ADHD Research News
New ADHD research studies referenced in this week's ADHD in the News:
- Common Sense Media Youth AI Safety Institute. AI Mental Health Apps. (2026). Common Sense Media, Use Case Review. Retrieved May 27, 2026, from https://www.commonsensemedia.org/ai-ratings/ai-mental-health-apps
- Referenced in “Mental Health Apps for Students Are Growing. Here’s What Schools Need to Know (Education Week, May 22, 2026)”
- Goodman, D. W., et al. (2026). The American Society of Clinical Psychopharmacology task force consensus statement on the deprescribing of stimulant medications in adults with ADHD✰. European Neuropsychopharmacology, 111, 112863. DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2026.112863
- Referenced in “First Guidance on Deprescribing Stimulants in Adult ADHD (Medscape, May 27, 2026)”
- Hamed, O., et al. (2026). Early detection of adults ADHD using electronic health records: A machine learning study. European Psychiatry, 69(1), e38. DOI: 10.1192/j.eurpsy.2026.10171
- Referenced in “A new AI tool spots hidden signs of adult ADHD months before a formal diagnosis (PsyPost, May 21, 2026)”
- Hou, W., et al. (2026). Cortical thinning and hippocampal expansion as brain signatures of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder symptom trajectories. Nature Mental Health, 4(2), 263–278. DOI: 10.1038/s44220-025-00578-1
- Referenced in “Brain development patterns predict if childhood ADHD symptoms will fade or persist (PsyPost, May 23, 2026)”
- Kaur, S., et al. (2026). Prenatal Exposure to Air Pollution and Risk for Attention-Deficit/hyperactivity Disorder in Children. Research on Child and Adolescent Psychopathology, 54(1), 29. DOI: 10.1007/s10802-025-01397-9
- Referenced in “Prenatal air pollution linked to ADHD symptoms in school-age children, but not clinical diagnosis (PsyPost, May 18, 2026)”
- Muris, P., et al. (2026). The Boredom-ADHD Nexus: A Narrative and Meta-Analytic Review of the Evidence. Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review. DOI: 10.1007/s10567-026-00563-9
- Referenced in “The Neurocognitive Roots of Boredom in ADHD: a Meta-Analysis (The ADHD Evidence Project, May 11, 2026)”
- O’Connor, S. D., et al. (2026). Attention problems and cortical maturation in a large longitudinal sample of youths: The importance of accounting for sex differences. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 123(21), e2605729123. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2605729123
- Referenced in “Case of mistaken patterns: Slow brain development linked to ADHD for years might just be sex differences (Medical Xpress, May 26, 2026)”
- Pan, N., et al. (2026). Mapping ADHD Heterogeneity and Biotypes by Topological Deviations in Morphometric Similarity Networks. JAMA Psychiatry, 83(5), 478–490. DOI: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2026.0001
- Referenced in “Rethinking ADHD: Brain scans indicate at least 3 subtypes attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (Here & Now | WBUR, May 25, 2026)”
- Wilson, N., et al. (2026). Intersecting trajectories of childhood ADHD, socioeconomic deprivation and distinct multimorbidity patterns in women. Nature Mental Health. DOI: 10.1038/s44220-026-00653-1
- Referenced in “Girls with ADHD from deprived backgrounds may face a higher risk of long-term health conditions (University of Glasgow, May 26, 2026)”
Providers of ADHD Care for Children: Factors Associated With Coordination of ADHD Services With Schools
Journal of Attention Disorders, March 30, 2026, Epub ahead of print
Researchers from the CDC and Lehigh University surveyed 1,047 U.S. primary care providers for children in this study to find out whether coordination of ADHD services occurred between providers and schools. The results of the survey were sorted into three levels of school coordination: (1) no school communication (20.5%); (2) use school information without direct coordination (55.8%); or (3) school intervention coordination (23.7%). The study also examined factors that contribute to the levels of school coordination, such as training needs, provider and practice characteristics, and barriers to diagnosis and treatment. The researchers suggest that school coordination could improve significantly by addressing barriers to ADHD treatment, and that separating providers who need foundational knowledge on ADHD from those who want advanced training may help the efforts to increase training for the providers and reduce barriers to treatment.
Trends in Parent-Reported ADHD Diagnosis and Treatment Among U.S. Children, 2016–2023
Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology, published online February 13, 2026
This study analyzed data from the U.S. National Survey of Children's Health (2016–2023) to examine trends in ADHD diagnosis and treatment among children aged 3–17. ADHD diagnosis prevalence estimates remained stable from 2016 to 2019 but increased after the COVID-19 pandemic, reaching 10.5% in 2023. However, overall treatment rates declined during this period, especially medication use, while behavioral treatment remained steady. Increases in diagnosis varied by race, insurance status, and ADHD severity, and sex differences in treatment narrowed over time. The findings highlight a growing gap between diagnosis and treatment, suggesting the need to improve access to ADHD care and reduce systemic barriers to treatment.
