J Atten Disord [JOURNAL]
Sun
200 papers
Irony Processing in Adults with ADHD: Evidence From Eye-Tracking and Executive Attention Tasks.
Kyriacou M, Rummelhoff C, Köder F
J Atten Disord · 2025 Jul · PMID 40285397 · Full text
OBJECTIVE: ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder that impacts pragmatic communication abilities in children, including their understanding of verbal irony. This study aims to investigate whether adults with ADHD experien...
OBJECTIVE: ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder that impacts pragmatic communication abilities in children, including their understanding of verbal irony. This study aims to investigate whether adults with ADHD experience similar challenges in interpreting ironic statements, and to examine the role of executive attention abilities in accounting for any observed differences. METHODS: 52 adults with ADHD and 55 neurotypical controls participated in an eye-tracking experiment. They read stories that included either literal or ironic statements and answered targeted comprehension questions. We used measures of working memory and fluid intelligence as independent indices of executive attention. RESULTS: The results showed that adults with ADHD were as accurate as the control group in comprehending irony. However, they experienced an additional processing cost, indicated by increased reading times for ironic statements. While fluid intelligence improved comprehension accuracy in the control group, it did not have the same effect for participants with ADHD. Importantly, higher working memory capacity in adults with ADHD was associated with faster processing times, making their irony processing comparable to that of the control group. CONCLUSION: Our findings underscore the subtle challenges adults with ADHD face in processing irony and highlight the crucial role of working memory in enhancing performance. These insights stress the importance of considering individual cognitive capacities and their interaction with ADHD symptoms to better understand how ADHD impacts pragmatic abilities in adulthood.
The Importance of Physical Activity Variability and Its Relation with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Symptoms in Young Children.
Scott H, Shoulberg EK, Krasner A … +4 more , Dennis M, Tompkins CL, Smith AL, Hoza B
J Atten Disord · 2025 Aug · PMID 40277131 · Publisher ↗
OBJECTIVES: There is a need to examine the utility of objective measures of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms in children. Objective measures of ADHD symptoms, such as physical activity, may provid...
OBJECTIVES: There is a need to examine the utility of objective measures of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms in children. Objective measures of ADHD symptoms, such as physical activity, may provide a more nuanced assessment of behavior that can be used to augment traditional cross-informant ratings of ADHD symptoms by parents and teachers. The most widely used and researched technique for objectively capturing children's physical activity is accelerometry (i.e., the use of small devices that measure gravitational acceleration). The current study examined the unique and interactive effects of mean levels of physical activity (physical activity volume) and intra-individual variability in physical activity (physical activity variability), as measured by accelerometry, on teacher-reported ADHD symptoms (hyperactivity/impulsivity and inattention examined separately). METHOD: One hundred seventy-six early elementary school students ( = 6.83, = 0.96, 53% male) from four midwestern schools and four northeastern schools were included. All were participants in a before-school intervention study involving physical activity or a sedentary classroom program. Data were collected using accelerometry during the intervention period and ADHD symptoms were reported by teachers following the intervention. Multiple regression models were used to examine the unique and interactive effects of physical activity volume and physical activity variability on ADHD symptoms. RESULTS: Results demonstrated that physical activity volume was positively associated with hyperactive/impulsive symptoms, whereas physical activity variability was negatively associated with hyperactive/impulsive and inattentive symptoms. Additionally, when both physical activity variables were in the same model, only physical activity variability uniquely predicted ADHD symptoms after accounting for physical activity volume. Specifically, higher physical activity variability was linked with lower hyperactive/impulsive and inattentive symptoms. CONCLUSION: Objective measures of physical activity volume and physical activity variability may enhance our understanding of physical activity patterns as they relate to ADHD symptoms. Future research should continue to investigate the usability of objective measures of physical activity, and especially physical activity variability, as a screener to identify children at risk for ADHD.
ADHD and Sex Hormones in Females: A Systematic Review.
Osianlis E, Thomas EHX, Jenkins LM … +1 more , Gurvich C
J Atten Disord · 2025 Jul · PMID 40251875 · Full text
OBJECTIVE: ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition associated with elevated symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity. Symptoms of ADHD typically persist into adulthood and can impair functioning and overall q...
