ERIC Number: EJ1440110
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2024-Oct
Pages: 12
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1087-0547
EISSN: EISSN-1557-1246
The Utility of Neuromuscular Assessment to Identify ADHD among Patients with a Complex Symptom Picture
Anne Beate Helseth Udal; Liv Larsen Stray; Are Hugo Pripp; Torstein Stray; Jens Egeland
Journal of Attention Disorders, v28 n12 p1577-1588 2024
Objective: Diagnostic assessment of ADHD is challenging due to comorbid psychopathologies and symptoms overlapping with other psychiatric disorders. In this study, we investigate if a distinct pattern of neuromuscular dysregulation previously reported in ADHD, can help identifying ADHD in psychiatric patients with diverse and complex symptoms. Method: We explored the impact of neuromuscular dysregulation, as measured by The Motor Function Neurologic Assessment (MFNU), on the likelihood of being diagnosed with ADHD, affective disorder, anxiety disorder, or personality disorder among adults (n = 115) referred to a psychiatric outpatient clinic. Results: Logistic regression revealed that neuromuscular dysregulation was significantly associated with ADHD diagnosis only (OR 1.15, p < 0.01), and not with affective-, anxiety-, or personality disorders. Sensitivity and specificity for ADHD at different MFNU scores is provided. Conclusions: A test of neuromuscular dysregulation may promote diagnostic accuracy in differentiating ADHD from other psychiatric disorders in patients with an overlapping symptom picture. This may have important implications for clinical practice. More studies are needed.
Descriptors: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Diagnostic Tests, Barriers, Comorbidity, Psychiatric Services, Clinics, Patients, Adults, Psychomotor Skills, Foreign Countries, Rural Areas, Symptoms (Individual Disorders), Outcomes of Treatment, Participant Characteristics, Autism Spectrum Disorders
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Norway
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A