The effectiveness of methylphenidate in the management of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in people with intellectual disabilities: A systematic review. Does EEG-neurofeedback improve neurocognitive functioning in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder? A systematic review and a double-blind placebo-controlled study. The effects of exercise on children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Measurement of the Effect of Physical Exercise on the Concentration of Individuals with ADHD Erratum to: Long-acting methylphenidate formulations in the treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: a systematic review of head-to-head studies Aerobic exercise and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: brain research. Computer-Based Attention Training in the Schools for Children With Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Preliminary Trial The 4-year course of tic disorders in boys with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Acetyl-L-carnitine (ALC) in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: a multi-site, placebo-controlled pilot trial. [The prevalence of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) among children and adolescents in Germany. Initial results from the German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Children and Adolescents (KiGGS)]. Atomoxetine treatment in children and adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and comorbid oppositional defiant disorder. Preliminary data suggesting the efficacy of attention training for school-aged children with ADHD Effects of a selected exercise programon executive function of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder Multimodal treatment in children and adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: a 6-month follow-up Effects of Methylphenidate on Impulsive Responding in Children With Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Clinical efficacy of methylphenidate in conduct disorder with and without attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. A 6-month follow-up of an RCT on behavioral and neurocognitive effects of neurofeedback in children with ADHD Impulsiveness as a timing disturbance: neurocognitive abnormalities in attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder during temporal processes and normalization with methylphenidate PREVALENCE ESTIMATIONS OF ATTENTION-DEFICIT/HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER: DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSES AND COMORBIDITIES IN A COLOMBIAN SAMPLE 1-year follow-up of neurofeedback treatment in adolescents with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: randomised controlled trial What future research should bring to help resolving the debate about the efficacy of EEG-neurofeedback in children with ADHD Exercise impact on sustained attention of ADHD children, methylphenidate effects Dissecting the attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) phenotype: Sustained attention, response variability and spatial attentional asymmetries in relation to dopamine transporter (DAT1) genotype
BACKGROUND The effectiveness of psychostimulants , primarily methylpheni date ( MPH ) , in the treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ( ADHD ) in the general population of typically growing children and adolescents is well established through many R and omised Controlled Trials ( RCTs ) . AIMS AND METHODS We carried out a systematic review of all the RCTs in people with intellectual disabilities ( ID ) that assessed effectiveness of MPH on the core ADHD symptoms . OUTCOMES AND RESULTS We included 15 papers from 13 studies that were all on children and adolescents with ID ( 315 participants were on MPH and placebo respectively ) , 12 of which used a cross over design , and one used a parallel design . On average around 40 - 50 % responded to MPH in the ID group whereas around 70 - 80 % response rate is reported among the non-ID children . Because of the heterogeneity of the outcome data it was not possible to carry out a meta- analysis . Significant adverse events included sleep difficulties and poor appetite along with weight loss and also irritability , social withdrawal and increased motor activities including tic . CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLEMENTATION On the basis of the poor quality evidence that is available , it seems that MPH may be effective in some but not all children and adolescents with ID and ADHD BACKGROUND The number of placebo-controlled r and omized studies relating to EEG-neurofeedback and its effect on neurocognition in attention-deficient/hyperactivity disorder ( ADHD ) is limited . For this reason , a double blind , r and omized , placebo-controlled study was design ed to assess the effects of  EEG-neurofeedback  on neurocognitive functioning in children with ADHD , and a systematic review on this topic was performed . METHODS Forty-one children ( 8 - 15 years ) with a DSM-IV-TR diagnosis of ADHD were r and omly allocated to EEG-neurofeedback or placebo-neurofeedback treatment