OBJECTIVE: ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition associated with elevated symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity. Symptoms of ADHD typically persist into adulthood and can impair functioning and overall quality of life. In females (including women and people assigned female at birth), ADHD is under-recognized, and knowledge about the relationship between ADHD symptoms and sex hormones is lacking. This systematic review aimed to synthesize the current evidence investigating the relationship between ADHD symptoms (including medication effects) and sex hormones in females. METHOD: Searches were conducted within Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, and PsycINFO from 1980 to January 2025. Included studies investigated ADHD symptoms in the context of hormonal changes in females, including studies specifically exploring ADHD and sex hormones, as well as hormonal life stages (puberty, menstrual cycle, and pregnancy). Narrative synthesis was utilized for data extraction, grouping studies by hormonal phase. RESULTS: A total of 11 studies were included in this review. Evidence was largely suggestive of a relationship between ADHD symptoms and sex hormones in females, specifically in puberty and across the menstrual cycle. Findings were limited by the small number of studies reviewed, often with small sample sizes and considerable diversity in participant populations and outcome measures. CONCLUSION: Sex hormones and phases related to hormonal changes (such as puberty and the menstrual cycle) may be associated with ADHD symptom changes in females. Further research is needed to understand the relationship between sex hormones and ADHD symptoms and requires investigation of a wider range of hormonal milestones in females, including menopause.
The Ability to Direct Attention in Working Memory Is Not Impaired in Adults With Symptoms of ADHD.
Atkinson AL, Pinheiro Sanchez B, Warburton M … +2 more , Allmark H, Allen RJ
J Atten Disord · 2025 Jul · PMID 40251871 · Full text
OBJECTIVE: Neurotypical individuals can prioritize particularly valuable information in working memory. This is a well-replicated effect, demonstrated across a wide variety of task factors and age groups. However, it is...
OBJECTIVE: Neurotypical individuals can prioritize particularly valuable information in working memory. This is a well-replicated effect, demonstrated across a wide variety of task factors and age groups. However, it is not clear if individuals with symptoms of ADHD are able to do this effectively, as there is some evidence this group struggle to allocate attention in working memory tasks. Two experiments were conducted online to investigate this. METHOD: Participants were presented with series of four colored shapes, and asked to report the color of each shape in a counterbalanced order following a brief delay. In some trials (equal value condition), all shapes were equally valuable with the correct recall of each shape gaining the participant 2 points. In other trials (differential value condition), the first item presented during the encoding phase was more valuable than the rest (5 point for the first item vs. 1 point for the other items). Trial-by-trial feedback was either provided (Experiment 1) or omitted (Experiment 2). RESULTS: Across both experiments, there was a clear prioritization effect at the first (targeted) serial position, with higher accuracy in the differential value condition relative to the equal value condition. There were also clear costs at the less valuable serial positions. These effects did not differ as a function of ADHD symptoms. There were also no significant correlations between scores on the Adult ADHD Self-Report Screener and the prioritization effects. CONCLUSION: Taken together, these findings demonstrates that the ability to prioritize particularly valuable information in working memory is not impaired in individuals with symptoms of ADHD.
A Customized Medication Adherence Enhancement Program for Adolescents and Young Adults With ADHD (CAE-ADHD): Primary Outcomes.
McVoy M, Abdallah SM, Church E … +3 more , Yala J, Briggs F, Levin JB
J Atten Disord · 2025 Jun · PMID 40251824 · Full text
BACKGROUND: ADHD is a generally persistent neurodevelopmental condition that can have significant consequences if left untreated, and medication, often in conjunction with psychotherapy, is the first-line treatment with...
BACKGROUND: ADHD is a generally persistent neurodevelopmental condition that can have significant consequences if left untreated, and medication, often in conjunction with psychotherapy, is the first-line treatment with well-established efficacy. Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) represent a particularly vulnerable and understudied subgroup and there remains a significant concern regarding transition to treatment independence, treatment engagement and medication adherence in this population. We report the results from a pilot trial evaluating Customized Adherence Enhancement-ADHD (CAE-ADHD), a psychosocial intervention for AYAs with ADHD, aimed to increase independence in managing ADHD and improve ADHD symptoms. METHODS: We used an iterative process to modify an existing psychosocial intervention to address engagement, independence, and adherence in AYAs with ADHD, originally developed for AYAs with bipolar disorder. To develop the CAE-ADHD intervention, we conducted focus groups and cognitive interviews with AYA with ADHD. We then conducted a pilot feasibility and efficacy study in AYAs with ADHD ( = 12) with follow-up visits at 8 and 12 weeks into the study. RESULTS: The sample consisted of 12 participants ages 16 to 24 years with a diagnosis of ADHD, obtained via self-report, and currently prescribed stimulant medication. Mean age of the sample was 19.5 years, 58.33% female, 25% non-White. Participation and retention were strong with 93.33% of sessions completed overall and 10/12 participants completing all sessions. AYAs showed a trend toward improvement in ADHD symptoms as measured by the ADHD RS-5, statistically significant improvement in transition readiness and ADHD knowledge. There was no significant change in adherence. CONCLUSIONS: This first of its kind feasibility and efficacy pilot study for a novel intervention, CAE-ADHD, found high engagement and improvement in ADHD symptoms, transition readiness, and ADHD knowledge from baseline to week 12.