Evidence-Based Interventions for ADHD
Evidence-Based Interventions for ADHD is a platform offering an interactive tool based on a meta-analysis of 200+ trials including 50,000+ participants with ADHD. The meta-analysis was recently published in the BMJ. Read a description of the EBI-ADHD platform in the BMJ.
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adults: evidence base, uncertainties and controversies
World Psychiatry, October 2025, 24(3):347-371
This paper features contributions from prominent ADHD researchers, experts, and advocates, including CHADD’s Board President Jeremy Didier, spokesperson David Goodman, and Professional Advisory Board Member Margaret Sibley. It covers a range of ADHD topics including symptoms, screening and assessment, co-occurring conditions, genetics, treatment, and access to services. In a section titled, “Perspectives from Associations of People with Lived Experience," Didier and Nina Hovén, president of ADHD Europe, share their experience living with ADHD and the need for comprehensive ADHD treatment. The information and resources CHADD provides to support adults with ADHD are mentioned. The paper appears as part of a section titled, “Forum – ADHD in Adults: Current Evidence, Controversies and Future Directions” in the October 2025 issue of World Psychiatry.
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Teen Self-Report on Health Behaviors and Social-Emotional Wellbeing: United States, July 2021–December 2022
Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics, March/April 2025, 46(2):p e155-e161
The authors used nationally representative data from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) and NHIS-Teen from July 2021 to December 2022, to examine teen-reported health and well-being factors, stratified by parent-reported ADHD diagnoses among teens aged 12 to 17 years. Teens with ADHD face distinct challenges related to social-emotional well-being and health behaviors that support overall wellness. Findings may inform opportunities for health promotion among teens with ADHD.
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Diagnosis, Treatment, and Telehealth Use in Adults — National Center for Health Statistics Rapid Surveys System, United States, October–November 2023
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), October 10, 2024, 73(40);890–895
In 2023, an estimated 15.5 million U.S. adults had an ADHD diagnosis, approximately one half of whom received their diagnosis in adulthood. Approximately one third of adults with ADHD take stimulant medication; 71.5% had difficulty filling their prescription because the medication was unavailable. Approximately one half of adults with ADHD have ever used telehealth for ADHD services.
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Children Ages 5–17 Years: United States, 2020–2022
NCHS Data Brief No. 499, March 2024
Data from the National Center for Health Statistics, National Health Interview Survey, 2020–2022, finds that 11.3% of children ages 5-17 in the U.S have ever been diagnosed with ADHD. See the breakdown by age group, race, ethnicity, family income, and insurance coverage at General Prevalence of ADHD.
Who Provides Outpatient Clinical Care for Adults With ADHD? Analysis of Healthcare Claims by Types of Providers Among Private Insurance and Medicaid Enrollees, 2021
Journal of Attention Disorders, March 18, 2024
This study from CDC researchers and CHADD PAB co-chair, Craig Surman, MD, finds that family practice physicians, psychiatrists, and nurse practitioners/psychiatric nurses were the most common providers for adults using employer-sponsored insurance, although the distribution of provider types varied across states. Lower percentages of adults with Medicaid received ADHD care from physicians. Approximately half of adults receiving outpatient ADHD care received ADHD care by telehealth.
ADHD medication and risk of cardiovascular diseases
Commentary by CHADD PAB member, Russell J. Schachar, MD, on Zhang et al. Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Medications and Long-Term Risk of Cardiovascular Diseases, JAMA Psychiatry, November 22, 2023.
Trends in Stimulant Prescription Fills Among Commercially Insured Children and Adults—United States, 2016-2021
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, March 31, 2023
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Summary:
What is already known about this topic?
Prescriptions for stimulants, primarily used to treat attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), were increasing for adults before the COVID-19 pandemic. Policies enacted during the pandemic expanded access to prescription stimulants via telehealth.
What is added by this report?
The percentage of adolescent and adult females and adult males receiving prescription stimulant fills increased during 2016-2021, particularly during 2020-2021.
What are the implications for public health practice?
Growing recognition of ADHD in adults and increases in prescription stimulant fills raise questions about current adult ADHD care. Development of clinical recommendations for diagnosing and managing adult ADHD could help guide safe and appropriate stimulant prescribing. Evaluation of policies enacted during the pandemic could identify benefits and harms of those policies.