Sex Differences in ADHD Expression

描述（由申请人提供）：注意力缺陷/多动障碍（ADHD）的男女比例范围为2：1至9：1，这一比例表明男孩和女孩可能遵循不同的途径或对该疾病具有不同的易感性。这项拟议的研究将检查神经心理和认知功能，气质特征和性激素水平的性别差异，因为它们与ADHD症状表达有关。8至13岁的儿童参与者将通过公共广告和宣传招募，并将经历一个多阶段的筛选过程，包括家长和教师行为评级量表和家长临床访谈。儿童将完成一系列神经心理学和认知测试，以评估执行功能，延迟厌恶，智力和成就。父母和孩子将完成气质评级，以评估努力和反应控制。将进行静脉穿刺抽血，以评估雌二醇和睾酮。样本量范围为150 - 585，其中约30%为女性样本。回归分析的一个关键问题是ADHD的气质和神经心理学相关因素是否存在性别差异。气质和神经心理执行功能也将作为激素水平和ADHD症状之间关系的潜在介质进行探讨。这些研究是新颖的，并将提供新的知识，在一个理论化的领域。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) has a male-to-female ratio ranging from 2:1 to 9:1, a ratio that suggests that boys and girls may follow different pathways or have differential vulnerability for the disorder. The proposed study would examine sex differences in neuropsychological and cognitive functioning, temperament traits, and sex hormone levels as they relate to ADHD symptom expression. Child participants between ages eight and thirteen will be recruited through public advertisements and outreach and will undergo a multistage screening process consisting of parent and teacher behavior rating scales and parent clinical interviews. Children will complete a battery of neuropsychological and cognitive tests to assess executive functions, delay aversion, intelligence, and achievement. Parents and children will complete temperament ratings to assess effortful and reactive control. Venipuncture blood draws will be obtained to assess estradiol and testosterone. Sample size will range from 150 to 585 with approximately thirty percent of the sample female. A key question addressed by regression analyses will be whether sex differences exist in the temperament and neuropsychological correlates of ADHD. Temperament and neuropsychological executive function will also be explored as potential mediators of the relationship between hormones levels and ADHD symptoms. These studies are novel and will provide new knowledge in a much theorized area.