ADHD

Among those with ADHD, factors associated with GAD included being female and having low income, lifetime history of a mood disorder Adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are at significantly higher risk for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), according to a study published online Nov. 16 in the Journal of Affective Disorders. Esme Fuller-Thomson, Ph.D., from University...

Preschoolers with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) rarely receive the gold-standard treatment recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) for their condition, a new study reports. The AAP recommends a behavioral therapy technique called “parent training in behavior management,” or PTBM, as first-line treatment for ADHD kids ages 4 and 5. But only 1...

ADHD medications are increasingly being prescribed to older adults, and they may cause a short-term spike in the risk of heart attack, stroke and arrhythmias, a large new study suggests. Stimulant medications, such as Ritalin, Concerta and Adderall, are commonly used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). But they are also increasingly being prescribed...

The medical literature supports the idea that there may be a relationship between ADHD and internet dependency. This cross-sectional study, published in QJM: An International Journal of Medicine, analyzed the relationship between ADHD symptoms and internet and gaming dependency among undergraduate male students. The study relied on data compiled from 400 undergraduate students. A total of...

Past research has provided insight into the dysfunction of reward-related processes common to attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD), two frequently co-occurring disorders. However, it is unclear which domains of reward functioning are unique to ADHD and which to AUD. This study, published in Alcohol and Alcoholism, attempted to identify unique symptom dimensions and...

It is estimated that a large percentage of patients with ADHD do not adhere to their medication. This study, published in the Journal of Adolescent Health, examined ADHD medication adherence during the transition from adolescence to adulthood and its association with adverse medical outcomes. The study assessed ADHD medication adherence and any ADHD medication use in patients...

Some studies have found that adults with ADHD tend to have worse health outcomes than those without ADHD. This study, published in the Journal of Attention Disorders, sought to compare the odds of five health outcomes in adults with and without ADHD. The outcomes included injury, physical health conditions, functional limitations, fair/poor health, and psychological distress.  The...

The persistent disparity between male and female diagnosis and treatment of ADHD was once viewed as a neurobiological propensity for males to have ADHD. However, contemporary research suggests that this observation is actually related to a lack of recognition and referral bias when evaluating female patients for ADHD.  This consensus statement, published in BMC Psychiatry, sought to improve...

Noteworthy trends have shifted the landscape of ADHD diagnosis and treatment. This study, published in the Journal of Attention Disorders, analyzed data from over 250,000 individual office visit records in the United States between 2008 and 2013. Logistic regression models were used to control for demographics, insurance type, psychiatric comorbidities, and time period.  The study data were...