Journal of Attention Disorders

Efficacy and Safety of Jingling Oral Liquid for Children With ADHD: A Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial
Qi Y, Luo X, Liu Y, Zhang J, Chen X and Zheng Y
This study aims to verify the therapeutic efficacy and safety of a traditional Chinese medicine, Jingling Oral Liquid, in treating ADHD through a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (ChiCTR-IPR-17012293).
Self-Reported ADHD Symptoms and Cognitive Performance in a National Sample of US Older Adults
Mansoor M, Breaux R, Lee TH and Katz B
Although inattention symptoms have been previously linked to cognitive performance in younger samples, few studies have examined links between ADHD symptoms and cognitive performance for middle aged and older adults.
Working Memory Load and Inhibition Performance Among Children With ADHD
Orhan I and Paralik I
Inhibition is a critical executive function for stopping routine responses and facilitating planned behaviour. Although the results are mixed, individuals with ADHD are reported to have poorer inhibition performance; however, this remains a subject of ongoing debate. Findings in the literature suggest that the central executive component of working memory and resource allocation could play a role. The present study investigated whether varying maintenance demands would influence inhibition performance among children with and without ADHD.
ADHD Knowledge as a Barrier to Problem Recognition in Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Versus White College Students
Goh PK, Chung S, Jhawar N, Wong AWWA, Mellor GS, Banerjee M and Hartung CM
The Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (AA & NH/PI) population represents one of the fastest-growing racial /ethnic groups in the United States, yet members of this community are among the least likely to receive services for ADHD. Studies seeking to explain discrepancies between the need for and use of ADHD services in AA & NH/PI populations have highlighted decreased problem recognition as precluding access to services. We sought to investigate the roles of three previously proposed factors (i.e., perceived impairment, ADHD knowledge, and ADHD stigma) in explaining differences in ADHD problem recognition in AA & NH/PI versus White, Black, Hispanic/Latinx, and Multiracial/Multiethnic college students.
Bridging the Gap: Digital CBT for Adults Managing ADHD Challenges
Antshel KM, McBride H and Knouse LE
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is an efficacious treatment for adult ADHD, yet access and availability concerns limit scalability. Mobile health apps are promising tools for delivering scalable CBT. The current study reports findings from a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of a CBT-informed health app for adults with ADHD.
Narrative and Non-Narrative Discourse Skills in ADHD Across the Lifespan: A Systematic Review of the Literature
Hill E, Wells R and Chen W
Discourse-level language abilities are critical for successful participation in social, academic, and vocational pursuits. These abilities encompass both narrative and non-narrative genres, each serving distinct communicative functions. Narrative discourse involves spoken accounts of events or experiences, typically with a setting, characters, and a sequence of actions. Non-narrative discourse includes genres like explanations, arguments, and descriptions that convey information or ideas without a temporal structure. The aim of this review was to synthesise extant literature on discourse abilities of children and adults with ADHD across these genres.
Dissecting the Mediating Role of Cortical Structures in the Pathogenesis of Socioeconomic Status to ADHD: A Mendelian Randomization Study and Mediation Analysis
Xie W, Yu J and Wang P
Research has consistently demonstrated a negative correlation between socioeconomic status (SES) and the prevalence of ADHD, with SES exerting a significant influence on brain development. ADHD, closely intertwined with neurological development, often manifests as impairments within brain regions associated with memory, executive function, and emotion regulation. Nevertheless, the specific brain structural mediators linking SES to ADHD remain unclear.
Visceral Adipose Tissue Accumulation in Children With Obesity and Co-occurring ADHD: A Case-Control Analysis of Body Fat Distribution Patterns
Li M, Li S, Hu Y, Yang C and Liang A
ADHD and obesity frequently co-occur in children, yet differences in visceral adipose tissue (VAT) distribution between co-occurring ADHD + Obesity and obesity alone are incompletely characterized. This study compared depot-specific adiposity between these groups.
Treatment Adherence in ADHD: A Systematic Review of Influencing Factors and Strategies for Improvement
Karimi M, Ghasemzadeh S and Shabanali Fami F
The goal of this review was to more clearly understand what encourages or discourages treatment adherence in individuals with ADHD across different points in life. Instead of simply listing barriers, we set out to identify true, evidence-based strategies that could help patients and clinicians maximize long-term dedication to care.
Does Delivery Mode Matter? A Randomised Controlled Trial of the Sleeping Sound Intervention: Predicting Sleep Outcomes in Children With ADHD
Malkani MK, Sheridan AMC, Crichton AJ, Bucks RS and Pestell CF
The effectiveness of behavioural interventions to improve sleep in children with ADHD has been demonstrated, although most treatments are conducted in-person, with limited evidence for paediatric telehealth approaches. Study 1 is a randomised controlled trial evaluating the ADHD Sleeping Sound intervention to compare outcomes between in-person and telehealth modalities. Study 2 examined whether baseline sleep problems and treatment response were predicted by baseline symptom presentation, attachment security, and family functioning.