Examining for Associations between Motor Disturbances and ADHD Status in Young Adults.
Song M, Stoyles SA, Mancini M … +6 more , Winters-Stone K, Horak FB, Tipsord J, Maron L, Nousen E, Nigg JT
J Atten Disord · 2025 Jul · PMID 40243107 · Publisher ↗
OBJECTIVE: Some studies show an association between ADHD and impaired balance/gait in children. However, it remains largely unexplored whether such an association exists in adults. We explore that association in this stu...
OBJECTIVE: Some studies show an association between ADHD and impaired balance/gait in children. However, it remains largely unexplored whether such an association exists in adults. We explore that association in this study. METHOD: This cross-sectional study included 45 adults aged 17 to 21 (25 with, and 20 without ADHD), most obtained from a longitudinal cohort study beginning in childhood. We measured balance/gait using objective measures from inertial sensors during the Instrumented Stand and Walk Test. Demographics and severity of ADHD symptoms were measured via questionnaires. RESULTS: Young adults with ADHD showed a tendency toward worse balance and impaired gait in a dual-task activity than adults without ADHD. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest balance and gait impairments are associated with ADHD in young adults. Balance/gait measures may hold promise as markers for persistent neurodevelopmental disorders, and the novel task used here may hold promise for measuring these impairments in adults with ADHD.
Examining How Students With ADHD Use an Extended Time Accommodation on a Low-Stakes Math Assessment.
Bernard JL, Witmer SE
J Atten Disord · 2025 Aug · PMID 40219665 · Publisher ↗
OBJECTIVE: Students with ADHD are often provided with an extended testing time accommodation due to various skill deficits. However, little empirical work has examined the ways in which students use their extra time, if...
OBJECTIVE: Students with ADHD are often provided with an extended testing time accommodation due to various skill deficits. However, little empirical work has examined the ways in which students use their extra time, if at all, and how use relates to overall performance. Further understanding of how students use this accommodation in practice can help to inform accommodation decision-making procedures so that students with disabilities recieve the appropiate support to be able to demonstrate their underlying knowledge and skills on tests. METHOD: The current study utilized the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) 2017 eighth-grade process data to examine the use and nonuse of extended time accommodations among students with ADHD as well as among comparison groups. RESULTS: Less than half of students with ADHD who were eligible for an extended time accommodation used it. Access to the accommodation, rather than actual use, corresponded to higher rates of test completion. Those students who spent more time on the final five items of the test performed better overall when compared to their peers. CONCLUSION: Findings raise questions about the underlying needs of students with ADHD during testing and whether mere access to extended time sufficiently addresses those needs. Additional critical analysis of the provision and use of extended time for students with attention problems appears warranted. Implications for future research and practice are offered.
Exploring the Association Between ADHD, Sleep, and Homework Problems: The Role of Behavioral Indicators of Neuropsychological Functioning.
Smets L, Marten F, Keuppens L … +3 more , Baeyens D, Boyer BE, Van der Oord S
J Atten Disord · 2025 Aug · PMID 40163640 · Publisher ↗
OBJECTIVE: Around 70% of adolescents with ADHD experience sleep and/or homework problems. Both impairments have been previously associated with neuropsychological deficits but have not been simultaneously examined in ado...
