Unfortunately, there are almost as many fictions about ADHD as there are ADHD facts. In this section we present ADHD facts from ADHD experts, based on research evidence – not hearsay, rumor, bias, or desire.
To gauge the extent of stigma towards persons with ADHD, a European research team hired a company specialized in market and social research to conduct a poll of some five thousand randomly selected Germans. Just over a thousand completed the interview, representing a response rate of only one in five. The team acknowledged, “Although non-responder …
Stigma: Public Attitudes Towards Children and Adults with ADHD Read More »
A Dutch and German team compared the performance of 45 adults with ADHD and 51 normally developing controls on a battery of standardized tests and questionnaires designed to assess competence in financial decision-making (FDM). These were supplemented with neuropsychological tests, as well as evaluations of each participant’s personal financial situation. The two groups had roughly …
Evaluating Financial Decision-Making in Adults With ADHD Read More »
Drivers with ADHD are far more likely to be involved in crashes, to be at fault in crashes, to be in severe crashes, and to be killed in crashes. The more severe the ADHD symptoms, the higher the risk. Moreover, ADHD is often accompanied by comorbid conditions such as oppositional-defiant disorder, depression, and anxiety that …
How to Improve Driving Safety for Teens and Adults With ADHD Read More »
ADHD, especially when untreated impairs patients and creates difficulties in families. Although these are the proximal targets of treatment, ADHD also burdens society due, for example, to underemployment and use of health resources. A recent study assessed economic burden using the Danish population registries, researchers, which link medical information with employment, education, crime, and social …
The ENIGMA-ADHD Working Group published their second large study on the brains of people with ADHD in the American Journal of Psychiatry this month. In this second study, the focus was on the cerebral cortex, which is the outer layer of the brain. ADHD symptoms include inattention and/or hyperactivity and acting impulsively. The disorder affects …
A newly-published systematic review by a British team identified 48 qualitative and quantitative studies that explored “ADHD in primary care, including beliefs, understanding, attitudes, and experiences.” The studies described primary care experiences in the U.S., Canada, Europe, Australia, Singapore, Iran, Pakistan, Brazil, and South Africa. More than three out of four studies identified deficits in …
What are the Barriers to Understanding ADHD in Primary Care? Read More »
Stephen V. Faraone, Michael J. Silverstein , Kevin Antshel, Joseph Biederman, David W. Goodman, Oren Mason, Andrew A. Nierenberg, Anthony Rostain, Mark A. Stein and Lenard A. Adler Journal of Attention Disorders, 1–15, 2018, DOI: 10.1177/1087054718804354 This manuscript reviews the results of the first phase of Quality Measures (QM) Initiative of the American Professional Society …
A German team recruited 104 adults with ADHD at both inpatient and outpatient ADHD clinics, and from ADHD self-help groups. Just under two-thirds were being treated with ADHD drugs, most with methylphenidate. Just under a quarter reported high internalized stigma. Two in five reported high levels of alienation, meaning a sense of “not being a …
Social and Self-stigmatization in Adults with ADHD Read More »
This two-year study examined the effect of digital media use on ADHD symptoms in over 2500 adolescents. An earlier meta-analysis found that traditional media use (TV and video console games) was modestly associated with ADHD-like behaviors (Nikkelen et al 2014). The current study extends the examination to a large sample, with modern digital media delivery …
A Spanish team of researchers recently completed a comprehensive review of studies looking for links between compulsive video gaming (both online and offline) and a variety of psychological disorders, including anxiety, depression, social phobia, and ADHD. The focus was on behavior “of sufficient severity to result in significant impairment in personal, family, social, educational, occupational …
Is There a Relationship Between ADHD and Internet Gaming Disorder? Read More »