ADHD symptoms and maturity - a follow-up study in school children.
OBJECTIVE
To test the hypothesis that there is a subgroup of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) who show a decline in ADHD-symptoms that is associated with signs of biological maturation, a phenomenon referred to as a 'maturation catch-up'.


METHODS
The parents of 147 children who were given an examination in grades one and two 1999-2000 that included assessment of ADHD-symptoms and estimation of skeletal bone-age by use of hand radiographs (which was repeated in the eighth grade), were contacted 2008-2009 and were asked to answer questions concerning ADHD-symptoms and behavioural maturity in their children. The response frequency was 67%. A complete dataset was achieved in 57 children. A reduction of Conners scores for ADHD-symptoms of eight or more between the evaluations was defined as a marked reduction in symptoms.


RESULTS
When the children with a marked symptom reduction (n = 6) were compared with children without such a reduction (n = 51), we found a significant difference in skeletal maturation (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
This study gives support to the theory that there is a group of children with ADHD-symptoms who have a biological maturational-lag who will show a decrease in their ADHD-symptoms as they show a maturation catch-up with increasing age.
Gustafsson
P
P
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Lund University, Sweden. peik.gustafsson@med.lu.se
Holmström
E
E
Besjakov
J
J
Karlsson
M K
MK
D000365:Age Determination by Skeleton; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006225:Hand / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male