OBJECTIVE: Around 70% of adolescents with ADHD experience sleep and/or homework problems. Both impairments have been previously associated with neuropsychological deficits but have not been simultaneously examined in adolescents with ADHD and clinical sleep problems. Therefore, this study investigated how sleep problems are associated with homework problems and how parent-rated behavioral indicators of neuropsychological functioning are part of this association in adolescents with ADHD. METHOD: Parental ratings of homework problems (HPC) and behavioral indicators of neuropsychological functioning (CAMEL) of adolescents with ADHD and comorbid sleep problems (ADHD/sleep; = 53), adolescents with ADHD only ( = 24), and neurotypical adolescents (NT; = 53) were collected. Homework problems and behavioral indicators of neuropsychological functioning were compared between the three groups. A path analysis was performed to investigate whether the behavioral indicators of neuropsychological functioning are part of the relation between sleep problems in ADHD and homework problems. RESULTS: We found no differences for either homework problems or behavioral indicators of neuropsychological functioning between the ADHD/sleep and ADHD only groups, except for a small significant difference in arousal regulation, but both ADHD groups showed more homework problems and behavioral indicators of weaker neuropsychological functioning compared to the NT group. Behavioral indicators of weaker neuropsychological functioning were related to the increased homework problems experienced in the ADHD/sleep and ADHD only groups compared to NT. CONCLUSION: In adolescents with ADHD, sleep problems were not associated with more homework problems by weaker behavioral indicators of neuropsychological functioning. However, regardless of sleep problems, the behavioral indicators of neuropsychological functioning relate to the homework problems in adolescents with ADHD.
The Association Between Internal Restlessness, Drinking Motives, and Alcohol Use Outcomes in College Students.
Sherman AL, Stamates AL, Weyandt L
J Atten Disord · 2025 Jul · PMID 40145566 · Full text
BACKGROUND: ADHD and alcohol use are prevalent among college students, but few studies have examined internal restlessness (i.e., the mental discomfort experienced when suppressing hyperactive behaviors) in relation to a...
BACKGROUND: ADHD and alcohol use are prevalent among college students, but few studies have examined internal restlessness (i.e., the mental discomfort experienced when suppressing hyperactive behaviors) in relation to alcohol use. Consequently, the current study sought to examine a path model testing associations between internal restlessness, drinking motives (i.e., coping, social, enhancement, and conformity), alcohol use, and consequences in college students. METHODS: Two hundred and ninety-one college students completed an online survey regarding their use of alcohol. RESULTS: After controlling for ADHD diagnosis, there were significant positive associations between internal restlessness and coping ( = 0.025, = .004), socializing ( = 0.026, = .004), enhancement ( = 0.038, < .001), and conformity ( = 0.026, < .001). Two significant indirect effects were found for the association between internal restlessness and consequences through enhancement (95% CI [0.001, 0.009]) and coping (95% CI [0.000, 0.011]) motives and alcohol use, respectively. All other indirect pathways were nonsignificant. CONCLUSIONS: Findings revealed that internal restlessness was associated with the four drinking motives; however, greater internal restlessness was related to more alcohol consequences to the extent that they also reported strong coping and enhancement motives. Findings can be used to tailor intervention and prevention efforts to target emotional regulation and to reduce risk for college students who experience internal restlessness.
Extending the ADHD Phenotype and Parsing Heterogeneity Via Emotional Dysregulation and Personality: A Latent Profile Analysis in College Students.
Goh PK, Suh DE, Wong AWWA … +2 more , Bodalski EA, Canu WH
J Atten Disord · 2025 Jul · PMID 40145261 · Publisher ↗
OBJECTIVE: Past work has provided support for the relevance of personality traits and emotional dysregulation (ED), individually, for characterizing ADHD phenotypes beyond symptoms in college-aged populations. Yet, no st...
OBJECTIVE: Past work has provided support for the relevance of personality traits and emotional dysregulation (ED), individually, for characterizing ADHD phenotypes beyond symptoms in college-aged populations. Yet, no studies have attempted to integrate these constructs into current ADHD conceptualizations within the context of one another. The current study thus sought to determine whether personality traits and ED dimensions, together, could facilitate meaningful differentiation of college students meeting symptom and impairment criteria for ADHD. METHOD: Participants included 1,858 college students aged 18 to 29 years ( = 19.4 years, 70.4% female) with either self-reported ADHD diagnoses and/or clinical levels of symptoms and impairment. RESULTS: Latent profile analyses provided support for a three-profile solution comprised of a Primarily Inattentive/ED Present/Emotionally Unstable profile, a Moderate ADHD Severity/ED Absent/Normative Personality Traits profile, and a High ADHD Severity/ED Absent/Normative Personality Traits profile. Consideration of ED dimensions and personality traits, namely Emotional Stability, meaningfully enriched profiles beyond ADHD sum scores. Concurrent validation of profiles suggested significant differences with respect to impairment domains and internalizing problems. CONCLUSION: Additional work is needed to characterize the integration of personality and ED into ADHD conceptualizations to inform more comprehensive assessment and treatment practices.
Implications of Co-occurrence Between ADHD and Anxiety in a Community-based Child Sample.
