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Differentiating attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder inattentive and combined types: a 1H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy study of fronto-striato-thalamic regions

  • Biological Child and Adolescent Psychiatry - Original Article
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Abstract

Despite the implication of fronto-striatal circuits in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), there is a lack of information on the role of these regions, especially the thalamus, in the heterogeneity of ADHD. We assessed the 1H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy profile in ventromedial prefrontal cortex (VMPFC)-thalamic-striatal regions bilaterally in three groups of subjects (age range 18–24 years old): ADHD inattentive type (ADHD-I; n = 9), ADHD combined type (ADHD-C; n = 10) and non-ADHD controls (n = 12). The peaks of N-acetylaspartate, Choline (Cho), myo-inositol (mI), creatine (Cr) and glutamate-glutamine-GABA (Glx) to Cr were calculated. Subjects with ADHD-C showed lower mI/Cr ratio in the right VMPFC than controls, higher Cho/Cr ratio in the left thalamus-pulvinar than the ADHD-I group and higher Glx/Cr ratio in left putamen than individuals with ADHD-I and controls. This metabolic profile suggests a disruption of fronto-striato-thalamic structures in the ADHD-C as a result of lower neuronal energetic metabolism.

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Conflict of interest statement

Dr Rohde was on the speaker’s bureau and/or acted as consultant for Eli-Lilly, Janssen-Cilag, and Novartis in the last three years. Currently, his only industry related activity is taking part in the advisory board/speaker’s bureau for Eli Lilly and Novartis (less than U$ 10,000 per year and reflecting less than 5% of his gross income per year). The ADHD and Juvenile Bipolar Disorder Outpatient Programs chaired by him received unrestricted educational and research support from the following pharmaceutical companies in the last three years: Abbott, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Eli-Lilly, Janssen-Cilag, and Novartis. Dr Palmini is on the speaker’s bureau or is a consultant for Janssen-Cilag and Novartis. Dr Abreu is on the speaker’s bureau or is a consultant for Janssen-Cilag and Bristol-Myers Squibb. Dr Grevet is on the speaker’s bureau or is a consultant for Novartis and Janssen-Cilag.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate Program in Neurosciences, and Neurology and Psychiatry Services, Serviço de Psiquiatria do Hospital São Lucas da PUCRS, Hospital São Lucas, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (HSL-PUCRS), Av Ipiranga, 6690 sala 309, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, CEP 90610-000, Brazil

    Pedro E. M. S. Ferreira, André Palmini & Eloisa Elena Ferreira

  2. Department of Genetics, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Brazil

    Claiton H. D. Bau

  3. Department of Psychiatry, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Brazil

    Eugenio Horacio Grevet, Luis Augusto Rohde & Paulo Belmonte-de-Abreu

  4. Center for Diagnostic Imaging (CDI-HSL-PUCRS), Porto Alegre, Brazil

    João Rubião Hoefel & Maurício Anés

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  1. Pedro E. M. S. Ferreira
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  2. André Palmini
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  3. Claiton H. D. Bau
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  6. Luis Augusto Rohde
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  7. Maurício Anés
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  8. Eloisa Elena Ferreira
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  9. Paulo Belmonte-de-Abreu
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Correspondence to Pedro E. M. S. Ferreira.

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Ferreira, P.E.M.S., Palmini, A., Bau, C.H.D. et al. Differentiating attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder inattentive and combined types: a 1H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy study of fronto-striato-thalamic regions. J Neural Transm 116, 623–629 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00702-009-0191-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00702-009-0191-3

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