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Aim: Eye gaze measurement to human dialogue scenes in adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) was investigated. We examined whether eye gaze measurement might be a biological marker of ADHD. Methods: Twenty‐two individuals with ADHD (mean age, 34.5 years) attending the outpatient clinic of Showa University Karasuyama Hospital were included in the study, and 26 healthy individuals (mean age, 32.6 years) with no history of mental disorders were used as the control group. For the participants, intellectual functioning was estimated using the Japanese Adult Reading Test, and mental symptoms were assessed using the Autism Spectrum Quotient and Conner's Adult ADHD Rating Scale. We extracted human dialogue scenes from two classic movies as visual stimuli and recorded the participant's gaze while watching these scenes using Tobii's eye tracker. Results: For gazing time, repeated measures analysis of variance showed no significant main effect of "group" and no significant interaction effect between "group" and areas of interest "(AOI)." In the normal group, gazing time at the eyes was significantly longer than those at the mouth, body, and background; in the ADHD group, gazing time at the eyes was significantly longer than only that at the background. Conclusion: Given the different results obtained in the past in ASD, these results suggest that it would be necessary to directly compare the two groups to determine whether the gaze measurement shows significant differences in ASD and ADHD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Growing attention is paid to the association between alterations in the gut microbiota and their metabolites in patients with psychiatric disorders. Our study aimed to determine how gut microbiota and metabolomes are related to the sleep quality among patients with depression and anxiety disorders by analyzing the datasets of our previous study. Methods: Samples were collected from 40 patients (depression: 32 patients [80.0%]); anxiety disorders: 8 patients [20.0%]) in this study. Gut microbiomes were analyzed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and gut metabolomes were analyzed by a mass spectrometry approach. Based on the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), patients were categorized into two groups: the insomnia group (PSQI score ≥ 9, n = 20) and the non-insomnia group (PSQI score < 9, n = 20). Results: The insomnia group showed a lower alpha diversity in the Chao1 and Shannon indices than the non-insomnia group after the false discovery rate (FDR) correction. The relative abundance of genus Bacteroides showed a positive correlation with PSQI scores in the non-insomnia group. The concentrations of glucosamine and N-methylglutamate were significantly higher in the insomnia group than in the non-insomnia group. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that specific taxa could affect the sleep quality among patients with depression and anxiety disorders. Further studies are needed to elucidate the impact of sleep on specific gut microbiota and metabolomes in depression and anxiety disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Little is known about the cognitive profiles of high-functioning Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD) in adults based on the Wechsler Intelligence Scale III (WAIS-III). We examined cognitive profiles of adults with no intellectual disability (IQ greater than 70), and in adults with Asperger's disorder (AS; n = 47), high-functioning autism (HFA; n = 24), and pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDDNOS; n = 51) using the WAIS-III. Verbal Intelligence (VIQ)-Performance Intelligence (PIQ) differences were detected between the three groups. Full Intelligence (FIQ) and VIQ scores were significantly higher in AS than in HFA and PDDNOS. Vocabulary, Information, and Comprehension subtest scores in the Verbal Comprehension index were significantly higher in AS than in the other subgroups, while Digit-Symbol Coding and Symbol Search subtest scores in the Processing Speed index were significantly lower in HFA. The findings demonstrated cognitive profiles characteristic of adults with high-functioning PDD. (Contains 2 tables and 2 figures.)

Diagnosis of Asperger's Syndrome (AS) in adults is difficult, and clinical sample-based studies that systematically illustrate the clinical characteristics of adult AS patients are needed so that appropriate treatment can be provided. Here we examined the clinical characteristics of AS in 112 adults (median age, 28.0 years [range, 18-52]; 71 men and 41 women), 55 AS group (median age, 27.0 years [range, 18-49]; 36 men and 19 women), 57 control group (median age, 28.0 years [range, 20-52]; 35 men and 22 women) through administration of the Japanese version of the Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ) and the Japanese version of the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire (SPQ), and the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ). Scores on the AQ, SPQ, and the "Neuroticism" and "Psychoticism" scores of the EPQ were significantly higher in adults with AS than in controls. The "Extraversion" and "Lie" scores of the EPQ were significantly lower in adults with AS than in controls. The total score of the AQ was correlated with 3 subscale scores (unusual perceptual experiences, odd or eccentric behavior, and suspiciousness) of the SPQ in the AS group, but not in the control group. The findings demonstrated that AQ and other personality scales could be used to elucidate the clinical characteristics of AS in adults. (Contains 2 tables.)

