treating adults: recent publications

Depression and anxiety disorders occur with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) at significant rates. While figures vary across studies, it’s estimated that 18% of adults with ADHD also have major depressive disorder, and about half of adults with ADHD have anxiety.1 What explains these high comorbidity rates?Many factors may explain the overlap, and one of them I can’t stress enough: ADHD does not happen in a vacuum, and its effects are far more impairing when the condition goes undiagnosed, untreated, or improperly treated.Undiagnosed and/or untreated ADHD makes children, teens, and adults who are otherwise bright and competent feel severely inadequate.

Not available December 12? Don’t worry. Register now and WebMD will send the replay link to watch at your convenience.The holiday season is usually portrayed as a joyous time of year.

In 1998, when ADDitude was founded, information about ADHD was limited, often inaccurate, and almost never about adults. Professional education and training for ADHD was extremely hard to find, as few specialized in the area.Adult ADHD was brought out of the shadows by Ned Hallowell, M.D., and John Ratey, M.D., with their groundbreaking book, Driven to Distraction.

ChatGPT exists to serve. The AI-powered chatbot, now a year old, has become one of the most wildly popular language tools on the Internet. It’s collaborative and conversational.

Ever since I can remember, I’ve chewed or picked at something. My mom tried to get me to quit when I was a kid, but this was back in the early 1970s, when body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRB) weren’t exactly a hot topic of conversation. My mom was clever though, and tried to address my nail biting by way of a reward I couldn’t refuse: If I stopped biting my nails, I’d get a Barbie Dream House.

$15.99Whether you’re belting out Taylor’s version or concocting a new business plan, it’s easy to lose precious time in a hot shower. This digital waterproof shower timer can help. The pocket-sized timer counts down and has three adjustable buttons for 10 minutes, 1 minute, and 10 seconds.

Not available December 19? Don’t worry. Register now and we’ll send you the replay link to watch at your convenience.“Now why did I walk in here? I can’t remember.”“Brain fog,” short-term memory lapses, and poor time management are proverbial complaints among women living through perimenopause and menopause, but could these cognitive problems — and others with mood regulation and overwhelm — point to something more?As of now, no clear links have been established between ADHD and mental changes during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and menopause.

Not available December 13? Don’t worry. Register now and we’ll send you the replay link to watch at your convenience.Burnout, anxiety, and exhaustion are common byproducts of ADHD in women. Juggling busy work and family schedules alongside an (often undiagnosed) neurological condition leaves many women desperate for support and validation.

It appears JavaScript is disabled in your browser. Please enable JavaScript and refresh the page in order to complete this form. You may opt out at any time.

November 13, 2023Rising rates of depression — a condition that often accompanies ADHD and other health concerns — have earned well-deserved concern and attention. Here, Nelson M.

The other night, when my girlfriend and I sat in the kitchen enjoying a cuppa tea, I got up mid-conversation to put away a pack of cat treats. “I’m still listening!” I shouted as I walked into the adjacent room.She kept talking, and I kept puttering around. I apologized afterward, as I felt I’d been a bit rude.

November 6, 2023Pediatrics Research has retracted a paper on the effectiveness of using homeopathy to treat ADHD, citing “substantial concerns regarding the validity of the results presented in this article.” 1The original article “Is Homeopathy Effective for Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder? A Meta-Analysis” reported that “individualized homeopathy showed a clinically relevant and statistically robust effect in the treatment of ADHD.”1 This retraction directly challenges those results and addresses the concerns of critics, who argue that science does not support the use of homeopathy for addressing ADHD symptoms.The journal’s editor-in-chief issued the retraction after a review found four “deficiencies,” including the following:The paper’s retraction comes more than a year after critics first questioned the validity of the studies included in the meta-analysis. Shortly after the paper’s June 2022 publication, Edzard Ernst, M.D., Ph.D., MAE, FMedSci, FRSB, FRCP, FRCPEd, asked the editors of Pediatrics Research to add a caution notice or withdraw the paper.“We conclude that the positive result obtained by the authors is due to a combination of the inclusion of biased trials unsuitable to build evidence together with some major misreporting of study outcomes,” he wrote.In a follow-up letter sent in June 2023, Ernst wrote, “In our comment, we point out that the authors made a lot of errors — to say it mildly.

