ADHD in the News 2020-07-02

Insomnia and Alcohol Consumption Linked to ADHD Symptoms

Alcohol misuse and insomnia were significantly correlated with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptom severity, according to results of a cross-sectional study published in Frontiers in Psychology. Among adults without a clinical diagnosis of ADHD, heavy alcohol use predicted more severe ADHD symptoms.



Kids With Disabilities or Developmental Delays May Have Increased Asthma Risk

Children who have a range of developmental disabilities or who don’t meet growth milestones may have a 2.2-fold greater chance of being diagnosed with asthma compared with children without those disabilities or delays. That finding comes from a study published in June 2020 in JAMA Network Open that included thousands of children.



Tumbling Into Telepsychiatry in the COVID-19 Era: Challenges and Hope

In this article, we focus on potential reasons why virtual encounters feel different, incomplete, or simply unsatisfying. We hypothesize that the “flavor” of a virtual encounter, just like a traditional one, is a conglomerate of physical/environmental factors, clinician-specific factors, patient factors, and the interactive process that includes both verbal and non-verbal elements. Drawing on psychoanalytic literature, we discuss the importance of the frame in interactions, and the impact of a rushed frame shift without preparation or training.



Non-Pharmacological Strategies for ADHD

ADHD experts discuss nonmedication treatments for adults and children with adhd, including cognitive behavioral therapies, family-based therapies, treatments for executive functioning impairments and exercise.



Long-Acting Stimulants for ADHD

ADHD experts provide guidance on selecting the best option among the many long-acting stimulant preparations available to treat ADHD.



Non-Stimulant Therapy for ADHD

Andrew J. Cutler, MD, discusses nonstimulant options for ADHD management, including alpha-2 agonists, antidepressants, and modafinil.



Is your child going through a phase, or is it something more serious?

When children or teenagers act out, are irritable or isolate themselves, experts say parents should not always assume it’s just a phase. Mental, behavioral and developmental disorders begin in early childhood, and one in six children ages 2 to 8 years old in the United States has been diagnosed with one of those disorders, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports. On top of that, 50 percent of all lifetime mental illness begins by the age of 14, the National Alliance on Mental Illness says.



How to Design a Sensory-Friendly Playroom on a Budget

When building a playroom for a child with special needs, such as autism, ADHD, learning disabilities, developmental delays, or sensory processing disorder, each design choice should accommodate learning, therapy, comfort, and play. Often, a family raising a child with special needs also needs their home to act as a therapy center, as they have a host of professionals coming in to provide specialty services.