Tremblay S, Willcutt EG
J Atten Disord · 2025 Sep · PMID 40130654 · Full text
OBJECTIVE: The current study aimed to elucidate characteristics of co-occurring ADHD and anxiety in a community-based sample of children. Previous work has highlighted the prevalence and associated impairment of each con...
OBJECTIVE: The current study aimed to elucidate characteristics of co-occurring ADHD and anxiety in a community-based sample of children. Previous work has highlighted the prevalence and associated impairment of each condition alone, but less research has focused on the co-occurrence of these disorders. METHOD: The present study first sought to examine the prevalence of this co-occurrence in a sample of 2,257 school-age children. The study also compared academic, social, and adaptive impairment among children with ADHD alone, anxiety alone, both ADHD and anxiety, or neither condition. Lastly, the study explored sex differences in the prevalence of co-occurring ADHD and anxiety and their associated impairment. RESULTS: Results supported previous findings surrounding prevalence of the co-occurrence, as children with ADHD were over twice as likely to exhibit elevated anxiety than children without ADHD. While ADHD was more common in boys, among all children with ADHD more girls displayed co-occurring anxiety. Both ADHD and anxiety were associated with impairment in nearly all domains of functioning, but children with both conditions broadly displayed the most functional impairment. CONCLUSION: Results of the current study underscore the clinical relevance of the co-occurrence between ADHD and anxiety in children and suggest that future research is warranted to further investigate this phenomenon.
Sleep Disturbances, ADHD, and Self-Harm Among Youth.
Derin S, Altintas I, Selman SB
J Atten Disord · 2025 Jun · PMID 40105022 · Publisher ↗
OBJECTIVE: Previous studies have linked ADHD with self-harm, but the processes underlying this association are not fully understood. This research aims to investigate the role of sleep disturbances as a potential pathway...
OBJECTIVE: Previous studies have linked ADHD with self-harm, but the processes underlying this association are not fully understood. This research aims to investigate the role of sleep disturbances as a potential pathway between ADHD diagnosis and self-harm behaviors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 90 youth aged between 11 and 18 years, divided into two groups: a case group of 45 youth diagnosed with ADHD and a control group of 45 youth without ADHD. Both groups completed the Inventory of Statements About Self-Injury to evaluate self-harm behaviors and the Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children to assess sleep disturbances. A path analysis was conducted to examine whether a significant proportion of the association between ADHD and self-harm was shared with sleep disturbances, while controlling for gender, youth education, family income, maternal education, and overall anxiety and depression scores. RESULTS: An ADHD diagnosis was significantly associated with sleep disturbances (β = .62, < .001) and self-harm behaviors (β = .35, = .03). Additionally, sleep disturbances were significantly linked to self-harm (β = .51, = .002) and played a significant role in the association between ADHD and self-harm (indirect effect β = .32, = .001). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that sleep disturbances account for a substantial proportion of the shared variance in the association between ADHD and self-harm. While the cross-sectional design limits causal interpretations, these results highlight the importance of addressing sleep issues in clinical care for ADHD to potentially reduce self-harm risks and improve outcomes for at-risk youth.
Exploring Risk Factors for ADHD Among Children at a Mongolian Public School: A Cross-Sectional Analysis.
Iyer M, Martineau AR, Khudyakov P … +6 more , Achtai CE, Altan T, Yansanjav N, Saranjav A, Buyanjargal U, Ganmaa D
J Atten Disord · 2025 Apr · PMID 40028662 · Publisher ↗
INTRODUCTION: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder with numerous hypothesized risk factors that have not yet been thoroughly investigated in many non-Western population...
INTRODUCTION: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder with numerous hypothesized risk factors that have not yet been thoroughly investigated in many non-Western populations, including Mongolian schoolchildren. Exploring these risk factors could yield insight on which children are more likely to be impacted and on how risk differs across locations and cultures. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to assess whether elevated scores reported by parents and teachers on the Conners-3 Assessment, a detailed survey tool used to assess ADHD symptoms, correspond with indicators of lower socioeconomic status. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis involving 201 schoolchildren aged 8 to 13 attending a public school in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. We investigated associations between factors including student age, parental education level, family income, exposure to cigarette smoke, calcium intake and vitamin D status with Conners-3 scores for inattention, hyperactivity, and defiance/aggression. Cohen's effect sizes and adjusted mean differences (aMD) for Conners-3 scores between groups were calculated using multivariable analysis. RESULTS: Our findings revealed large effect sizes between different types of accommodation, a key indicator of socioeconomic status in modern Mongolia, and moderate effect sizes between different levels of parental education. Other findings included that engaging in over 2 hr of outdoor activity was independently associated with an increased inattention score (aMD 0.53, 95% CI [0.03, 1.03]) and increased hyperactivity score (aMD 0.63, 95% CI [0.10, 1.16]). A lower household income was independently associated with an increased inattention score (aMD 0.0005, 95% CI [0.000011, 0.001042]) and increased defiance/aggression score (aMD 0.0009, 95% CI [0.0004, 0.0015]). Factors such as calcium intake, Vitamin D level, exposure to cigarette smoke, and parental employment status did not yield significant associations. CONCLUSION: We found that Conners-3 scores indicating higher symptoms of ADHD among Mongolian schoolchildren were associated with lower household income and high outdoor activity, and should be further investigated in relation to type of accommodation.
