title: A pilot study: attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, sensation seeking, and pubertal changes.
abstract: This study was designed to examine the relationship of pubertal changes and sensation seeking (SS) in adolescents with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Patients with current or past histories of uncomplicated stimulant medication use for ADHD between the ages of 11 and 15 (13 +/- 1.5) were recruited from a Child Psychiatry and a General Pediatric Clinic. SS was measured using the SS Scale for Children. Pubertal development was measured using Tanner staging, free testosterone, and DHEAS. Subjects and their parent were interviewed with the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children (DISC). SS total score was correlated with Tanner stage, free testosterone, and DHEAS (p < or = 0.01). The combined parent and child reports of symptoms of Oppositional Defiant Disorder from the DISC were inversely related to age (p < or = 0.05). Understanding SS in ADHD adolescents as they move through puberty will aid clinicians in monitoring ADHD adolescents and their trajectory into high-risk behaviors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY 40536, USA. cmartin@uky.edu
authors.forename: Catherine A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Greg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Guenthner
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bingcang
authors.forename: W Jackson
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Curry
authors.forename: Hatim A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Omar
authors.forename: Mary Kay
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Raynes
authors.forename: Thomas H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Kelly
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D005106:Exploratory Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011627:Puberty / Q000502:physiology*; D012653:Self Stimulation / Q000502:physiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires