Biomedical subjects

W Jackson Smith

Publications and source records attributed to W Jackson Smith.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

A pilot study: attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, sensation seeking, and pubertal changes.

This study was designed to examine the relationship of pubertal changes and sensation seeking (SS) in adolescents with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Patients with current or past histories of uncomplicated stimulant medication use for ADHD between the ages of 11 and 15 (13 +/- 1.5) were recruited from a Child Psychiatry and a General Pediatric Clinic. SS was measured using the SS Scale for Children. Pubertal development was measured using Tanner staging, free testosterone, and DHEAS. Subjects and their parent were interviewed with the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children (DISC). SS total score was correlated with Tanner stage, free testosterone, and DHEAS (p < or = 0.01). The combined parent and child reports of symptoms of Oppositional Defiant Disorder from the DISC were inversely related to age (p < or = 0.05). Understanding SS in ADHD adolescents as they move through puberty will aid clinicians in monitoring ADHD adolescents and their trajectory into high-risk behaviors.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

Autoimmune thyroiditis in 18q deletion syndrome.

Deletion of a segment of the long arm of chromosome 18 causes characteristic physical features and mental retardation. Autoimmune disorders have been described with this syndrome in a limited number of reports. We describe 2 cases of autoimmune hypothyroidism in children with 18q deletion syndrome.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2002

Sensation seeking, puberty, and nicotine, alcohol, and marijuana use in adolescence.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship among nicotine, alcohol, and marijuana use; level of sensation seeking (SS); and pubertal development. METHOD: Subjects were early and middle adolescent males and females recruited from a psychiatric clinic (n = 77) and two general pediatric clinics (n = 131). SS was measured by using the Sensation Seeking Scale for Children. Pubertal development was measured with a modified Pubertal Development Scale that was completed by the adolescent and his/her parent about the adolescent. Adolescent self-reports of nicotine, alcohol, and marijuana use were also obtained using questionnaires. RESULTS: SS was higher in males and females who reported nicotine and alcohol use and in males who reported marijuana use. SS was positively associated with pubertal development in males and females, even when controlling for age. Furthermore, SS mediated the relationship of pubertal development and drug use in males and females. CONCLUSIONS: The observation that SS mediates the relationship between pubertal development and drug use in males and females may contribute to understanding changes in drug use that are seen during adolescence. In addition, SS is associated with drug use and is easily measured in a variety of clinical settings.

Adolescent↗