ADHD symptoms associated with pediatric penetrating eye injuries

A positive correlation between penetrating ocular injuries and symptoms related to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in the pediatric population was found in a clinical study.

Researchers at the Gaziantep University Sahinbey Training and Research Hospital in Turkey conducted a trial involving 45 children (30 boys and 15 girls) between 3 and 18 years of age with penetrating eye injuries and 75 subjects in a control group (44 boys and 31 girls).

Patients in both groups underwent a baseline ophthalmological assessment including visual acuity, slit-lamp biomicroscopy and fundoscopy. Symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) were evaluated on subscales of Conners’ Parent Rating Scale (CPRS). Inattentiveness, hyperactivity, conduct disorder, and oppositional defiant disorder were gauged on a 4-point Likert scale. Parents of the patients were the data source for observing symptoms of ADHD.

The boys in the patient group had higher mean scores in all subscales of CPRS (P < .05) in comparison with their age-specific control subjects. The girls in the patient group, however, only had a higher mean score in conduct disorder compared to the control group (P < .05). Symptoms of post-traumatic stress after ocular injury on CPRS scores was not evaluated.

The current study showed a relationship between penetrating ocular injuries and inattentiveness, hyperactivity, oppositional defiant disorder in boys and conduct disorder in both boys and girls. An appropriate evaluation of ADHD symptoms may prevent vision loss due to penetrating eye injuries in children, according to the researchers. – by Kate Sherrer

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Source:

Bayar H, et al. Br J Ophthalmol. 2015;doi10.1136/bjophthalmol-2014-306248