How Does Adult Temperament Relate to ADHD Symptom Domains? Testing the Dual-Pathway Model
Teuchert C, Kerner Auch Koerner J, Daseking M and Heinze H
Temperament provides a valuable framework for understanding ADHD across the lifespan, as extreme temperamental traits are considered etiological risk factors. The dual-pathway model links specific temperamental traits to ADHD symptom domains: elevated reactive traits, surgency and negative affect, to hyperactivity/impulsivity, and a low regulatory trait, effortful control, to inattention.
Academic Outcomes in Primary and Secondary School Students Prescribed Long-Acting Stimulants for ADHD Management
Folkins C, Somayaji C, Gill SK and Ted McDonald J
This study examines the impact of long-acting stimulant (LAS) pharmacotherapy for ADHD on academic outcomes among students in grades K-12 using retrospective analysis of administrative data.
It Takes Two: Intimate Partner Violence According to Both Partners in Young Adult ADHD Couples
Wymbs BT, Pickel CT, Evans SW, Zoccola PM, Shorey RC and Toback LM
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has been shown to increase the risk of young adults perpetrating and being victims of intimate partner violence (IPV). However, research has yet to examine the IPV experiences of both dyad members where one or both partners has ADHD, and how those experiences differ from couples including partners without ADHD.
Maternal Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Perinatal Depression: A Systematic Review
Pierotti N and Jayakody K
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is well-established as a disorder that persists into adulthood and is commonly comorbid with other mental health conditions. Despite increasing numbers of women entering reproductive years with this diagnosis, there is limited research on it in the perinatal period.
Associations Between ADHD Symptom Dimensions and Cognition in Children With ADHD and Learning Difficulties
Cai Y, Holmes J and Gathercole SE
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Specific Learning Difficulties (SLD) are both associated with attentional and cognitive difficulties. This study examined the extent to which the cognitive impairments could be consequences of elevated levels of inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity.
The Effects of Sleep Treatment on Symptoms of ADHD, Sleep Quality, Fatigue, and Depressive Symptoms in Adults
van der Ham M, Bijlenga D, Molenaar N, Starreveld DEJ, Böhmer MN, Wettstein R, Dumont G, Beekman ATF and Kooij S
Sleep problems are highly prevalent in adults with ADHD. Sleep problems and ADHD symptoms can cause, amplify, and maintain each other. We studied the effects of additive treatment for sleep problems on self-reported symptoms of ADHD as primary outcome, with subscales of inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity, objective, performance-based ADHD symptoms, sleep quality, fatigue, and depressive symptoms as secondary outcomes.
Cognitive Profile of ADHD in Older Adults: A Systematic Review
Pardo-Palenzuela N, Onandia-Hinchado I and Diaz-Orueta U
ADHD is now recognized as a common condition in adulthood, but the evidence supporting a separate characterization of a cognitive profile for ADHD in older adults is scarce. Consequently, the goal of the current study was to conduct a systematic review that helps clarify the cognitive characteristics of ADHD in older individuals.
Investigating the Symptom Presentation of Depression in Children With ADHD
Williams G, Powell V, Eyre O, Thapar A and Riglin L
ADHD is commonly comorbid with depression and this comorbidity is associated with increased symptom severity and worse outcomes than either condition alone. Depression is highly heterogeneous and may present differently in populations with ADHD. This study aimed to explore different symptom presentations of depression and associated clinical correlates in a clinical ADHD sample. We analysed data from the Study of ADHD Genes and Environment (SAGE). Parents completed semi-structured interviews about their child's psychopathology at baseline ( = 10.9 years) and the Mood and Feelings Questionnaire to capture their child's depression symptoms approximately 5 years later ( = 14.6 years,  = 246). Depression symptom presentations were derived by latent profile analysis. Analyses found three presentations of depression symptoms: a 'low symptoms' class (48.5% of the sample), a 'high symptoms' class (15.5%) with consistently high depression symptoms, particularly for suicidality and poor self-esteem items, and an 'irritable/poor sleep' class (36.1%) with high scores for irritability and poor sleep and intermediate levels of other depression symptoms. All three classes had elevated irritability and symptoms that overlap with ADHD. Behavioural problems (oppositional defiant disorder; conduct disorder) were associated with an increased likelihood of being in the high symptoms compared to low symptoms class, and higher autism symptoms were associated with being in the 'irritable/poor sleep' compared to low symptoms class. Our findings suggest that while young people with ADHD often have elevated depression symptoms, there is notable heterogeneity. Young people with ADHD and behavioural disorders may be particularly at risk of a more severe depression symptom presentations characterised by high suicidal cognitions, whilst those with ADHD and autistic traits may present with more irritability and poor sleep.
