title: Cardiac reactivity and stimulant use in adolescents with autism spectrum disorders with comorbid ADHD versus ADHD.
abstract: A large number of youngsters with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) display comorbid attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms. However, previous studies are not conclusive whether psychophysiological correlates, like cardiac reactivity, are different for ASD with comorbid ADHD (ASD+) compared to ADHD. Therefore, the current study investigated (dis)similarities in cardiac reactivity and attention task performance. In a clinical sample, adolescents diagnosed with ASD+ (n = 20) versus ADHD (n = 36) and stimulant medication use (56 %) were compared during a baseline with eyes closed and task performance. Results for cardiac reactivity were similar for both diagnostic groups. Stimulant-medicated adolescents showed decreased adaptation of LF/HF ratio and faster reaction times than stimulant-free adolescents. The current study underlines the psychophysiological overlap of ADHD symptoms in adolescents with ASD+ and adolescents with ADHD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Tranzo, Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Tilburg University, PO BOX 90153 (T618), 5000 LE, Tilburg, The Netherlands, m.bink@ggze.nl.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bink
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Popma
authors.forename: I L
authors.initials: IL
authors.lastname: Bongers
authors.forename: G J M
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: van Boxtel
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Denissen
authors.forename: Ch
authors.initials: Ch
authors.lastname: van Nieuwenhuizen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants