Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity
Disorder (ADHD), one of the most common psychiatric disorders that
manifest in childhood, involves impaired ability to focus, make
decisions, control impulses, deal with distractions, and persist
towards attaining a goal. The National Institutes of Mental Health
estimate that ADHD affects about 4.1% of youths between the ages of
9-17 years in a six-month period, and males are affected two to three
times more than females. Left untreated ADHD can have long-term
adverse effects into adulthood.
Special Topics has analyzed the literature on ADHD both for the
past decade and for the past two years. Notable research in the past
10 years includes MRI studies, genetic analyses, the study of
self-control and other so-called "executive functions" in
children with ADHD, comorbidities, the role of genes such as the
dopamine transporter gene and the D4 receptor gene, as well as the
roles of nicotinic acetylcholine, serotonin, and
catechol-O-methyltransferase. One study, for example, examined whether
hyperactivity-impulsivity-attention problems are an early sign of
fledgling psychopathy.
Over the past two years, studies appear to focus more on specific
medications and treatments: methylphenidate, neurofeedback,
atomoxetine, and a new drug called modafinil. Other research published
in the past two years also includes MRI and EEG studies, genome
studies, family studies, psychobiological determinants, phenotypes of
juvenile mania, and psychotropic practice patterns. One such study
explored the question of whether stimulant use for ADHD leads to
substance abuse later in life.
Methodology
To construct this database,
papers were extracted based on title- and author-supplied keywords for
Attention Deficit
Hyperactivity Disorder. The keywords used were as follows:
ADHD
-or
attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
-or
attention deficit disorder
The baseline time span for this database
is 1995-2005 (second bimonthly). The resulting database contained 6,978 (10 years)
and 2,330 (2 years) papers; 13,427 authors; 66 countries; 870 journals; and
2,988 institutions.
Rankings
Once the database was in place,
it was used to generate the lists of top 20 papers (two- and ten-year
periods), authors, journals,
institutions, and nations, covering a time span of 1995-2005 (second
bimonthly).
The top 20 papers are ranked
according to total cites. Rankings for author, journal, institution,
and country are listed in three ways: according to total cites, total
papers, and total cites/paper. The paper thresholds and corresponding
percentages used to determine
scientist, institution, country, and journal rankings according to
total cites/paper, and total papers respectively are as follows:
| Entity: |
Scientists |
Institutions |
Countries |
Journals |
| Thresholds: |
17 |
66 |
16 |
17 |
| Percentage: |
1% |
1% |
50% |
10% |
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