The Relationship Between Cognitive Disengagement Syndrome in Children and Cognitive Disengagement Syndrome, Depression, and Anxiety Levels in Their Parents.
Koc Apaydin Z, Kasak M, Karakaya O … +3 more , Ogutlu H, Ugurlu M, McNicholas F
J Atten Disord · 2025 May · PMID 40017381 · Publisher ↗
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between Cognitive Disengagement Syndrome (CDS) symptoms in children/adolescents and their parents within the Turkish population, examining the association with...
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between Cognitive Disengagement Syndrome (CDS) symptoms in children/adolescents and their parents within the Turkish population, examining the association with co-occurring ADHD symptoms, peer/social relationships, and total difficulties. METHOD: The study included 229 parents aged 18 to 50 with children aged 6 to 18 from the staff of Karabuk Training and Research Hospital. Data collection occurred from April to September 2022. Participants completed various scales, including the Adult Concentration Inventory (ACI), Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS), Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21), Conners' Parent Rating Scale-Revised Short Form (CPRS-R), Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), and Child and Adolescent Behavior Inventory Sluggish Cognitive Tempo Scale (CABI-SCT). RESULTS: A positive correlation was found between CDS symptoms in children/adolescents and their parents. CDS symptoms in children were also associated with significant comorbidities, such as ADHD, oppositional defiance, peer problems, and internalization problems. In parents, CDS was observed to be associated with levels of depression, anxiety, and stress. CONCLUSION: The study highlights the strong relationship between CDS symptoms in children and their parents, suggesting potential genetic and environmental factors. CDS is associated with significant mental health comorbidities across all age groups. The findings underscore the need for interventions to support the mental health of both children and parents with CDS. Further research is needed to elucidate the impact and etiology of CDS on family dynamics and mental health.
Rising Rate of Hospitalizations in Adolescents with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder in Spain.
Blasco-Fontecilla H, Ramos JM, López-Ibor MI … +10 more , Chiclana-Actis C, Faraco M, González-Cabrera J, González-Fraile E, Mestre-Bach G, Pinargote-Celorio H, Corpas M, Gallego L, Corral O, Soriano V
J Atten Disord · 2025 Apr · PMID 40017350 · Publisher ↗
BACKGROUND: Attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD) is a leading mental disorder among adolescents globally and is associated with premature mortality. Knowing the trends and key determinants of ADHD in youth are c...
BACKGROUND: Attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD) is a leading mental disorder among adolescents globally and is associated with premature mortality. Knowing the trends and key determinants of ADHD in youth are critical for earlier diagnosis and interventions. METHODS: We retrospectively examined all hospitalizations in patients aged 11 to 18 years with ADHD in Spain, using data from the Spanish National Registry of Hospital Discharges spanning 2000 to 2021. We compared our data with available literature. RESULTS: Over the 22-year study period, there were 2,015,589 hospitalizations among adolescents in Spain, with 118,609 (5.9%) cases involving mental disorders. There were 10,292 admissions with ADHD, representing 8.7% of all hospitalizations among youth with mental disorders. Median age was of 14 years. Boys represented 72.6%. Admissions with ADHD experienced a 17-fold increase during the last decade ( < .001). The in-hospital mortality rate for adolescents with ADHD was 0.1%, lower than for other mental disorders. During the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, admissions decreased but resumed its rising trend thereafter. CONCLUSION: Hospital admissions for ADHD among adolescents have significantly increased in Spain during the last two decades. This increase outpaced the mild upward trend in ADHD diagnoses over the same period, which is not due to actual increases in the incidence of ADHD, which has remained stable at 5% worldwide. Factors beyond increased awareness, improved identification, and changes in diagnostic criteria must be considered. Boys represented 72.6% of these admissions. In-hospital mortality in adolescents with ADHD was lower than for admissions with other mental disorders.