Maternal ADHD Diagnoses Before and After Childbirth: A Danish Population-Based Cohort Study
Madsen KB, Winther M, Jensen AT, Marcussen K, Munk-Olsen T, Wesselhoeft R and Kittel-Schneider S
The rates of women of reproductive age diagnosed with ADHD have increased significantly. However, little is known about how pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period influence ADHD related problems, help-seeking behaviors or the timing of ADHD diagnosis. This study aimed to investigate incident ADHD diagnoses among women from 5 years before to 5 years after childbirth.
The Association Between Maternal Progesterone Use During Pregnancy and Offspring Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Risk
Bidabadi E, Sharami SH, Hoseini Nouri SA, Parandavar M and Hassanzadeh Rad A
Previous animal studies have suggested a link between progesterone exposure and the development of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This study clinically evaluated the effect of progesterone use during pregnancy on the risk of ADHD in children.
School-Based Social Skills Interventions for Youth With ADHD: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Bussanich G, Harrison JR, Peltier C, Patel A, Mehta P and Patel K
ObjectiveChildren and adolescents frequently struggle with social skills performance in academic settings, which can negatively impact quality of life. As such, social skills training is frequently recommended; however, the effectiveness of school-based social skills training has not been synthesized. As such, the purpose of the current study was to evaluate the empirical evidence pertaining to both stand-alone and multimodal school-based social skills programs for students with ADHD, and to assess the effects of potential moderating variables.
Perception of Visual Illusions in Children and Teenagers With ADHD
Montiel V, Navarrete V, González-Pérez AM, Vázquez de Alba C, Díaz-Sánchez R, Szenczi P, Rosetti M, Ulloa RE and Bánszegi O
Susceptibility to visual illusions is a consequence of the adaptation of the visual system, however, their perception or lack of it reflects differences in more general, global cognitive processes. Few studies have focussed on the susceptibility of individuals with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), even though visual impairment and percept differences have been thoroughly documented.
A Comparison of Commercially Available Parent and Teacher Rating Forms in the Concurrent Prediction of Executive Functioning Performance in Children
Hlutkowsky CO, All KE, Roule AL, Warner TA and Huang-Pollock C
It is often argued that executive functioning (EF) tasks and EF questionnaires measure the same construct at different levels of analysis. However, item content on EF questionnaires varies by publisher/rater, indicating a striking lack of consensus on what EF represents when measured via questionnaires. In two separate samples spanning early and middle childhood, and utilizing a multi-method multi-rater approach, we systematically compare the concurrent validity of different questionnaire-based conceptualizations of EF.
Trajectory Moderators of Functional Outcomes and ADHD Symptoms in Children With ADHD
Fletcher M, Silva S, Pan W and Reuter-Rice K
ADHD can impair children's functioning. Socioeconomic and sociodemographic factors present barriers to treatment access and lead to disparate outcomes in children with ADHD. The purpose of this study was to describe trajectories of functional outcomes and ADHD symptom counts across 3 years and explore the moderating effects of income and race/ethnicity on these trajectories among U.S. children with ADHD.
An Investigation of Attentional Networks, the Locus Coeruleus - Norepinephrine System, and Autism and ADHD Traits
Kim Y, Schneider DW and Keehn B
Attention is proposed to consist of three discrete neurofunctional networks, though evidence suggests that two of these - the alerting and cognitive control networks - are interdependent. The neural mechanism(s) underlying this interdependence have not been identified; however, the locus coeruleus - norepinephrine (LC-NE) system may provide a potential explanation for this interaction. Further, both alerting-cognitive control interdependence and LC-NE activity may be altered in autistic individuals, and thus may provide a unique window into the relationship between the LC-NE system and network interdependence. The objective of the current study was to utilize electrophysiological and pupillary indices of LC-NE activity to examine the associations between attentional network interdependence, LC-NE activity, and autism and ADHD traits.
