OBJECTIVE: There are few studies evaluating the biochemical basis of adult attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (A-ADHD). In the present study, we evaluated whether nitric oxide (NO), an oxidant, level and superoxide dismutase (SOD), an antioxidant, activity are associated with A-ADHD or not. METHODS: Twenty A-ADHD patients from Gaziantep University Sahinbey Research Hospital, Psychiatry Clinic, diagnosed according to The Turkish version of Adult ADD/ADHD DSM IV-Based Diagnostic Screening and Rating Scale by two psychiatrists (H.A.S. and S.S.), and twenty-one healthy volunteer controls were included. Blood samples were collected; NO levels and SOD activities were measured. RESULTS: The mean NO levels in patients were significantly higher than those of controls and SOD activity of patients was significantly lower than controls. CONCLUSIONS: Remarkable high levels of oxidant NO, and low SOD activities suggest an oxidative imbalance in A-ADHD. This is the first study evaluating the oxidative metabolism in A-ADHD.
OBJECTIVE: There are few studies evaluating the biochemical basis of adult attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (A-ADHD). In the present study, we evaluated whether nitric oxide (NO), an oxidant, level and superoxide dismutase (SOD), an antioxidant, activity are associated with A-ADHD or not. METHODS: Twenty A-ADHDpatients from Gaziantep University Sahinbey Research Hospital, Psychiatry Clinic, diagnosed according to The Turkish version of Adult ADD/ADHD DSM IV-Based Diagnostic Screening and Rating Scale by two psychiatrists (H.A.S. and S.S.), and twenty-one healthy volunteer controls were included. Blood samples were collected; NO levels and SOD activities were measured. RESULTS: The mean NO levels in patients were significantly higher than those of controls and SOD activity of patients was significantly lower than controls. CONCLUSIONS: Remarkable high levels of oxidant NO, and low SOD activities suggest an oxidative imbalance in A-ADHD. This is the first study evaluating the oxidative metabolism in A-ADHD.