Q: “How do I organize supplies for a hobby or a passion project that I happen to have tons of stuff for, like quilting? Is it possible to have too many hobby items?”I love scrapbooking, and I have all the scrapbooking stuff. My father-in-law loves fishing, and his collection of fishing rods covers the walls of his garage.

Can’t get out of bed? Whether it’s due to a poor night’s sleep (hello, night owls), stubborn morning grogginess (i.e., sleep inertia), or dread-induced paralysis, struggling to wake up – while a common issue among individuals with ADHD – is a rough way to start the day… everyday.Try these suggestions to get your mind, body, and environment aligned to help you get out of bed in the morning with less resistance and more alertness.[Get This Free Download: How to Sleep Better with ADHD][Read: How to Break the Exhausting Habit of Revenge Bedtime Procrastination]Getting to a point where you can spring out of bed and start your day 100% energized won’t happen overnight. With any of these techniques, give yourself time to build consistency so these strategies become part of your morning routine.

Your ADHD brain works differently. You need productivity strategies that make sense to you — not the rest of the world. This eBook provides just that: ADHD-tested time-management plans that don’t try to shove square pegs into round holes.

By Ellen Littman, Ph.D.“Generally, non-ADHD brains can self-regulate with relative confidence, and exercise an adequate amount of control over their behavior. ADHD brains do not adapt as easily; they have their own rules of engagement. They are motivated by their search for optimal stimulation, rather than by what others label as important.

Many challenges brought on by ADHD are “invisible” or easily blamed on laziness. Though teachers may recognize that students with ADHD forget to write down assignments, lose completed homework, and need fidgets to improve focus, many educators are frustrated and confounded by not-so-obvious ADHD behaviors when they inevitably pop up.

October 24, 2023Older drivers with ADHD face an elevated risk for receiving traffic tickets, slamming on the breaks, and having car crashes, according to new research published in Jama Network Open. 1Car crashes were 74% more likely, traffic tickets were 102% more likely, and hard-breaking events were 7% more likely among adults aged 65 to 79 with ADHD than they were among neurodivergent drivers of the same age, according to a cohort study lead by researchers at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health.

Not available November 14? Don’t worry. Register now and we’ll send you the replay link to watch at your convenience.Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is likely influenced by the connection between the gut microbiome and the brain, starting from early development.

Some time ago, I came down for breakfast and discovered a curious stack of bottles in the kitchen. It was a resolute stack. It knew it wanted to be there.

Not available November 9? Don’t worry. Register now and we’ll send you the replay link to watch at your convenience.“Executive function” is used frequently when explaining ADHD, but do you really know what this term means? Do you understand how ADHD fundamentally affects executive functions? Let’s start by getting clear on what executive functions are, what they aren’t, and which approaches are not considered executive functioning strategies.The better you understand how executive functions operate, the better you will be able to design strategies that will help you get things done more reliably.

Be proud of your attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD) and all the out-of-the-box thinking, humor, drive, and passion that comes with it. Read on for some of the best traits of people with ADHD we know and love.ADHD's trademark hyperfocus can be a serious advantage — if you effectively channel all your attention and energy into work that makes a difference. “Many scientists, writers, and artists with ADHD have had very successful careers, in large part because of their ability to focus on what they’re doing for hours on end,” says Kathleen Nadeau, Ph.D.ADHD isn’t always a walk in the park.

Peopling is hard. Peopling with strangers is harder. When you’re neurodivergent, every social situation can feel like a slow-moving catastrophe of missed cues and faux pas.

Forty-two years ago, when I started treating what we now call ADHD, I’d heard different versions of these words: “Sorry, Doc, but I just don’t believe in this ADD stuff. It’s a phony disorder created by the drug companies so they can sell more drugs.” “My son doesn’t have ADD or XYZ. He needs what boys have always needed: structure, authority, and discipline.

Not available November 2? Don’t worry. Register now and we’ll send you the replay link to watch at your convenience.Healthy friendships help people feel supported, provide a sense of belonging, and stave off loneliness.

In the arc of science, 25 years isn’t a long time. Yet, in the realm of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), the last quarter century has been pivotal, yielding myriad advances in our understanding of the condition.