for 30 sessions , twice a week . Children were stratified by age , electrophysiological state of arousal , and medication use . Neurocognitive tests of attention , executive functioning , working memory , and time processing were administered before and after treatment . Research ers , teachers , children and their parents , with the exception of the neurofeedback-therapist , were all blind to treatment assignment . Outcome measures were the changes in neurocognitive performance before and after treatment . CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION www . clinical trials.gov : NCT00723684 . RESULTS No significant treatment effect on any of the neurocognitive variables was found . A systematic review of the current literature also did not find any systematic beneficial effect of EEG-neurofeedback on neurocognitive functioning . CONCLUSION Overall , the existing literature and this study fail to support any benefit of neurofeedback on neurocognitive functioning in ADHD , possibly due to small sample sizes and other study limitations PURPOSE The effects of exercise on children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder ( ADHD ) were evaluated by study ing the rate of spontaneous eye blinks , the acoustic startle eye blink response ( ASER ) , and motor impersistence among 8- to 12-yr-old children ( 10 boys and 8 girls ) meeting DSM-III-R criteria for ADHD . METHODS Children ceased methylpheni date medication 24 h before and during each of three daily conditions separated by 24 - 48 h. After a maximal treadmill walking test to determine cardiorespiratory fitness ( VO(2peak ) ) , each child was r and omly assigned to counterbalanced conditions of treadmill walking at an intensity of 65 - 75 % VO(2peak ) or quiet rest . Responses were compared with a group of control participants ( 11 boys and 14 girls ) equated with the ADHD group on several key variables . RESULTS Boys with ADHD had increased spontaneous blink rate , decreased ASER latency , and decreased motor impersistence after maximal exercise . Girls with ADHD had increased ASER amplitude and decreased ASER latency after submaximal exercise . CONCLUSIONS The findings suggest an interaction between sex and exercise intensity that is not explained by physical fitness , activity history , or selected personality attributes . The clinical meaning of the eye blink results is not clear , as improvements in motor impersistence occurred only for boys after maximal exercise . Nonetheless , these preliminary findings are sufficiently positive to encourage additional study to determine whether a session of vigorous exercise has efficacy as a dopaminergic adjuvant in the management of behavioral features of ADHD Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ( ADHD ) mainly affects the academic performance of children and adolescents . In addition to bringing physical and mental health benefits , physical activity has been used to prevent and improve ADHD comorbidities ; however , its effectiveness has not been quantified . In this study , the effect of physical activity on children 's attention was measured using a computer game . Intense physical activity was promoted by a relay race , which requires a 5-min run without a rest interval . The proposed physical stimulus was performed with 28 volunteers : 14 with ADHD ( GE-EF ) and 14 without ADHD symptoms ( GC-EF ) . After 5 min of rest , these volunteers accessed the computer game to accomplish the tasks in the shortest time possible . The computer game was also accessed by another 28 volunteers : 14 with ADHD ( GE ) and 14 without these symptoms ( GC ) . The response time to solve the tasks that require attention was recorded . The results of the four groups were analyzed using D'Agostino statistical tests of normality , Kruskal-Wallis analyses of variance and post-hoc Dunn tests . The groups of volunteers with ADHD who performed exercise ( GE-EF ) showed improved performance for the tasks that require attention with a difference of 30.52 % compared with the volunteers with ADHD who did not perform the exercise ( GE ) . The ( GE-EF ) group showed similar performance ( 2.5 % difference ) with the volunteers in the ( GC ) group who have no ADHD symptoms and did not exercise . This study shows that intense exercise can improve the attention of children with ADHD and may help their school performance Background : The stimulant methylpheni date ( MPH ) has been a mainstay of treatment for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder ( ADHD ) for many years . Owing to the short half-life and the issues associated with multiple daily dosing of immediate-release MPH formulations , a new generation of long-acting MPH formulations has emerged . Direct head-to-head studies of these long-acting MPH formulations are important to facilitate an evaluation of their comparative pharmacokinetics and efficacy ; however , to date , relatively few head-to-head studies have been performed . The objective of this systematic review was to compare the evidence available from head-to-head studies of long-acting MPH formulations and provide information