Publications by authors named "P F Hoekstra"
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity (ADHD) guidelines recommend that the need for continued stimulant medication treatment of children and adolescents needs to be reviewed at least annually. We aimed to assess the outcomes in clinical practice of placebo-controlled discontinuation trials after long-term methylphenidate treatment. We asked clinicians to implement N = 1 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over discontinuation trials after at least one year of methylphenidate treatment of children and adolescents (n = 26, 6-15 years of age).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFStimulant medication is effective in alleviating overall symptom severity of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), yet interindividual variability in treatment response and tolerability still exists. While network analysis has identified differences in ADHD symptom relations, the impact of stimulant medication remains unexplored. Increased understanding of this association could provide valuable insights for optimizing treatment approaches for individuals with ADHD.
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- Subcortical brain structures play a crucial role in various developmental and psychiatric disorders, and a study analyzed brain volumes in 74,898 individuals, identifying 254 genetic loci linked to these volumes, which accounted for up to 35% of variation.
- The research included exploring gene expression in specific neural cell types, focusing on genes involved in intracellular signaling and processes related to brain aging.
- The findings suggest that certain genetic variants not only influence brain volume but also have potential causal links to conditions like Parkinson’s disease and ADHD, highlighting the genetic basis for risks associated with neuropsychiatric disorders.
Article Synopsis
- Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease that greatly affects children's health, prompting a study in Mwanga district, Tanzania, where mass drug administration has been ongoing for 20 years.
- The study tested 576 school-aged children for schistosomiasis using different diagnostic methods, revealing a notable disparity in prevalence rates—20.3% with the UCP-LF CAA test versus 65.3% with combined POC-CCA and microhaematuria tests.
- Key risk factors identified included younger age (5-10 years), and activities such as fishing, farming, and swimming, indicating ongoing transmission despite improvements from drug interventions.