):  
Daniel T. Chrzanowski ◽  
Elisabeth B. Guthrie ◽  
Matthew B. Perkins ◽  
Moira A. Rynn

Common disorders of children and adolescents include neurodevelopmental disorders (e.g., intellectual disability, autistic spectrum disorder, and learning disorders), internalizing disorders (e.g., mood and anxiety disorders), and externalizing disorders (e.g., oppositional defiant disorder and conduct disorder). The assessment of a child or adolescent patient always includes multiple informants, the context in which the child’s difficulties occur, and a functional behavioral assessment. Patients with autism spectrum disorder tend to have persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction, a restricted repertoire of behaviors and interests, and abnormal cognitive functioning. Children with disruptive mood dysregulation disorder experience chronic and severe irritability and frequent temper outbursts. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is characterized by hyperactivity, impulsivity, and inattention before 12 years of age. Behavior therapy has been effectively used to treat children and adolescents with neurodevelopmental disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, tic disorders, feeding and elimination disorders, and externalizing disorders. Fluoxetine is approved for treatment of depression in children and escitalopram, for adolescents. Methylphenidate and amphetamine preparations are first-line treatment for children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 39-46 ◽  
Author(s):  
Milena Pereira Pondé ◽  
Mirella Lins Matos ◽  
Cinthia Cristina Pinto Bispo de Oliveira

Aim:  To estimate the prevalence of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) and conduct disorder (CD) in children and adolescents previously diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Methods:  A cross-sectional study involving 71 children and adolescents previously diagnosed by a psychiatrist as having ASD.  All were enrolled at a school that accompanies only individuals with ASD.  The evaluation instruments consisted of a sociodemographic questionnaire and the Brazilian version of the semi-structured interview Kiddie-SADS-PL for the investigation of psychiatric disorders in children and adolescents.  Results:  Overall, 62% of the children in the sample had some psychiatric comorbidity: 49.3% had some form of ADHD, 11.3% ODD and 1.4% CD.   In relation to the children with ADHD, 11.3% fulfilled the criteria for the inattentive subtype, 12.7% for the hyperactive/impulsive subtype, 7.1% for the combined subtype and 18.3% for ADHD not otherwise specified.  Conclusion:  These results ratify the clinical heterogeneity of ASD and highlight the importance of diagnosing comorbidities that could affect the clinical status and functioning level of children and adolescents with ASD.


Autism ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 1065-1072 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vasiliki Kentrou ◽  
Danielle MJ de Veld ◽  
Kawita JK Mataw ◽  
Sander Begeer

Phenotypic elements of autism spectrum disorder can be masked by attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms, potentially leading to a misdiagnosis or delaying an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis. This study explored differences in the age of autism spectrum disorder diagnosis between participants with previously diagnosed attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder versus autism spectrum disorder–only respondents. Children and adolescents, but not adults, initially diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder received an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis an average of 1.8 years later than autism spectrum disorder–only children, although the findings regarding the adult sample should be interpreted with caution. Gender differences were also explored, revealing that the delay in receiving an autism diagnosis was 1.5 years in boys and 2.6 years in girls with pre-existing attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, compared with boys and girls without prior attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. No significant gender differences were observed in the adult sample. We argue that overlapping symptoms between autism spectrum disorder and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder might delay a formal diagnosis of autism either by leading to a misdiagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder or by making it difficult to identify the presence of co-occurring autism spectrum disorder conditions once an initial diagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder has been obtained. Current findings highlight the need to recruit multidimensional and multidisciplinary screening procedures to assess for potential emerging autism spectrum disorder hallmarks in children and adolescents diagnosed or presenting with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms.


2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 107
Author(s):  
Carmen Berenguer ◽  
Belen Rosello ◽  
Geraldine Leader

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are two of the most common childhood-onset neurodevelopmental disorders. Literature has shown different patterns of deficits in executive functioning in children with ASD and ADHD. To date few studies have examined executive functions in both ASD and ADHD and with mixed results.The current study provides the first systematic review to explore distinct executive function components (attention problems, response inhibition, working memory, planning and flexibility) that underlie the specific deficits seen in children and adolescents with both ASD and ADHD disorders. Findings provide evidence for executive dysfunctions across different key components such as attention, response inhibition and verbal working memory in children and adolescents with ASD and comorbid ADHD clinical symptoms. This research explores the neurocognitive profile of the comorbid condition, which is also critical for designing appropriate interventions.


2019 ◽  
Vol 50 (13) ◽  
pp. 2240-2253 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jack Hollingdale ◽  
Emma Woodhouse ◽  
Susan Young ◽  
Adie Fridman ◽  
Will Mandy

AbstractBackgroundResearch identifies highly variable prevalence estimates for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children and adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), particularly between community and clinical samples, warranting quantitative meta-analyses to investigate the true prevalence of ASD in children and adolescents with ADHD.MethodsStudies were identified through a systematic literature search of PsycINFO, MEDLINE and Web of Science through January 2018. Twenty-two publications met inclusion criteria (total N = 61 985). Two random effects meta-analyses were conducted: (1) to identify the proportion of children and adolescents with ADHD that met criteria for ASD; and (2) to compare the severity of dimensionally-measured ASD symptomology in children and adolescents with and without ADHD.ResultsThe overall pooled effect for children and adolescents with ADHD who met threshold for ASD was 21%. There was no significant difference between community samples (19%) and clinical samples (24%) or between US studies v. those from other countries. Children and adolescents with ADHD had substantially more dimensionally-measured ASD traits compared with those who did not have ADHD (d = 1.23).ConclusionThe findings provide further evidence that ADHD and ASD are associated in nature. Clinical and research implications are discussed.


Autism ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 21 (5) ◽  
pp. 622-634 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allison B Ratto ◽  
Bruno J Anthony ◽  
Cara Pugliese ◽  
Rocio Mendez ◽  
Jonathan Safer-Lichtenstein ◽  
...  

Low-income and ethnic minority families continue to face critical disparities in access to diagnostic and treatment services for neurodevelopmental conditions, such as autism spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Despite the growing cultural diversity of the United States, ethnic minority children and families continue to be substantially underrepresented across research on neurodevelopmental disorders, and there is a particularly concerning lack of research on the treatment of these conditions in low-income and ethnic minority communities. Of note, there are currently no published studies on adapting autism spectrum disorder treatment for low-income Latino communities and relatively few studies documenting adapted treatments for children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in these communities. This article describes methodological considerations and adaptations made to research procedures using a Diffusion of Innovation framework in order to effectively recruit and engage low-income, ethnic minority, particularly Latino, families of children with neurodevelopmental disorders, in a comparative effectiveness trial of two school-based interventions for executive dysfunction.


2019 ◽  
Vol 214 (06) ◽  
pp. 345-346
Author(s):  
Chirag Mehra ◽  
Michael Absoud

SummaryAltered neural connectivity in neurodevelopmental disorders is likely subtle, meaning that neuroimaging literature studying development has produced heterogeneous findings. A recent study, published in this issue, illustrates the translational potential of functional connectivity magnetic resonance imaging findings as a biomarker for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism spectrum disorder. Importantly, it highlights the overlap between disorders, emphasising the need for transdiagnostic and dimensional approaches in neurodevelopment.Declaration of interestNone.


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