that can guide treatment selection . Methods : A systematic literature search was conducted in MEDLINE and PsycINFO in March 2012 using the MeSH terms : attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity/drug therapy ; methylpheni date /therapeutic use and All Fields : Concerta ; Ritalin LA ; OROS and ADHD ; Medikinet ; Equasym XL and ADHD ; long-acting methylpheni date ; Diffucaps and ADHD ; SODAS and methylpheni date . No filters were applied and no language , publication date or publication status limitations were imposed . Articles were selected if the title indicated a comparison of two or more long-acting MPH preparations in human subjects of any age ; non- systematic review articles and unpublished data were not included . Results : Of 15,295 references returned in the literature search and screened by title , 34 articles were identified for inclusion : nine articles from pharmacokinetic studies ( nine studies ) ; nine articles from laboratory school studies ( six studies ) ; two articles from r and omized controlled trials ( two studies ) ; three articles from switching studies ( two studies ) and three articles from one observational study . Conclusions : Emerging head-to-head studies provide important data on the comparative efficacy of the formulations available . At a group level , efficacy across the day generally follows the pharmacokinetic profile of the MPH formulation . No formulation is clearly superior to another ; careful consideration of patient needs and subtle differences between formulations is required to optimize treatment . For patients achieving suboptimal symptom control , switching long-acting MPH formulations may be beneficial . When switching formulations , it is usually appropriate to titrate the immediate-release component of the formulation ; a limitation of current studies is a focus on total daily dose rather than equivalent immediate-release components . Further studies are necessary to provide guidance in clinical practice , particularly in the treatment of adults and pre-school children and the impact of comorbidities and symptom severity on treatment response PURPOSE As adjuvant therapy for enhancing the effects of stimulants and thereby minimizing medication doses , we hypothesized that aerobic exercise might be an effective adjunctive therapy for enhancing the effects of methylpheni date on the clinical symptoms , cognitive function , and brain activity of adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder ( ADHD ) . METHODS Thirty-five adolescents with ADHD were r and omly assigned to one of two groups in a 1/1 ratio ; methylpheni date treatment + 6-wk exercise ( sports-ADHD ) or methylpheni date treatment + 6-wk education ( edu-ADHD ) . At baseline and after 6 wk of treatment , symptoms of ADHD , cognitive function , and brain activity were evaluated using the Dupaul attention deficit hyperactivity disorder rating scale -- Korean version ( K-ARS ) , the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test , and 3-T functional magnetic resonance imaging , respectively . RESULTS The K-ARS total score and perseverative errors in the sports-ADHD group decreased compared with those in the edu-ADHD group . After the 6-wk treatment period , the mean β value of the right frontal lobe in the sports-ADHD group increased compared with that in the edu-ADHD group . The mean β value of the right temporal lobe in the sports-ADHD group decreased . However , the mean β value of the right temporal lobe in the edu-ADHD group did not change . The change in activity within the right prefrontal cortex in all adolescents with ADHD was negatively correlated with the change in K-ARS scores and perseverative errors . CONCLUSIONS The current results indicate that aerobic exercise increased the effectiveness of methylpheni date on clinical symptoms , perseverative errors , and brain activity within the right frontal and temporal cortices in response to the Wisconsin card sorting test stimulation Objective . This study examined the efficacy of 2 computer-based training systems to teach children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder ( ADHD ) to attend more effectively . Design / methods . A total of 41 children with ADHD from 2 middle schools were r and omly assigned to receive 2 sessions a week at school of either neurofeedback ( NF ) or attention training through a st and ard computer format ( SCF ) , either immediately or after a 6-month wait ( waitlist control group ) . Parents , children , and teachers completed question naires pre- and postintervention . Results . Primary parents in the NF condition reported significant ( P < .05 ) change on Conners ’s Rating Scales — Revised ( CRS-R ) and Behavior Assessment Scales for Children ( BASC ) subscales ; and in the SCF condition , they reported significant ( P < .05 ) change on the CRS-R Inattention scale and ADHD index , the BASC Attention Problems Scale , and on the Behavioral Rating Inventory of Executive Functioning ( BRIEF ) . Conclusion . This r and omized control trial provides preliminary evidence of the effectiveness of computer-based interventions