INTRODUCTION:Inattention is one of the core symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Most of patients with ADHD show motor impairment, consisting in the persistence of neurological soft signs (NSS). Our aim was to evaluate attentional and motor functioning in an ADHD sample and healthy children (HC) and possible link between attentional dysfunction and motor impairment in ADHD. METHOD: Twenty-seven drug-naive patients with ADHD and 23 HC were tested with a test battery, measuring different aspects of attention. Motor evaluation has provided three primary variables: overflow movements (OM), dysrhythmia and total speed of timed activities. RESULTS: Compared to HC, patients were impaired in a considerable number of attentional processes and showed a greater number of NSS. Significant correlations between disturbances of attention and motor abnormalities were observed in ADHD group. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that attentional processes could be involved in the pathophysiology of the NSS and add scientific evidence to the predictive value of NSS as indicators of the severity of functional impairment in ADHD. Given the marked improvement or complete resolution of NSS following treatment with methylphenidate, we suggest that evaluation of NSS is useful to monitor the effectiveness of pharmacological treatment with MPH in ADHD.

Pitzianti, M., D'Agati, E., Casarelli, L., Pontis, M., Kaunzinger, I., Lange, K., et al. (2016). Neurological soft signs are associated with attentional dysfunction in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. COGNITIVE NEUROPSYCHIATRY, 21(6), 475-493 [10.1080/13546805.2016.1235029].

Neurological soft signs are associated with attentional dysfunction in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

D'AGATI, ELISA;CURATOLO, PAOLO;PASINI, AUGUSTO
2016-10-01

Abstract

INTRODUCTION:Inattention is one of the core symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Most of patients with ADHD show motor impairment, consisting in the persistence of neurological soft signs (NSS). Our aim was to evaluate attentional and motor functioning in an ADHD sample and healthy children (HC) and possible link between attentional dysfunction and motor impairment in ADHD. METHOD: Twenty-seven drug-naive patients with ADHD and 23 HC were tested with a test battery, measuring different aspects of attention. Motor evaluation has provided three primary variables: overflow movements (OM), dysrhythmia and total speed of timed activities. RESULTS: Compared to HC, patients were impaired in a considerable number of attentional processes and showed a greater number of NSS. Significant correlations between disturbances of attention and motor abnormalities were observed in ADHD group. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that attentional processes could be involved in the pathophysiology of the NSS and add scientific evidence to the predictive value of NSS as indicators of the severity of functional impairment in ADHD. Given the marked improvement or complete resolution of NSS following treatment with methylphenidate, we suggest that evaluation of NSS is useful to monitor the effectiveness of pharmacological treatment with MPH in ADHD.
ott-2016
Pubblicato
Rilevanza internazionale
Articolo
Esperti anonimi
Settore MED/39 - NEUROPSICHIATRIA INFANTILE
English
Con Impact Factor ISI
ADHD; attention and NSS
Pitzianti, M., D'Agati, E., Casarelli, L., Pontis, M., Kaunzinger, I., Lange, K., et al. (2016). Neurological soft signs are associated with attentional dysfunction in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. COGNITIVE NEUROPSYCHIATRY, 21(6), 475-493 [10.1080/13546805.2016.1235029].
Pitzianti, M; D'Agati, E; Casarelli, L; Pontis, M; Kaunzinger, I; Lange, K; Tucha, O; Curatolo, P; Pasini, A
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2108/170850
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