Where Is My Mind? The Daydreaming Characteristics Questionnaire, a New Tool to Differentiate Absorptive Daydreaming From Mind-Wandering.
Theodor-Katz N, Soffer-Dudek N
J Atten Disord · 2025 May · PMID 39995208 · Full text
OBJECTIVE: Maladaptive daydreaming (MD) is an impairing condition characterized by addiction to narrative, emotional fantasizing, involving dissociative absorption. By compulsively withdrawing toward vivid imaginative sc...
OBJECTIVE: Maladaptive daydreaming (MD) is an impairing condition characterized by addiction to narrative, emotional fantasizing, involving dissociative absorption. By compulsively withdrawing toward vivid imaginative scenarios, MD hinders attentional functioning and replaces social interactions. Previous Interview-based research showed clinical importance in differentiating MD from ADHD and the associated construct of mind-wandering. We aimed to create a self-report tool asking directly about the content and structure of distracting thoughts. METHOD: Two samples, namely, 346 undergraduate students and 381 adults from the general community, completed a novel measure, the Daydreaming Characteristics Questionnaire (DCQ), along with validated measures for ADHD, mind-wandering, MD, dissociation, and general distress. RESULTS: Exploratory Factor Analyses on the DCQ, replicated across both samples, yielded two distinct factors (immersive daydreaming and daydream functionality) uniquely associated with MD. CONCLUSION: The DCQ represents characteristics of immersive daydreaming much more than general attentional deficiency and is thus useful in differentiating MD from ADHD/mind-wandering distractions.
C. G. Jung's Concept of "Manic Mood" From 1904: An Early Contribution to the Disorder of the Adult Form of ADHD?
Müller S, Strauß M, Steinberg H
J Atten Disord · 2025 Jun · PMID 39985399 · Full text
BACKGROUND: Adult ADHD has increasingly become a focus in adult psychiatry. Despite well-established diagnostic criteria and specific therapeutic approaches, contemporary discussions often dismiss ADHD as a "fad." This s...
BACKGROUND: Adult ADHD has increasingly become a focus in adult psychiatry. Despite well-established diagnostic criteria and specific therapeutic approaches, contemporary discussions often dismiss ADHD as a "fad." This study examines Carl Gustav Jung's 1904 concept of "manic mood" and its potential alignment with the modern understanding of ADHD in adults. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this paper is to investigate and discuss whether Jung's concept of "manic mood" can be considered part of the intellectual history of adult ADHD. METHOD: Jung's concept of "manic mood" is analyzed and presented using the literary-historical method of "close reading," placing the analysis within the context of the early 20th-century discussion of "chronic-manic concepts." This analysis is compared with the current diagnostic criteria for adult ADHD. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Jung's concept of "manic mood," described in 1904, has clear parallels to diagnostic criteria used for adult ADHD. It is conceivable that the patients presented by Jung would be diagnosed with adult ADHD today. Jung's work fits into the discussion of "chronic-manic concepts" of the early 20th century and thus makes a relevant original contribution to the nosological-diagnostic classification of forms in the spectrum of ADHD-affective disorders-personality disorders. The parallel between Jung's disease construct of "manic mood" and the current view of ADHD supports our hypothesis that the adult form of ADHD represents a consistent disease phenomenon and should therefore not be degraded as a "fad."
The Upside of ADHD-related Risk-taking: Adolescents With ADHD Report a Higher Likelihood of Engaging in Prosocial Risk-taking Behavior Than Typically Developing Adolescents.
Braams BR, van Rijn R, Leijser T … +1 more , Dekkers TJ
J Atten Disord · 2025 Aug · PMID 39981819 · Full text
BACKGROUND: ADHD is highly prevalent in adolescents. ADHD is characterized by heightened impulsive behavior and is often associated with increased risk-taking behavior in adolescence. Previous research has mostly focused...