for ADHD and supports the feasibility of offering them in a school setting BACKGROUND Despite long-st and ing clinical concerns , relatively little is known about the comorbidity between attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder ( ADHD ) and tic disorders . Therefore , we examined tic disorders in an ongoing prospect i ve follow-up study of male subjects with ADHD , a sample unselected for any comorbid disorder . METHODS One hundred twenty-eight male children and adolescents with ADHD and 110 male controls were comprehensively evaluated at baseline and 4 years later . We characterized tic disorders along with a wide range of neuropsychiatric correlates , including other comorbid disorders and indices of psychosocial function in multiple domains ( school , cognitive , social , and family ) . RESULTS Compared with controls , subjects with ADHD showed more tic disorders at baseline and more new onsets were reported at follow-up . Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and tic disorders appeared to be independent in course : in contrast to low rates of ADHD remission , tic disorders mostly remitted . The age-adjusted rate of ADHD remission was 20 % and that of tic remission , 65 % . Tic disorders had little effect on the psychosocial functioning of subjects with ADHD . CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that comorbidity with a tic disorder has a limited effect on ADHD outcome . However , because of the relatively small sample of subjects with tic disorders , our conclusions should be considered preliminary until confirmed in larger studies of medicated and unmedicated children with ADHD with and without tic disorders OBJECTIVE To determine whether acetyl-L-carnitine ( ALC ) , a metabolite necessary for energy metabolism and essential fatty acid anabolism , might help attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder ( ADHD ) . Trials in Down 's syndrome , migraine , and Alzheimer 's disease showed benefit for attention . A preliminary trial in ADHD using L-carnitine reported significant benefit . METHOD A multi-site 16-week pilot study r and omized 112 children ( 83 boys , 29 girls ) age 5 - 12 with systematic ally diagnosed ADHD to placebo or ALC in weight-based doses from 500 to 1500 mg b.i.d . The 2001 revisions of the Conners ' parent and teacher scales ( including DSM-IV ADHD symptoms ) were administered at baseline , 8 , 12 , and 16 weeks . Analyses were ANOVA of change from baseline to 16 weeks with treatment , center , and treatment-by-center interaction as independent variables . RESULTS The primary intent-to-treat analysis , of 9 DSM-IV teacher-rated inattentive symptoms , was not significant . However , secondary analyses were interesting . There was significant ( p = 0.02 ) moderation by subtype : superiority of ALC over placebo in the inattentive type , with an opposite tendency in combined type . There was also a geographic effect ( p = 0.047 ) . Side effects were negligible ; electrocardiograms , lab work , and physical exam unremarkable . CONCLUSION ALC appears safe , but with no effect on the overall ADHD population ( especially combined type ) . It deserves further exploration for possible benefit specifically in the inattentive type The cardinal symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder ( ADHD ) are inattention , hyperactivity and impulsivity . Etiologically , ADHD is mainly put down to genetic causes ; it entails a considerable range of psychosocial problems for those affected and their social environment . The parents of a total of 7,569 boys ( B ) and 7,267 girls ( G ) aged 3 - 17 who took part in the German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Children and Adolescents ( KiGGS ) answered a self-administered question naire including an ADHD diagnosis question and the  Strengths and Difficulties Question naire ( SDQ )  . In addition behavioural observations of 7,919 children ( aged 3 - 11 ) were carried out during the medical and physical tests . Participants whose parents reported that they had ever been given an ADHD diagnosis by a doctor or psychologist were classified as ADHD cases . Participants were classified as suspected cases of ADHD if they had a value of > or = 7 on the SDQ inattention/hyperactivity scale . ADHD had ever been diagnosed in 4.8 % of the children and adolescents altogether ( B : 7.7 % , G : 1.8 % ) . Another 4.9 % of the participants can be considered as suspected cases . Already 1.8 % of the preschoolers had been given an ADHD diagnosis . At primary school age ( 7 - 10 years old ) the frequency of diagnosis rises sharply . At age 11 - 17 , ADHD had ever been diagnosed in 1 in 10 boys and 1 in 43 girls . ADHD had been diagnosed significantly more frequently among participants of low socio-economic status ( SES ) than among participants of high SES . A diagnosis of ADHD is reported less often for migrants , they rank more frequently among the suspected cases . The discrepancy between confirmed and suspected cases of ADHD among migrants may point to lower diagnosis rates or lower utilization of medical services . The short- and