الفهرس 
Introduction
Attention Deficit HyperactivityOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has been identified as an important psychiatric condition in terms of its prevalence (around 5% worldwide) and its impact on quality of life for patients and their families. Also ADHD is the most commonly diagnosed behavioral disorder.
Earlier studies demonstrated that BDNF plays a key role in the survival and differentiation of midbrain dopaminergic neurons so Brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) may play a role in the therapeutic action and pathogenesis of ADHD.
The aim of the present study was to know the possible relation between brain derived neurotrophic factor level and Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder so it could be used as a potential marker for this disorder and To investigate the relation between severity of inattention and BDNF.
The study included eighty three subject; thirty healthy children representing the control group, twenty nine drug naive children suffering from ADHD, and twenty four children receiving medication for ADHD.
All children in this study were subjected to careful history taking, physical examination, mental status examination, IQ testing and withdrawing of 3 ml blood sample before noon. The severity of symptoms in the cases with ADHD was studied using the Connor’s parent rating scale.
In the present study plasma brain derived neurotrophic factor was higher in children suffering from ADHD than in normal children.
Also plasma brain derived neurotrophic factor was higher in children taking medication more than in drug naïve children.
In addition Methylphenydate was found to be a good predictor of plasma BDNF level.
Most of the children in this study were of the hyperactive type 41%, followed by the inattentive type 34% and then the combined type which represented 25% of the study population.
Among the affected children 77.4% were males compared to 50% in controls.
In the present study the BDNF level was not significantly different among different ADHD subtypes.
ADHD was not affected by the anthropometric measures.
Also ADHD was not affected by socioeconomic status.
IQ was significantly higher in controls than ADHD cases.
In conclusion; plasma BDNF is higher in ADHD patients than in Normal control.
Further increase in BDNF level occurs with the pharmacologic medications.