BACKGROUND: ADHD children can show changes in growth and development. Many studies describe these changes as a side effect of stimulant medication. However, changes in somatic development can also appear in non-medicated children. This suggests that the changes could be a manifestation of the disorder itself and not just a side effect of the treatment. MATERIAL/ METHODS: This study compared anthropometric characteristics in medicated and non-medicated ADHD boys (n=104, age 4-16 years) with the normal non-clinical population. In contrast to most previous studies, complex anthropometrical measurements were used. RESULTS: The results showed significant differences between children with ADHD and those without the diagnosis, the differences found to be statistically significant (p<0.01) being signs of nutrition (percentage of fat, abdominal circumference) and growth suppression (lower body height, smaller head circumference). Differences between the medicated and non-medicated groups corresponded only to a lower value of body fat in the medicated children. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that growth changes in ADHD children may be more specific to the disorder itself than to stimulant treatment.
BACKGROUND:ADHDchildren can show changes in growth and development. Many studies describe these changes as a side effect of stimulant medication. However, changes in somatic development can also appear in non-medicated children. This suggests that the changes could be a manifestation of the disorder itself and not just a side effect of the treatment. MATERIAL/ METHODS: This study compared anthropometric characteristics in medicated and non-medicated ADHDboys (n=104, age 4-16 years) with the normal non-clinical population. In contrast to most previous studies, complex anthropometrical measurements were used. RESULTS: The results showed significant differences between children with ADHD and those without the diagnosis, the differences found to be statistically significant (p<0.01) being signs of nutrition (percentage of fat, abdominal circumference) and growth suppression (lower body height, smaller head circumference). Differences between the medicated and non-medicated groups corresponded only to a lower value of body fat in the medicated children. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that growth changes in ADHDchildren may be more specific to the disorder itself than to stimulant treatment.
Authors: James G Waxmonsky; William E Pelham; Adriana Campa; Daniel A Waschbusch; Tan Li; Rebecca Marshall; Lysett Babocsai; Hugh Humphery; Elizabeth Gnagy; James Swanson; Tomasz Hanć; Negar Fallahazad; William E Pelham Journal: J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry Date: 2019-08-29 Impact factor: 8.829
Authors: Elizabeth B Harstad; Amy L Weaver; Slavica K Katusic; Robert C Colligan; Seema Kumar; Eugenia Chan; Robert G Voigt; William J Barbaresi Journal: Pediatrics Date: 2014-09-01 Impact factor: 7.124
Authors: Ellen A Fliers; Jan K Buitelaar; Athanasios Maras; Kim Bul; Esther Höhle; Stephen V Faraone; Barbara Franke; Nanda N J Rommelse Journal: J Dev Behav Pediatr Date: 2013-10 Impact factor: 2.225
Authors: Radek Ptacek; Hana Kuzelova; George B Stefano; Jiří Raboch; Tereza Sadkova; Michal Goetz; Richard M Kream Journal: Med Sci Monit Date: 2014-04-14