long-term medical , social and health-economic effects of ADHD illustrate the major public health relevance of the disorder . As for prevention , the high share of genetic factors in ADHD etiology primarily suggests secondary prevention ( early support and early diagnosis ) and tertiary prevention measures . Further analysis of the KiGGS data could prospect ively identify risk groups more precisely and refine preventional approaches OBJECTIVE To examine ( 1 ) moderating effects of oppositional defiant disorder ( ODD ) on attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder ( ADHD ) treatment response and ( 2 ) responses of ODD symptoms to atomoxetine . METHOD Children and adolescents ( ages 8 - 18 ) with ADHD were treated for approximately 8 weeks with placebo or atomoxetine ( fixed dosing : 0.5 , 1.2 , or 1.8 mg/kg/day , b.i.d . ) under r and omized , double-blind conditions . Among patients with lifetime diagnostic information ( n = 293 ) , 39 % were diagnosed with comorbid ODD and 61 % were not . Treatment-group differences and differences between patients with and without comorbid ODD were examined post hoc for changes on the Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Rating Scale IV-Parent version , investigator-administered and -scored ; Conners ' Parent Rating Scale-Revised Short Form ; Clinical Global Impressions Severity of ADHD Scale ; and the parent-rated Child Health Question naire . RESULTS Youths with ADHD and comorbid ODD showed statistically significant improvement in ADHD , ODD , and quality -of-life measures . Treatment response was similar in youths with and without ODD , except that the comorbid group showed improvement compared with placebo at 1.8 mg/kg/day but not 1.2 mg/kg/day . In contrast , youths without ODD showed improvement at 1.2 mg/kg/day and no incremental benefit at 1.8 mg/kg/day . CONCLUSIONS Atomoxetine treatment improves ADHD and ODD symptoms in youths with ADHD and ODD , although the comorbid group may require higher doses A pilot r and omized clinical trial was conducted to examine the initial efficacy of Pay Attention ! , an intervention training sustained , selective , alternating , and divided attention , in children diagnosed with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder ( ADHD ) . After a diagnostic and baseline evaluation , school-aged children with ADHD were r and omized to receive 16 bi-weekly sessions of Pay Attention ! ( n=54 ) or to a waitlist control group ( n=51 ) . Participants completed an outcome evaluation approximately 12 weeks after their baseline evaluation . Results showed significant treatment effects for parent and clinician ratings of ADHD symptoms , child self-report of ability to focus , and parent ratings of executive functioning . Child performance on neuropsychological tests showed significant treatment-related improvement on strategic planning efficiency , but no treatment effects were observed on other neuropsychological outcomes . Treatment effects were also not observed for teacher ratings of ADHD . These data add to a growing body of literature supporting effects of cognitive training on attention and behavior , however , additional research is warranted Introduction . The aim of this study was to examine the effectiveness of a Selected exercise program on the executive function of children with ADHD . Method . The participants were 40 male students , aged 7 - 11 years . The participants were r and omly assigned into two groups ( experimental and control ) . The experimental group participated in an exercise program for 24 sessions , 90 minutes per session . The control group did not receive any intervention . Before and after the exercise period , all the participants were assessed with Stroop and Go-No-Go tests , and the result ing data were analyzed by using MANCOVA . Result . The results showed that the cognitive inhibition of the children in the experimental group was significantly different compared with the control group ( p < 0.05 ) . Additionally , there was a significant difference between the experimental and control groups in the behavioral inhibition ( p < 0.05 ) . Conclusion . An organized physical activity helps to improve the executive function in children with ADHD Abstract Background : Different treatment approaches aim ed at reducing attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder ( ADHD ) core symptoms are available . However , factors such as intolerance , side-effects , lack of efficacy , high new technology costs , and placebo effect have spurred on an increasing interest in alternative or complementary treatment . Aim : The aim of this study is to explore efficacy of multimodal treatment consisting of st and ard stimulant medication ( methylpheni date ) and neurofeedback ( NF ) in combination , and to compare it with the single treatment in 6-month follow-up in ADHD children and adolescents . Methods : This r and omized controlled trial with 6-month follow-up comprised three treatment arms : multimodal treatment ( NF + MED ) , MED alone , and NF alone .  A total of 130 ADHD children/adolescents participated , and 62 % completed the study .  