title: DTI abnormalities in adults with past history of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: a tract-based spatial statistics study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique enabling visualization and measurement of white matter tracts. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has been studied with DTI earlier with variable results, yet there is little research on remitted ADHD.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare the brain white matter between ADHD drug naïve subjects whose ADHD symptoms have mostly subsided and healthy controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) was used to compare 30 subjects with adolescent ADHD with control subjects at the age of 22-23 years. The study population was derived from a population-based Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1986. Fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), and measures of diffusion direction (λ1-3) were calculated. Permutation testing was used to test for differences in mean values of FA, MD, and λ1-3 between the groups. The results were corrected for multiple comparisons across the whole white matter skeleton.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The ADHD group showed increased FA related to decreased radial diffusivity in the left forceps minor (P < 0.05). In the vicinity along the same tract, axial diffusion was significantly decreased without any significant effect on FA. No between-group difference in MD was observed. Regressor analysis revealed no gender-, IQ- or GAF-related changes. After removal of left handed subjects the statistical significance was only barely lost.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In a setting with remitted ADHD, the results may represent a compensatory mechanism in the left forceps minor.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland Michaela.Bode@fimnet.fi.
authors.forename: Michaela K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Bode
authors.affiliation: Department of Child Psychiatry, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland Clinic of Child Psychiatry, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland.
authors.forename: Päivi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lindholm
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland.
authors.forename: Vesa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kiviniemi
authors.affiliation: Department of Child Psychiatry, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland Clinic of Child Psychiatry, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland.
authors.forename: Irma
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Moilanen
authors.affiliation: Department of Child Psychiatry, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland Clinic of Child Psychiatry, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland.
authors.forename: Hanna
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ebeling
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland Clinic of Psychiatry, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland.
authors.forename: Juha
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Veijola
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland Clinic of Psychiatry, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland.
authors.forename: Jouko
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Miettunen
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Child Psychiatry, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland Department of Health Sciences, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
authors.forename: Tuula
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hurtig
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
authors.forename: Tanja
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nordström
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland.
authors.forename: Tuomo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Starck
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland.
authors.forename: Jukka
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Remes
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland.
authors.forename: Osmo
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Tervonen
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland.
authors.forename: Juha
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nikkinen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000473:pathology*; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D056324:Diffusion Tensor Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008959:Models, Neurological; D015233:Models, Statistical; D015588:Observer Variation; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D066127:White Matter / Q000473:pathology*
keywords: ADHD; CNS; DTI; MR diffusion; TBSS; brain