Girls with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: EEG differences between DSM-IV types
Franca E Dupuy1, Adam R Clarke, Robert J Barry
1Brain & Behaviour Research Institute, School of Psychology and Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, University of Wollongong, Australia. fdupuy@uow.edu.au
Clinical EEG and Neuroscience
|February 12, 2011
Summary
Electroencephalography (EEG) in girls with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD) revealed increased slow wave activity and reduced beta activity. EEG profiles were homogeneous across AD/HD types in this female-only sample.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Child Psychology
Background:
- Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD) is a prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder.
- Previous electroencephalography (EEG) studies on AD/HD have primarily focused on male or mixed-sex populations.
- Limited research exists on EEG differences between AD/HD subtypes in girls.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate electroencephalography (EEG) differences between the Combined and Inattentive subtypes of AD/HD in girls.
- To compare EEG patterns in girls with AD/HD to a control group.
- To determine if EEG profiles differ between AD/HD subtypes in a purely female sample.
Main Methods:
- Resting eyes-closed EEG was recorded from 21 electrodes in 30 girls with Combined-type AD/HD, 30 with Inattentive-type AD/HD, and 30 controls (aged 8-12 years).
- EEG data underwent Fast Fourier Transformation to analyze total power and absolute/relative power in delta, theta, alpha, and beta frequency bands across nine cortical regions.
- Statistical analyses compared EEG parameters between the three groups.
Main Results:
- Girls with AD/HD exhibited elevated total power, increased absolute delta and theta, reduced relative delta and beta, and higher relative theta compared to controls.
- The Combined AD/HD group showed greater right hemisphere absolute theta and midline posterior absolute beta activity than the Inattentive group.
- Specific differences in relative power (delta, theta, alpha, beta) were observed between the Combined and Inattentive groups across various cortical regions.
Conclusions:
- Girls with AD/HD demonstrate increased slow-wave (delta, theta) and reduced beta activity, consistent with findings in male AD/HD literature.
- The study found a homogeneity of EEG profiles across AD/HD subtypes in girls, contrasting with previous studies of boys and mixed-sex groups.
- These findings suggest potential sex-bias in AD/HD diagnostic criteria and highlight the need for further research into sex-specific presentations of AD/HD.
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01:30Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. It affects approximately 5-8% of children globally, with around 60-70% of cases persisting into adulthood. ADHD has significant implications for educational attainment, social interactions, and occupational success.
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To diagnose ADHD, symptoms must manifest before age 12 and be evident across multiple settings.
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