Dysfunction of the prefrontal cortex has been previously reported in individuals with Asperger's disorder. In the present study, we used multi-channel near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to detect changes in the oxygenated hemoglobin concentration ([oxy-Hb]) during two verbal fluency tasks. The subjects were 20 individuals with Asperger's disorder and 18 age- and IQ-matched healthy controls. The relative [oxy-Hb] in the prefrontal cortex was measured during the category and letter fluency tasks. The mean total [oxy-Hb] during the category fluency task did not differ significantly between the groups; however, during the letter fluency task, the mean [oxy-Hb] in persons with Asperger's disorder was significantly lower than that in controls. These results suggested task-relevant or task-specific prefrontal dysfunction in persons with Asperger's disorder. (Contains 1 table and 2 figures.)

Diagnosing Asperger's syndrome (AS) in adults is difficult and efficient indicators for a precise diagnosis are important in the clinical setting. We examined the clinical characteristics of AS in 129 adults (median age, 32.0 years [range, 19-57]; 102 men and 27 women; AS group (n = 64; median age, 32.0 years [range, 19-50]; 50 men and 14 women), control group (n = 65; median age, 32.0 years [range, 19-57]; 52 men and 13 women) through administration of the Japanese version of the Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ) and the Japanese version of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (L-SAS), and the NEO Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI). AQ, HADS, and L-SAS scores, and the "Neuroticism" scores of the NEO-FFI were significantly higher in adults with AS than in controls. The "Extraversion", "Agreeableness", and "Conscientiousness" scores of the NEO-FFI were significantly lower in adults with AS than in controls. Total score of the AQ correlated with the "Anxiety" subscale score of the HADS and the "Extraversion", "Openness", and "Conscientiousness" subscale scores of the NEO-FFI in adults with AS, but not in controls. The findings demonstrated that the AQ and other scales could be used to elucidate the clinical characteristics of AS in adults. (Contains 2 tables.)

Aim: Atomoxetine (ATX) is a non‐central stimulant and a standard treatment for adult attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The long‐term efficacy of Atomoxetine is about 40% at 6 months. The variability in efficacy between individuals is thought to be related to patient‐specific factors, but no detailed research has been conducted. In this retrospective cohort study, we aimed to identify the factors associated with Atomoxetine efficacy. Methods: A total of 147 patients with attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder aged ≥18 years who were using Atomoxetine for the first time were included in this study. The outcome was treatment success (treatment maintained for at least 6 months and improvement in symptoms). Symptom assessment was based on the overall improvement in symptoms judged by an expert physician. Results: Of the patient sample, 103 (70.1%) achieved the outcome. Logistic regression analysis identified "the maximum dose of ATX" and "gambling habit" as factors associated with efficacy (P < 0.05). In the process of Atomoxetine titration, the larger the maximum dose, the higher the efficacy was shown to be. Gambling habits may be indicative of impulsivity, which is among the core symptoms of attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Thus, a gambling habit may be considered a surrogate marker for impulsivity. Conclusions: Knowledge of these factors will help healthcare professionals to predict the likely efficacy of Atomoxetine in a given patient before subscribing it, facilitating individualized pharmacotherapy for adult attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the ability of adults with Asperger syndrome to recognize emotional categories of facial expressions and emotional prosodies with graded emotional intensities. The individuals with Asperger syndrome showed poorer recognition performance for angry and sad expressions from both facial and vocal information. The group difference in facial expression recognition was prominent for stimuli with low or intermediate emotional intensities. In contrast to this, the individuals with Asperger syndrome exhibited lower recognition accuracy than typically-developed controls mainly for emotional prosody with high emotional intensity. In facial expression recognition, Asperger and control groups showed an inversion effect for all categories. The magnitude of this effect was less in the Asperger group for angry and sad expressions, presumably attributable to reduced recruitment of the configural mode of face processing. The individuals with Asperger syndrome outperformed the control participants in recognizing inverted sad expressions, indicating enhanced processing of local facial information representing sad emotion. These results suggest that the adults with Asperger syndrome rely on modality-specific strategies in emotion recognition from facial expression and prosodic information. Keywords Facial expression * Prosody * Inversion effect * Configural processing * Asperger syndrome, Introduction Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a collective term for developmental disorders that share a triad of symptoms: difficulty with social communication; repetitive behaviors; and restricted interests. Asperger syndrome (AS), [...]