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Event Related Potentials (ERPs) and other EEG Based Methods for Extracting Biomarkers of Brain Dysfunction: Examples from Pediatric Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
10:02

Event Related Potentials (ERPs) and other EEG Based Methods for Extracting Biomarkers of Brain Dysfunction: Examples from Pediatric Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Published on: March 12, 2020

A comparison of methamphetamine-dependent inpatients childhood attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Craig Jaffe1, Kristen R Bush, Kristy Straits-Troster

  • 1Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, 12013 Pinehurst Way NE, Seattle, WA 98125, USA. cjaffe@u.washington.edu

Journal of Addictive Diseases
|September 28, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Methamphetamine-dependent patients with childhood attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms reported more frequent drug use and worse psychiatric symptoms. While abstinence improved cognition for most, those with ADHD did not improve attention skills.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Psychiatry
  • Clinical Psychology

Background:

  • Childhood attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder.
  • Methamphetamine dependence is a significant public health concern.
  • Comorbidity between ADHD and substance use disorders is well-documented.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the prevalence of childhood ADHD in methamphetamine-dependent inpatients.
  • To examine the impact of ADHD on psychiatric symptomatology and cognitive functioning.
  • To assess the effects of abstinence on cognitive and psychiatric outcomes in this population.

Main Methods:

  • Fifty-one methamphetamine-dependent inpatients were screened for ADHD using the Wender Utah Rating Scale.
  • Baseline assessments included neuropsychological tests and the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI).
  • Cognitive and psychiatric assessments were repeated at three-week follow-up.

Main Results:

  • 70.6% of participants screened positive for ADHD, reporting higher methamphetamine use.
  • ADHD group showed similar baseline cognitive function but worse psychiatric symptoms.
  • With abstinence, all improved in most cognitive domains (except memory) and psychiatric symptoms, but the ADHD group did not improve attention.

Conclusions:

  • Childhood ADHD symptoms are prevalent in methamphetamine-dependent individuals.
  • ADHD complicates treatment and is associated with poorer psychiatric outcomes.
  • Targeted interventions for ADHD may be necessary for improved treatment outcomes in this population.

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