You won’t find DESR in the DSM-V, but in this webinar Russell Barkley, Ph.D., makes a compelling argument for why it should be included in the diagnostic criteria for ADHD. Patients and professionals agree that difficulty with emotional control is a core facet of ADHD. Using historical concepts and research in the fields of neuroanatomy, neuropsychology, and psychology, Barkley highlights the relationship between ADHD and emotional control difficulties.

A phone call from my mother changed everything.We had always been close, but our relationship was rocky – lots of anger, frustration, and assumptions on both sides.After a quick hello, she told me how she had read an article about older adults with ADHD. My irritation at being interrupted fizzled as my mom read the list of symptoms to me: lateness and “time blindness;” difficulty with organization; big feelings; difficulty planning and executing tasks; hyperfocus…I froze, and my mind whirled. Of course she has ADHD — and how had I, her therapist daughter, missed it? I was stunned, and then overwhelming guilt washed over me.

September 26, 2023Thirteen months have passed since ADDitude first forecast a disruptive American shortage of the ADHD medication Adderall, and today more than one-fifth of ADDitude readers continue to experience problems accessing their stimulant prescriptions. According to an ADDitude survey of 10,936 caregivers and adults with ADHD, roughly 38% of all patients have had trouble finding and filling their prescription medication over the last year and 21% continue to suffer treatment disruptions today.“I was on Adderall XR for 15 years, but discontinued it this spring due to the shortage,” wrote a survey respondent, one of many who has switched or stopped taking medication over the last year.“I’m struggling to get Adderall XR and I am forced to take regular Adderall, which I dislike,” wrote another survey respondent.

It appears JavaScript is disabled in your browser. Please enable JavaScript and refresh the page in order to complete this form. You may opt out at any time.

By Mary WhiteIn ADDitude’s most popular blog post of all time, a mother introduces us to “that kid” — the intense child with special needs who has trouble making friends, and about whom teachers and other parents issue stern warnings. Everyone knows “that kid” — and this blogger happens to be the mother of not one, but two of them.“I see it all — like the exhausted look on the teacher’s face as she leads my child to me with the mile-long list of rules violations,” she writes.

A substantial body of research over the years has found that ADHD is characterized by high heritability and involves many different genes, has replicable findings in neuroimaging studies, has effective treatments (both non-pharmacologic and pharmacologic), and is associated with adverse long-term outcomes. Yet many questions remain unanswered.While no one can predict the scientific discoveries that lie ahead, three research areas are especially promising for improving our understanding of ADHD: neuroimaging, genetic research, and non-pharmacologic interventions, like transcranial magnetic stimulation and attention training.Advances in brain-imaging techniques may lead to a better understanding of the neural mechanisms underlying ADHD.

ADHD brains crave structure and routine. Productivity improves with an effective system — one that breaks down tasks into small, achievable steps.

Dopamine is the fuel that converts our intentions into action. It regulates the brain’s pleasure-seeking behaviors, and it motivates us to take action in anticipation of a future reward. Good intentions are clear and deliberate; identifying and defining them helps enormously in the lifelong quest to achieve our goals.But setting clear, deliberate intentions can be problematic for people with ADHD, who are known to have a deficient dopamine reward system.

Not available October 19? Don’t worry. Register now and we’ll send you the replay link to watch at your convenience.Do you ever feel so devastated by criticism or ‘constructive’ feedback that you shut down and recovery seems impossible? Is it overwhelmingly tough to rebound after feeling left out or saying something you regret? Rejection sensitivity dysphoria (RSD) is almost ubiquitous with ADHD, though it’s not included in the condition’s formal diagnostic criteria.RSD refers to unbearable feelings of pain following an actual or perceived rejection.

I talk too much. For as long as I can remember, the urge to express and connect has been a constant one, for better or worse.

Not so long ago, adult ADHD did not exist. ADD, as we called it then, was thought of as a childhood disorder that one would outgrow. Those of us who thought differently were professionally chastised.Back in the 1990s, I co-wrote one of the first three books laying out the proposition that adults could and do have ADD.

