Individual responses to methylphenidate (MPH) can significantly differ in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in terms of the extent of clinical amelioration, optimal dosage needed, possible side effects, and short- and long-term duration of the benefits. In the present repeated-measures observational study, we undertook a proof-of-concept study to determine whether clustering analysis could be useful to characterize different clusters of responses to MPH in children with ADHD. We recruited 33 children with ADHD who underwent a comprehensive clinical, cognitive, and neurophysiological assessment before and after one month of MPH treatment. Symptomatology changes were assessed by parents and clinicians. The neuropsychological measures used comprised pen-and-paper and computerized tasks. Functional near-infrared spectroscopy was used to measure cortical hemodynamic activation during an attentional task. We developed an unsupervised machine learning algorithm to characterize the possible clusters of responses to MPH in our multimodal data. A symptomatology improvement was observed for both clinical and neuropsychological measures. Our model identified distinct clusters of amelioration that were related to symptom severity and visual-attentional performances. The present findings provide preliminary evidence that clustering analysis can potentially be useful in identifying different responses to MPH in children with ADHD, highlighting the importance of a personalized medicine approach within the clinical framework.

Background/Objectives: Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is often discussed in the literature with regard to physical impairments. This narrative review aims to show that living with DMD involves psychological, psychosocial, and cognitive aspects in addition to the well-known physical complications. Methods: Firstly, this review examines the main cognitive functions affecting subjects with DMD and the possible role of dystrophin gene mutations on the central nervous system. Secondly, it analyzes the comorbidity between DMD, neurodevelopmental disorders (autism spectrum disorders, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, obsessive–compulsive disorder) and psychopathological traits (anxiety and/or depressive symptoms). Finally, the review addresses the relatively sparse literature investigating the positive aspects associated with the experience of DMD, like psychosocial resources, resilience, subjective well-being, positive individual and social functioning, and social support. Results: DMD has a significant impact on cognitive areas, probably due to dystrophin deficiency in the brain. The prevalence of neurodevelopmental comorbidities and psychopathological symptoms is also higher in people with DMD than in the general population. Despite these challenges, emerging studies highlight the role of psychosocial and environmental resources, including resilience and supportive social relations, in promoting a good quality of life and successful adaptation to disease progression. Conclusions: Early recognition of the above difficulties and strengths could ensure better care and promote an overall better quality of life for people with DMD and their families, physically, psychologically, and socially. Preclinical and clinical research is moving in the direction of finding new therapies, treatments, and psychosocial interventions to pursue these goals.

This cross-sectional study aims to identify clusters of internalizing and externalizing traits during adolescence using a bottom-up approach. The second aim is to investigate whether the different clusters differ by environmental risk factors and specific epigenetic profiles. A total of 205 adolescents, who had been referred for psychopathology in childhood, were recruited. Behavioral problems were assessed using the Child Behavior Checklist/6–18 (CBCL). Different clusters of psychopathological profiles were analyzed using a Finite mixture model. Differences in environmental risk factors and epigenetic profiles were tested with χ²-tests and Bonferroni-corrected t-tests. Two clusters were identified: a LOW cluster (51% of the sample), characterized by the presence of subclinical mean scores in both internalizing and externalizing problems, and a HIGH cluster (49% of the sample), characterized by high mean scores in both domains. The HIGH cluster had a significantly greater number of perinatal complications and changes in methylation of specific CpG sites of Brain-derived neurotrophic factor, Insulin-like growth factor-2, and Oxytocin receptor, whereas no difference was found for FK506-binding protein 5. Our results confirm the existence of a strong association between early adverse events, DNA methylation, and the presence of behavioral problems and psychopathological traits in adolescence.