Research in academic medical centers: two threats to sustainable support.

Reductions in federal support and clinical revenue jeopardize biomedical research and, in turn, clinical medicine.

Learning about medical student mistreatment from responses to the medical school graduation questionnaire.

Although evidence of medical student mistreatment has accumulated for more than 20 years, only recently have professional organizations like the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) and the American Medical Association truly acknowledged it as an issue. Since 1991, the AAMC's annual Medical School Graduation Questionnaire (GQ) has included questions about mistreatment. Responses to the GQ have become the major source of evidence of the prevalence and types of mistreatment.

The College of Human Medicine at Michigan State University: expansion and reinvention.

The College of Human Medicine (CHM) at Michigan State University, which graduated its first class in 1972, was one of the first community-based medical schools in the country. It was established as a state-funded medical school with specific legislative directives to educate primary care physicians who would serve the needs of the state, particularly those of underserved areas. However, the model has proved challenging to sustain with the many changes to the health care system and the economic climate of Michigan.

Adequacy of two ambulatory care surveillance systems for tracking childhood obesity practice patterns.

Background: The National Ambulatory Medical Care Surveys (NAMCS) and National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Surveys (NHAMCS) are surveillance systems in the USA that track provider practice patterns at ambulatory care visits. This study investigated the adequacy of the NAMCS/NHAMCS for surveillance of childhood obesity practice patterns.

Methods: The frequency of obesity visits in the 1997-2000 NAMCS/NHAMCS (outpatient component) was compared with obesity prevalence among children who reported a physician visit in the preceding 12 months in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999-2000.

Low blood lead levels associated with clinically diagnosed attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and mediated by weak cognitive control.

Background: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and low-level lead exposure are high-prevalence conditions among children, and studies of large populations have suggested that these conditions are related. We examine this relationship in children from a community sample exposed to average background levels of lead who have a diagnosis of ADHD that is established by clinical criteria.

Methods: One hundred fifty children ages 8-17 years participated (mean age = 14 years; 53 control subjects, 47 ADHD Predominantly Inattentive type, 50 ADHD-Combined type).

The use of pharmacotherapy in the treatment of pediatric insomnia in primary care: rational approaches. A consensus meeting summary.

Objectives: To formulate a rational approach to the pharmacologic treatment of pediatric insomnia, and to develop clinical guidelines regarding indications, target populations, and parameters for the use of these medications, especially by community-based pediatricians.

Participants: A multidisciplinary task force developed under the auspices of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, which included experts in pediatric sleep medicine, psychiatry, pharmacology, neurology, and general pediatrics.

Evidence: Review of existing data regarding current use of over-the-counter and prescription medications for pediatric insomnia in the primary care practice setting, and of empirical data on the pharmacology, safety, efficacy, and tolerability of medications commonly used for the treatment of pediatric insomnia.

The adrenergic receptor alpha-2A gene (ADRA2A) and neuropsychological executive functions as putative endophenotypes for childhood ADHD.

There is resurgent interest in the psychiatric literature in endophenotypes, variables thought to more strongly reflect the effects of candidate genes than do manifest disorders. In a sample of 176 children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and 52 of their siblings, we examined the validity of several putative endophenotypes for ADHD that represent commonly used clinical measures of multiple cognitive/neuropsychological domains of executive functions (EFs). We review their distributional normality, their relations to ADHD symptoms in probands and unaffected siblings relative to nonADHD controls, and their correlation in siblings.

Family adversity in DSM-IV ADHD combined and inattentive subtypes and associated disruptive behavior problems.

Objective: This study evaluated the relationship between a family adversity index and DSM-IV attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) subtypes and associated behavior problems. The relationship of family adversity to symptoms and subtypes of ADHD was examined.

Method: Parents and 206 children aged 7-13 completed diagnostic interviews and rating scales about socioeconomic status, parental lifetime psychiatric disorders, marital conflict, and stressful life events.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in children and adolescents: interventions for a complex costly clinical conundrum.

Management of a child or adolescent with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is reviewed, including psychological and pharmacologic approaches. Psychological treatment includes psychotherapy, cognitive-behavior therapy, support groups, parent training, educator/teacher training, biofeedback, meditation, and social skills training. Medications are reviewed that research has revealed can improve the core symptomatology of a child or adolescent with ADHD.

Psychopharmacology of ADHD in adolescents.

The use of medication is an important element in the management of attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). An overview of basic psychopharmacologic principles is presented, followed by a review of medications that are well-documented as effective in the amelioration of ADHD symptomatology. These include stimulants (methylphenidate, amphetamines, and pemoline), tricyclic antidepressants (imipramine, desipramine, and nortriptyline), alpha2-agonists (clonidine and guanfacine), and bupropion.

Patterns of psychotropic medication use in very young children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Psychotropic medications are increasingly used for very young children. Patterns of use in a well-described group of children 3 years and younger with a diagnostic label of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) reveal both reasons to use such medications and concerns about how these medications are used. Of 223 children with ADHD, more than half (n = 127) received psychotropic medications in an idiosyncratic manner, both in the specific medication and in use over time.

Neuropsychological executive functions and DSM-IV ADHD subtypes.

Objective: To evaluate and compare a focused set of component neuropsychological executive functions in the DSM-IV attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder combined (ADHD-C) and inattentive (ADHD-I) subtypes.

Method: The Stop task, Tower of London, Stroop task, Trailmaking Test, and output speed measures were completed by 105 boys and girls aged 7-12 classified as either DSM-IV ADHD-C (n = 46), ADHD-I (n = 18), or community control (n = 41).

Results: Both subtypes had deficits on output speed.