BACKGROUND: ADHD is highly prevalent in adolescents. ADHD is characterized by heightened impulsive behavior and is often associated with increased risk-taking behavior in adolescence. Previous research has mostly focused on negative aspects of risk-taking behavior. However, recently two other types of risk-taking behavior have been identified: positive and prosocial risk-taking. OBJECTIVE: Here, we tested whether youth with ADHD are more inclined toward positive and prosocial risk-taking. METHODS: We assessed the self-reported likelihood of engaging in negative, positive, and prosocial risk-taking in a sample of 50 adolescents with ADHD ( = 16.3, = 1.18) and 54 typically developing adolescents ( = 16.9, = 0.73). Regardless of group, we found that positive, prosocial, and negative risk-taking behavior were positively correlated, higher risk-taking in one domain was associated with higher levels of risk-taking in another. RESULTS: Crucially, we found that adolescents with ADHD were more likely to engage in prosocial risk-taking behavior compared to typically developing adolescents. We did not find group differences for negative and positive risk-taking behavior. CONCLUSION: Together, these results show a first indication of the upside of risk-taking in ADHD.
Self-Reported ADHD Diagnosis Status Among Working-Age Adults in the United States: Evidence From the 2023 National Wellbeing Survey.
London AS, Monnat SM, Gutin I
J Atten Disord · 2025 Apr · PMID 39963833 · Full text
OBJECTIVE: To estimate the percentage of U.S. working-age (18- to 64-year-old) adults in 2023 who self-reported ever being diagnosed with ADHD by a health care professional. METHOD: We analyze data from the 2023 National...
OBJECTIVE: To estimate the percentage of U.S. working-age (18- to 64-year-old) adults in 2023 who self-reported ever being diagnosed with ADHD by a health care professional. METHOD: We analyze data from the 2023 National Wellbeing Survey ( = 7,053) to estimate self-reported lifetime ADHD diagnosis status among working-age adults, overall and by sex, age, race/ethnicity, nativity, education, and rural-urban residence. RESULTS: Among U.S. working-age adults in 2023, we estimate that 13.9% (95% confidence interval [13.0%, 15.0%]) self-reported ever being diagnosed with ADHD by a health care professional. We find statistically significant variation by each of the demographic variables analyzed, with higher rates among working-age adults who are female, younger, non-Hispanic White, U.S.-born, less well-educated, and residing in metro areas with 250,000 to 1 million people (relative to those living in metro areas with 1+ million population). CONCLUSION: The percentage of U.S. working-age adults who self-report in 2023 that they have ever been diagnosed with ADHD by a health care professional (13.9%) is substantially higher than estimates from 2012 (4.25%) and a 2023 estimate of 7.8% among adults of all ages (18+ years). The increase over time may reflect changes in diagnostic criteria for children and adults, greater acceptance of adult diagnosis, over- and mis-diagnosis, and methodological issues. The difference between the 2023 estimates likely reflects study-specific differences in the constructs measured, the age range of the samples, and methodological differences in the online panels used for sampling, in quality control approaches, and in post-survey weight construction. Additional data collection and empirical research is needed to validate or refine provisional estimates based on samples drawn from online panels, and to determine explanations for the observed increase over time.
Content Analysis of the Portrayal of Prescription Stimulants on TikTok.
Johnson B, Sun T, Wu L … +4 more , Seal S, Stjepanovic D, Chan G, Leung J
J Atten Disord · 2025 Jun · PMID 39963814 · Full text
BACKGROUND: TikTok has become a significant influence on public health perceptions, especially regarding ADHD. With its expansive reach among younger demographics, TikTok content has the potential to shape public underst...
BACKGROUND: TikTok has become a significant influence on public health perceptions, especially regarding ADHD. With its expansive reach among younger demographics, TikTok content has the potential to shape public understanding and behaviors related to ADHD treatment. This study analyzed how prescription stimulants are depicted on TikTok to assess the potential influence of these portrayals on ADHD stimulant medication demand. METHODS: We employed a snowball sampling strategy to collect 1,000 TikTok videos related to prescription stimulants. A systematic content analysis was conducted on a refined dataset of 548 videos, identifying primary categories related to prescription stimulant portrayals. RESULTS: The videos, which predominantly featured young adults, mainly white and female, amassed an average of over 300,000 views per video. Our analysis uncovered four primary categories: Positive Effects, Negative Effects, Context of Use, and Systemic Challenges. Videos frequently depicted substantial improvements in daily functionality and emotional well-being attributed to prescription stimulants, with side effects presented as manageable. The context of use highlighted the broad applications of these medications in daily life, while systemic challenges focused on issues such as healthcare barriers, medication shortages, and stigma. CONCLUSION: TikTok users' portrayal of prescription stimulants were predominantly positive, emphasizing improved lifestyles, which may influence medication demand similar to direct-to-consumer advertising, particularly among young women. The depiction of systemic barriers underscores the complexity of accessing treatment, which may disproportionately affect individuals with ADHD and impact treatment adherence, warranting further research into audience reception of this content.
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