The impact of attention deficit hyperactivity disorders on brainstem dysfunction in nocturnal enuresis.

Full Abstract

PURPOSE:
In a specialized university setting the prevalence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in general and particularly the inattentive subtype attention deficit hyperactivity disorder of the predominantly inattentive subtype is highly increased. We replicated previous research findings that enuresis is associated with a brainstem deficit and investigated the impact of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder on this brainstem deficit in enuresis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:
Electromyography recorded startle eye blink modification with and without attentional modulation was used to measure brainstem functioning in 158 children between 6 and 12 years old. Performance in 3 enuresis groups, including children with enuresis, enuresis plus attention deficit hyperactivity disorder of the predominantly inattentive subtype and enuresis plus attention deficit hyperactivity disorder combined, respectively, was compared with that in normally developing controls and in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder subtypes without enuresis.

RESULTS:
In an automatic attentional task the enuresis groups showed decreased brainstem inhibition compared to that in the control and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder groups (p <0.006). In a controlled attentional task children with and without enuresis who had attention deficit hyperactivity disorder of the predominantly inattentive subtype were unable to show attentional modulation in all age groups (p <0.02).

CONCLUSIONS:
Startle eye blink modification research reveals a brainstem inhibition deficit in children with enuresis, which could explain why they are unable to remain dry at night. When additional attention is allocated to specific trials in the task, children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder of the predominantly inattentive subtype fail to optimize sensory gating. With respect to enuresis, this could result in an identification problem of bladder signals, leading to an inadequate or absent arousal effect in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder of the predominantly inattentive subtype.

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Author information

Author/s: Baeyens, Dieter (D); Roeyers, Herbert (H); Hoebeke, Piet (P); Antrop, Inge (I); Mauel, Rainer (R); Walle, Johan Vande (JV);

Affiliation: Department of Psychology, Developmental Disorders, Ghent University, Belgium. Dieter.Baeyens(-atsign-)ugent.be

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: The Journal of urology (J Urol), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2006-Aug; vol 176 (issue 2) : pp 744-8

Dates: Created 2006/07/03; Completed 2006/08/29;

PMID: 16813934, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity - complications; physiopathology
Brain Stem - physiopathology
Child
Enuresis - etiology

Enuresis - etiology
Female
Humans
Male

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