ADHD core symptoms were recorded pre-/post-treatment , using parents ’ and teachers ’ forms taken from Barkley ’s Defiant Children : A Clinician ’s Manual for Assessment and Parent Training , and a self-report question naire . Results : Significant ADHD core symptom improvements were reported 6 months after treatment completion by parents , teachers , and participants in all three groups , with marked improvement in inattention in all groups . However , no significant improvements in hyperactivity or academic performance were reported by teachers or self-reported by children/adolescents , respectively , in the three groups . Changes obtained with multimodal treatment at 6-month follow-up were comparable to those with single medication treatment , as reported by all participants . Conclusions : Multimodal treatment using combined stimulant medication and NF showed 6-month efficacy in ADHD treatment . More research is needed to explore whether multimodal treatment is suitable for ADHD children and adolescents who showed a poor response to single medication treatment , and for those who want to reduce the use of stimulant medication The present investigation examined the effects of methylpheni date on impulsivity in children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder ( ADHD ) . A task was design ed to measure empirically the ADHD child 's proclivity to blurt out incorrect answers before giving a final and /or correct response . Twenty-six ADHD children referred for double-blind placebo-controlled assessment of medication responsiveness and 14 non-ADHD controls were given a visual search word-matching task to assess impulsive responding . An analysis of covariance showed that ADHD children on methylpheni date made fewer impulsive errors than ADHD children on placebo . The control group made fewer impulsive errors than the ADHD children in the placebo condition , but the performance of the ADHD children on medication approximated the performance of the children without ADHD . These preliminary findings suggest that the word-matching task may be a useful tool for assessing impulsive responding and determining the benefits of stimulant medication on impulsivity . ( J Child Neurol 1993;8:157 - 163 ) BACKGROUND Stimulants are not considered appropriate for the treatment of children with conduct disorders ( CDs ) . The postulated differences in stimulant effect between children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder ( ADHD ) and CD led to the hypothesis that methylpheni date hydrochloride , which is effective in ADHD , would not significantly improve symptoms of CD . METHODS We r and omly assigned 84 children with CD , between the ages of 6 and 15 years , to receive methylpheni date hydrochloride ( up to 60 mg/d ) or placebo for 5 weeks . Behavior was evaluated by parent , teacher , and clinician reports and by direct classroom observations . Two thirds of the children also met criteria for ADHD . RESULTS Contrary to prediction , ratings of antisocial behaviors specific to CD were significantly reduced by methylpheni date treatment . The magnitude of methylpheni date effect indicated meaningful clinical benefit . Partialling out severity of ADHD did not alter the significant superiority of methylpheni date on CD ratings specifically ( P < .001 ) . CONCLUSIONS Methylpheni date has short-term positive effects on children and adolescents with CD . Key aspects of antisocial adjustment appear to be treatment responsive . This effect was independent of severity of the children 's initial ADHD symptoms Abstract To assess the long-term effects of neurofeedback ( NFB ) in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder ( ADHD ) , we compared behavioral and neurocognitive outcomes at a 6-month naturalistic follow-up of a r and omized controlled trial on NFB , methylpheni date ( MPH ) , and physical activity ( PA ) .  Ninety-two children with a DSM-IV-TR ADHD diagnosis , aged 7–13 , receiving NFB ( n = 33 ) , MPH ( n = 28 ) , or PA ( n = 31 ) , were re-assessed 6-months after the interventions . NFB comprised theta/beta training on the vertex ( cortical zero ) . PA comprised moderate to vigorous intensity exercises . Outcome measures included parent and teacher behavioral reports , and neurocognitive measures ( auditory oddball , stop-signal , and visual spatial working memory tasks ) . At follow-up , longitudinal hierarchical multilevel model analyses revealed no significant group differences for parent reports and neurocognitive measures ( p = .058–.997 ) , except for improved inhibition in MPH compared to NFB ( p = .040 ) and faster response speed in NFB compared to PA ( p = .012 ) during the stop-signal task . These effects , however , disappeared after controlling for medication use at follow-up . Interestingly , teacher reports showed less inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity at follow-up for NFB than PA ( p = .004–.010 ) , even after controlling for medication use ( p = .013–.036 ) . Our findings indicate that the superior results previously found for parent reports and neurocognitive outcome measures