Can cannabis benefit people with ADHD? The verdict is far from unanimous. People with ADHD have disproportionately high rates of cannabis use,1 but the decision to self-medicate is hardly obvious or ubiquitous.Cannabis use is known to impair attention, inhibition, memory, and motivation. Studies have found that it worsens ADHD symptoms or has no effect at all.2 What’s more, individuals with ADHD are at greater risk of developing a substance use disorder, including cannabis misuse.34 Finally, a lack of robust research leads many doctors to dismiss cannabis as a valid ADHD treatment option.At the same time, public perception of medical cannabis has improved 5 as more states have chosen to legalize it.

It appears JavaScript is disabled in your browser. Please enable JavaScript and refresh the page in order to complete this form. You may opt out at any time.

Adults with ADHD and elite athletes face eerily similar challenges — just in different ballparks. As a sports psychiatrist, I help athletes demonstrate their true abilities in their sport. Together, we address a variety of mental factors that influence athletic performance — from focus and motivation challenges to stress levels and beyond.As an adult with ADHD myself, many of the sports psychology strategies I use with my clients end up in my own toolbox.

Q: “I need to overcome my aversion to schedules. I’m fine getting one of my kids, my husband, or myself to an appointment. Tasks I must do, like getting the chickens out of their coop and taking the dog out, always get done by 8 a.m.

September 8, 2023A bi-directional link between attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and major depressive disorder (MDD) means that 35% to 50% of all adults with ADHD will experience one or more depressive episodes in their lives, according to a new study published in the journal BMJ Mental Health.1 The research, which demonstrates “a familial association and shared genetic risk between ADHD and depression,” also found that patients with ADHD are at elevated risk for post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD), anorexia nervosa (AN), and suicide attempts.Observational studies have shown past associations between ADHD and mood and anxiety disorders; however, ADHD’s connections to other mental health conditions have remained somewhat less clear. Using the Mendelian randomization (MR) method, researchers in this study gathered genetic evidence to determine potential links between ADHD and MDD, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD, AN, and suicide attempts.The MR data and subsequent meta-analyses revealed the following relationships, among others:Other findings showed that ADHD increased the chances of developing PTSD by 18%.

Not available October 3? Don’t worry. Register now and we’ll send you the replay link to watch at your convenience.African Americans and other individuals of color are less likely to get an accurate ADHD diagnosis and proper treatment.

Not available September 28? Don’t worry. Register now and we’ll send you the replay link to watch at your convenience.ADHD is likely influenced by both genetics and the environment, starting before birth.

September 1, 2023The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved several generic forms of Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine dimesylate), the stimulant medication used to treat ADHD in patients six years or older and moderate-to-severe binge-eating disorder (BED) in adults.1Fourteen companies may now manufacture and sell generic versions of Vyvanse capsules and chewable tablets, according to the FDA.

August 29, 2023Adults diagnosed with ADHD are more likely to change jobs, move residences, and have unstable relationships, according to a new study in BMC Psychiatry, which showed that these risks increased from young to middle adulthood.1Using large national registers from Sweden, researchers followed adults with and without ADHD over 14 years and found that real-life instability was higher in people with the disorder. Three register-based indicators were used to measure real-life instability: residential moves, job switching, and relationship volatility.

August 18, 2023Habit replacement training significantly reduced body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs) for more than half of patients with excoriation (skin picking), trichotillomania (hair pulling), nail biting, lip-cheek biting, and other BFRBs, according to a six-week proof-of-concept study published in JAMA.1Of the study’s 268 participants, 53% of those who practiced habit replacement techniques reported improvement compared to 20% of the control group. Those who exhibited nail-biting benefited the most.Further, 80% of those who practiced habit replacement said they would recommend it to a friend with similar problems, and 86% reported overall satisfaction with the training, which substituted the pleasurable sensation of skin picking, nail-biting, or hair pulling with another action that feels good but isn’t harmful to the body.“BFRBs refer to recurrent and chronic behaviors inflicted upon the body (like trichotillomania and excoriation) that often result in physical damage,” said Roberto Olivardia, Ph.D., in the ADDitude webinar “Nail Biting! Skin Picking! Hair Pulling! Understanding Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors with ADHD.”The TLC Foundation for Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors estimates that BFRBs affect about 3% of people worldwide.

Adults with ADHD rarely fall asleep easily, sleep soundly through the night, and then wake up feeling refreshed. More often, ADHD’s mental and physical restlessness disturbs a person’s sleep patterns — and the ensuing exhaustion hurts overall health and treatment. This is widely accepted as true.