scholarly journals Depressive symptoms as a side effect of the sustained release form of methylphenidate in a 7-year-old boy with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder

2012 ◽  
Vol 69 (2) ◽  
pp. 201-204 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aneta Lakic

Introduction. Hyperkinetic disorder or attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a clinical entity consisting of a cluster of symptoms including hyperactivity, attention disorder and impulse control disorder group. In the context of ADHD etiology we may say that genetic, clinical and imaging studies point out a disruption of the brain dopamine system, which is corroborated by the clinical effectiveness of stimulant drugs, which increase extracellular dopamine in the brain. Basically, it is a biological and not psychological disorder, which is important both for the comprehension and therapeutical approach to this problem. Today, the best recommended approach regarding children with ADHD is a combination of two therapeutic modalities: pharmacotherapy and behavioral treatment. The first-choice drugs for this disorder belong to the group of sympathomimetics - psychostimulants and atomoxetine (more recently). As the firstchoice therapy, methylphenydate in sustained release form has numerous advantages. Like all drugs, methylphenidate has its unwanted side effects. Most common are: loss of appetite, weight loss, sleeping disorders, irritability, headache. These side effects are well-known and documented in the literature. By analysing the available literature we have found cases of psychiatric side effects such as: psychosis, mania, visual hallucinations, agitation, suicidal ideas. We have not found examples of ADHD in children who use increased dosage of sustained release of methylphenidate leading to depressive symptomatology. On the other side, methylphenidate may be prescribed for off-label use in treatmentresistant cases of depression. Case report. The case of a 7- year-old boy diagnosed with ADHD was on a minimal dose of sustained release form of methylphenidate. After initial titration of the drug, i.e. after raising the dose to the next level the boy developed clinical signs of depression. The treatment was ceased and depressive symptoms were withdrawed. Conclusion. Manifestation of depressive symptomatology after dose increasement of sustained release form of methylphenidate in a 7-year-old boy with ADHD represents an uncommon side effect. Precise drug activity mechanisms responsible for the appearance of these symptoms remains to be explained.

Author(s):  
Anna Szép ◽  
Nadine Skoluda ◽  
Susan Schloß ◽  
Katja Becker ◽  
Ursula Pauli-Pott ◽  
...  

AbstractProviding care for a child with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is associated with parenting stress. Moreover, adults with elevated ADHD symptoms report increased perceived stress. Despite this, it has rarely been examined whether and how child and maternal ADHD symptoms may affect maternal perceived stress and the stress-sensitive hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis. This study therefore investigated the possible impact of child and maternal ADHD symptoms on mothers' perceived chronic stress and hair cortisol concentration (HCC), while simultaneously considering the effects of child oppositional defiant/conduct disorder (ODD/CD) and maternal depressive symptomatology. In total, 124 mothers (35.96 ± 5.21 years) of preschool children were included. Maternal perceived stress, ADHD and depressive symptoms were assessed using self-report measures. Child ADHD symptoms were assessed using an interview and questionnaires completed by mothers and teachers. Additionally, mothers provided information about their children’s ODD/CD symptoms. Hair samples were taken from mothers to assess HCC. Child and maternal ADHD, child ODD/CD, and maternal depressive symptoms accounted for 50% of the variance in perceived chronic stress (F(4, 119) = 30.24; p < 0.01), with only maternal ADHD (β = 0.52, p < 0.01) and depressive symptoms (β = 0.49, p < 0.01) being uniquely significant. Maternal ADHD symptoms did not moderate the relationship between child ADHD symptoms and maternal perceived chronic stress (b = − 0.01; SE b = 0.17; t(5, 118) = − 0.05; p = 0.96). Mother’s age became the only significant predictor of maternal HCC (β = 0.29; p < 0.01). Based on these findings, practitioners are advised to be aware of and take into account possible maternal ADHD and depressive symptomatology and perceived chronic stress when treating children diagnosed with ADHD.


2007 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 71-73
Author(s):  
Sahbal Aras ◽  
Semih Semin

Recently, the use of psychostimulant medication in children with symptoms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has been subject to extensive debate. The problems faced while assessing and diagnosing ADHD, unnecessary prescribing of psychostimulants, the possible side-effects of psychostimulants on the developing brain, the risk of drug dependency, and the risk of stigmatising children through medicalisation of normal life events are considered among the principal objections to the use of psychostimulant medications. On the other hand, what also need to be taken into account are the increasing evidence on the genetic, biochemical and diagnostic validity of the disorder, the data showing the therapeutic effects of psychostimulants and the rarity of the above-mentioned side-effects, as well as the ethical problems created by insufficient treatment of children because of the concerns of parents. A critical evaluation of these conflicting opinions by mental health professionals might contribute to the application of ethical principles. While making this kind of evaluation, it is important to pay regard to the specific sociocultural features of the country, as well as the prevailing worldwide discussion.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zeus Gracia-Tabuenca ◽  
Juan Carlos Díaz-Patiño ◽  
Isaac Arelio ◽  
Sarael Alcauter

AbstractThe functional organization of the brain network (connectome) has been widely studied as a graph; however, methodological issues may affect the results, such as the brain parcellation scheme or the selection of a proper threshold value. Instead of exploring the brain in terms of a static connectivity threshold, this work explores its algebraic topology as a function of the filtration value (i.e., the connectivity threshold), a process termed the Rips filtration in Topological Data Analysis. Specifically, we characterized the transition from all nodes being isolated to being connected into a single component as a function of the filtration value, in a public dataset of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and typically developing children. Results were highly congruent when using four different brain segmentations (atlases), and exhibited significant differences for the brain topology of children with ADHD, both at the whole brain network and at the functional sub-network levels, particularly involving the frontal lobe and the default mode network. Therefore, this approach may contribute to identify the neurophysio-pathology of ADHD, reducing the bias of connectomics-related methods.HighlightsTopological Data Analysis was implemented in functional connectomes.Betti curves were assessed based on the area under the curve, slope and kurtosis.The explored variables were robust along four different brain atlases.ADHD showed lower areas, suggesting decreased functional segregation.Frontal and default mode networks showed the greatest differences between groups.Graphical Abstract


2011 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. CMT.S6615
Author(s):  
Caroline Bodey

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common condition and important for the affected individual, their family and society. It manifests with pervasive symptoms of hyperactivity, impulsivity and inattention. In many children with ADHD these symptoms persist into adolescence and adulthood. Drug treatment with psychostimulants, including methylphenidate, is an important part of a comprehensive treatment plan for children with severe ADHD that includes psychosocial, behavioural and educational advice and interventions. Methylphenidate is a central nervous system stimulant, whose mechanism of action is thought to be due to an increase in catecholamines in areas of the brain concerned with motivation and reward. Methylphendiate is available in short acting (immediate release) and longer acting (modified release) forms. Pharmacotherapy for ADHD is in three stages: initiation, maintenance and termination. The efficacy of methylphenidate in terms of reducing core symptoms is 70% as compared to placebo. This efficacy is maintained for at least 24 months. Methylphenidate generally has a favourable side effect profile. The most significant side effects include appetite suppression with an initial deceleration in height velocity, cardiovascular side effects that are not clinically significant in children with no adverse cardiac history, and tics. Methylphenidate is generally well tolerated and liked by children and adolescents with ADHD, who appreciate the benefits that medication has on their behaviour.


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