obtained with MPH compared to NFB and PA post intervention became smaller or non-significant at follow-up . Teacher reports suggested superior effects of NFB over PA ; however , some children had different teachers at follow-up . Therefore , this finding should be interpreted with caution . Clinical trial registration Train your brain and exercise your heart ? Advancing the treatment for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ( ADHD ) , Ref . no. NCT01363544 , https:// clinical trials.gov/show/NCT01363544 We argue that impulsiveness is characterized by compromised timing functions such as premature motor timing , decreased tolerance to delays , poor temporal foresight and steeper temporal discounting . A model illustration for the association between impulsiveness and timing deficits is the impulsiveness disorder of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder ( ADHD ) . Children with ADHD have deficits in timing processes of several temporal domains and the neural substrates of these compromised timing functions are strikingly similar to the neuropathology of ADHD . We review our published and present novel functional magnetic resonance imaging data to demonstrate that ADHD children show dysfunctions in key timing regions of prefrontal , cingulate , striatal and cerebellar location during temporal processes of several time domains including time discrimination of milliseconds , motor timing to seconds and temporal discounting of longer time intervals . Given that impulsiveness , timing abnormalities and more specifically ADHD have been related to dopamine dysregulation , we tested for and demonstrated a normalization effect of all brain dysfunctions in ADHD children during time discrimination with the dopamine agonist and treatment of choice , methylpheni date . This review together with the new empirical findings demonstrates that neurocognitive dysfunctions in temporal processes are crucial to the impulsiveness disorder of ADHD and provides first evidence for normalization with a dopamine reuptake inhibitor The aim of this article was to analyze the prevalence of Attention Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder ( ADHD ) in Colombian Paisa children and adolescents . A r and omized sample of 4- to 17-year-old children and adolescents--176 males and 154 females -- was selected from schools in Manizales , Colombia . The diagnosis of ADHD was obtained using a semistructured psychiatric and neurological interview , medical histories revision , and neurological or psychiatric evaluations .  Several rating scales and a neuropsychological assessment  were administered in order to confirm the diagnosis . Children with Full Scale Intelligence Quotient ( FSIQ ) between 71 and 84 were recorded as having Borderline Intellectual Functioning ( BIF ) , and those with a history of mild motor retardation , and /or Performance Intelligence Quotient ( PIQ ) lower than 71 , were recorded as having a Developmental Coordination disorder ( DCD ) , after confirmation by neurological and neuropsychological examinations . BIF and DCD children were excluded from the ADHD group . Total prevalence of ADHD adjusted by sex was 16.4 % ( males 19.8 % and females 12.3 % ) . Prevalence of clean ADHD cases was 11.5 % , distrib uted as follows : combined type , 6.4 % ; inattentive , 4.8 % ; and hyperactive-impulsive , 0.3 % . Distribution by sex was as follows : males , 14.8 % ; and females , 7.7 % ; with an odds ratio of 2.1 ( 95 % CI : 1 - 4.5 , h 2 = 4.0 , p < . 05 ) . Clean prevalence of ADHD adjusted by equal sex distribution was 11.3 % . Prevalence of BIF was 5.8 % , DCD 3.0 % , and mild mental retardation 3.9 % . Prevalence of ADHD did not show differences by socioeconomic status ( SES ) , in contrast to mild mental retardation in which BIF and DCD were significantly more frequent in the lower SES Background Estimates of the effectiveness of neurofeedback as a treatment for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder ( ADHD ) are mixed . Aims To investigate the long-term additional effects of neurofeedback ( NFB ) compared with treatment as usual ( TAU ) for adolescents with ADHD . Method Using a multicentre parallel-r and omised controlled trial design , 60 adolescents with a DSM-IV-TR diagnosis of ADHD receiving NFB+TAU ( n=41 ) or TAU ( n=19 ) were followed up .  Neurofeedback treatment consisted of approximately 37 sessions of theta/sensorimotor rhythm (SMR)-training on the vertex ( Cz ) . Outcome measures included behavioural self-reports and neurocognitive measures . Allocation to the conditions was unmasked . Results At 1-year follow-up , inattention as reported by adolescents was decreased ( range ηp2=0.23–0.36 , P<0.01 ) and performance on neurocognitive tasks was faster ( range ηp2=0.20–0.67 , P<0.005 ) irrespective of treatment group . Conclusions Overall , NFB+TAU was as effective as TAU . Given the absence of robust additional effects of neurofeedback in the current study , results do not support the use of theta/SMR neurofeedback as a treatment for adolescents with ADHD and comorbid disorders in clinical practice . Declaration