Karlene M. Fraser1, Ruth L. O'Gorman2, Laura A. Wherity3, Philip J. Asherson4, Brian Toone4, Mitul A. Mehta5
1Neuroimaging, Maudsley Hospital, London, UK; 2Neuroradiology, King's College Hospital, London, UK; 3Medical Engineering and Physics, King's College Hospital, London, UK; 4Neuropsychiatry unit, Maudsley Hospital, London, UK; 5Centre for Neuroimaging Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, London, UK
Neuro-developmental differences between 10 adult patients with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and 17 age-matched controls were investigated using caudate volume and shape analysis. Both groups demonstrated significant laterality differences in caudate volume, surface area, and surface area to volume (SA/V) ratio. While no significant differences in caudate volume and surface area were observed between groups, the ADHD group displayed a significantly higher SA/V ratio on the right. Significant correlations emerged between hyperactivity/impulsivity symptom scores and caudate SA/V ratio in the unmedicated ADHD patients, suggesting that ADHD symptoms are associated with neuroanatomical differences in caudate development.