ADHD Symptoms, Resilience, and Quality of Life in Emerging Adults: The Roles of Diagnostic Status and Current Symptomatology
Macht AKR, Holt LJ and
Research on college students with ADHD largely has focused on impairments associated with this condition, as opposed to how resilience might buffer ADHD-related challenges. The present study examined potential differences in quality of life (QoL), resilience, and sociodemographic characteristics by students' ADHD diagnostic/symptom status and whether diagnostic/symptom group differences in QoL were more/less pronounced at different levels of resilience. Using data from an online survey distributed at six US colleges/universities, participants ( = 4,897; 74% female; 60% White) reported on current ADHD symptomatology and diagnostic status; personal, social, and familial resilience; and physical, psychological, social, environmental, and global QoL. Compared to students who were or , participants who were symptomatic (diagnosed and undiagnosed) evidenced lower resilience and QoL across all domains. There were significant interactions between ADHD group and resilience for global QoL and environmental QoL. Global QoL among participants was consistently lower than the reference group (, particularly at lower levels of resilience. For environmental QoL, the slopes for both groups were less steep compared to the reference group, suggesting resilience was less closely associated with environmental QoL. Findings suggest that current ADHD symptomatology, as opposed to a formal ADHD diagnosis, is a better predictor of psychosocial impairment. Helping students with an ADHD diagnosis to continue developing resilience ultimately may benefit QoL; however, students who are currently symptomatic - particularly those who are undiagnosed - likely need additional support to experience the protective benefits of resilience.
Sleep Variability and Negative Alcohol-Related Consequences in College Students: Dynamic Associations With ADHD
Marsh NP, Oddo LE, Wiggs KK, Murphy JG and Chronis-Tuscano A
College students often engage in heavy alcohol use and experience poor sleep. These risks are exacerbated among students with ADHD, who are especially vulnerable to both poor sleep and alcohol-related negative consequences. Although prior research has often focused on average sleep patterns, the impact of variability in sleep (i.e., bedtime, duration, and waketime) remains understudied. This variability may be particularly important for individuals with ADHD, given the self-regulation challenges that underline both sleep and alcohol use. Therefore, we examined ADHD-related differences in sleep variability and tested whether sleep variability predicts alcohol-related negative consequences.
A Trans-Diagnostic Investigation of Attention and Diverse Phenotypes of "Auditory Hyperreactivity" in Autism, ADHD, and the General Population
Dwyer P, Williams ZJ, Lawson W and Rivera SM
Experiences of "auditory hyper-reactivity" and decreased sound tolerance, which can be separated into phenotypes such as hyperacusis and misophonia, are prevalent in autism and ADHD and impact quality of life and wellbeing. Furthermore, atypical patterns of attention regulations-including hyper-focus and inattention-are common in both autism and ADHD. Prior research also suggests sensory hyper-reactivity can cause anxiety, and anxiety can be associated with hyper-vigilance. It is currently unclear whether hyper-focusing on stimuli, having one's attention captured by them, or being hyper-vigilant toward them could lead to sensory hyper-reactivity. Therefore, this study investigates relationships among hyper-focus, inattention, hyper-vigilance, auditory hyper-reactivity, and anxiety.
Adverse Childhood Experiences and ADHD in College Students: Exploring the Role of Emotion Regulation and Self-Compassion
Karaçul FE and Arslan G
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are known to have several negative effects on mental health and well-being. However, few studies have examined the role of these events in the development of ADHD and the protective factors that could guide prevention and intervention strategies in college students. The aim of current study is to examine the potential role of self-compassion and emotion regulation in the relationship between ACEs and ADHD symptoms in college students. The sample of the study consisted of 442 young adults (67.4% female; 32.6% male) aged between 18 and 29 years ( = 20.43,  = 1.74) from a public university in Türkiye. Participants completed validated measures that were combined in a single battery with a web-based tool. We found that ACEs were associated with lower levels of self-compassion (Cohen's  = 0.43) and emotion regulation (Cohen's  = 0.29), along with higher levels of attention deficit (Cohen's  = 0.47) and hyperactivity-impulsivity (Cohen's  = 0.46) symptoms. Further results indicated that ACEs were a significant positive predictor of attention deficit and hyperactivity-impulsivity symptoms and a negative predictor of self-compassion and emotion regulation. Additionally, self-compassion showed an indirect effect on the relationship between ACEs and emotion regulation, as well as the association between ACEs and attention-deficit/hyperactivity-impulsivity symptoms. Finally, we found that emotion regulation had an indirect effect on the association between self-compassion and attention-deficit/hyperactivity-impulsivity symptoms. These findings provide further evidence supporting the importance of self-compassion-based strategies to reduce attention-deficit/hyperactivity impulsivity by promoting emotion regulation skills in college students.
Predicting Flourishing in ADHD Youth: Positive Childhood Experiences and Mood Disturbances in Context of Adversity
Torres PB, Ignacio DA, Griffith NM and Emick J
In response to the increasing prevalence of ADHD, efforts have focused on understanding methods to optimize psychosocial, emotional, and behavioral well-being, defined as flourishing. Mood disturbances, environmental vulnerabilities, and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are risk factors for not flourishing. There is limited research on protective relational factors, as measured by Positive Childhood Experiences (PCEs), as facilitators of flourishing in children with ADHD and comorbid mood disturbances.