of interest None . Copyright and usage © The Royal College of Psychiatrists 2016 . This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Non-Commercial , No Derivatives ( CC BY-NC-ND ) licence In recent years a rising amount of r and omized controlled trials , review s , and meta-analyses relating to the efficacy of electroencephalographic-neurofeedback ( EEG-NF ) in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder ( ADHD ) have been published . Although clinical reports and open treatment studies suggest EEG-NF to be effective , double blind placebo-controlled studies as well as a rigorous meta- analysis failed to find support for the efficacy of EEG-NF . Since absence of evidence does not equate with evidence of absence , we will outline how future research might overcome the present method ological limitations . To provide conclusive evidence for the presence or absence of the efficacy of EEG-NF  in the treatment of ADHD , there is a need to set up a well- design ed study that ensures optimal implementation and embedding of the training , and possibly incorporates different forms of neurofeedback Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder ( ADHD ) is related to a deficiency of central catecholamines ( CA ) in cognitive , biochemical , and physical tests , and pharmaceutical intervention may have no effect if it is not accompanied by changes in the environment . The objective of our study was to test the hypothesis that central CA are responsible for the increase in speed reaction seen after physical activity ( PA ) and to measure the impact of high intensity PA on the sustained attention of 25 children diagnosed with ADHD consistent with the Disease Statistical Mental-IV ( DSM-IV ) criteria . It is possible that practicing sports assists in the management of the disorder . The children were divided between users ( US ) and non-users ( NUS ) of methylpheni date ( MTP ) , and the groups were compared to evaluate the effect of the drug on cognition after PA . Post-exercise performance on Conner ’s Continuous Performance Test-II ( CPT ) was not affected by MTP , we observed significant improvements in response time , and we saw normalization in the impulsivity and vigilance measures . These results suggest that the improvements in cognition after physical effort are not CA dependent . Additionally , our results suggest that  children ’s attention deficits can be minimized through PA irrespective of treatment with MTP . Additional studies are necessary to confirm that exercise mitigates the harmful symptoms of ADHD ADHD is a childhood-onset behavioural disorder with a heterogeneous profile of neuropsychological impairment . Neuropsychological heterogeneity may , in part , reflect underlying genetic differences . Here we examined sustained attention , response variability and spatial attentional asymmetries in a sample of children and adolescents with ADHD ( n=22 ) in relation to dopamine transporter genotype ( DAT1 ) and also controls ( n=20 ) . Participants performed the sustained attention to response task ( SART ) ( testing sustained attention and response variability ) and the greyscales task ( a perceptual measure of attentional bias ) . The latter has previously been shown to yield a robust leftward attentional asymmetry in healthy subjects . The 10-repeat allele of the DAT1 gene has been associated with ADHD in a number of studies and appears to have biological significance . The ADHD group was sub-divided into those individuals with two copies of the " high-risk " 10-repeat allele ( high-risk DAT1 ) versus those with one or no copies of this allele ( low-risk DAT1 ) . The high-risk DAT1 ADHD group displayed greater response variability on the SART than either the low-risk DAT1 group or healthy controls , whereas the latter two groups did not differ . Further , the high-risk DAT1 group showed an attenuated spatial asymmetry , relative to the low-risk DAT1 ADHD group , who showed the typical leftward attentional asymmetry . Our results suggest that the 10-repeat DAT1 allele may mediate neuropsychological impairment in ADHD . The application of molecular genetics may help to define neuropsychological impaired subgroups of ADHD
Five minutes of jumping or thirty minutes on a treadmill or static bicycle were enough to produce appreciable improvements in inhibitory control or in cognitive and executive functions .
Benefits following exercise were also seen in other aspects such as reaction times and preparation for response , motor skills or brain activity .
CONCLUSION The findings make us optimistic that in the future physical exercise may become an alternative , or at least an effective complement , to the pharmacological treatments currently used for this pathology
BACKGROUND There are studies that show preliminary evidence of the benefits of physical exercise for people with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ( ADHD ) .
The objective of the research being reported here was to carry out a systematic review of articles relating to the effects that exercise sessions have on children and adolescents with this pathology .