Researchers have revealed the complex ways in which social media users engage with mental health and ADHD content on platforms like TikTok, with both positive and potentially negative impacts for users. Led by Dr Katie Saunders from Keele University’s School of Medicine, the paper published in the Journal of Social Media Research outlines the different…

Key points: Dissociation runs from spacing out to lasting detachment. Trauma is one pathway, not the only one. For people with autism or ADHD, sensory overload is an under-recognized route into dissociative fog. Dissociative support works best when matched to the pathway: trauma, sensory, or absorption.

Neurodevelopmental conditions, which include autism spectrum disorder, ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder) and more, affect around 10% of the American population. Despite their prevalence, it has remained difficult to pin down where, when and how many of these disorders begin. Yet scientists have noticed one pattern: Severe illness during pregnancy can increase the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders…

Contrary to what you may have seen broadcast on Channel 4 recently, ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) is not a myth. Nor, in my opinion, is it a ‘disorder’. It’s a well described, well researched, well evidenced neurodevelopmental difference. Which means that people who have ADHD develop differently. It is also not a problem until…

Irritability, anxiety and negative thought patterns in children and young people with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) could help explain why these individuals are more likely to develop depression later in life.

Summary: Some of the attention patterns that make ADHD challenging may also help spark creativity by allowing the brain to explore more ideas and unexpected connections. Researchers think creative activities could potentially channel this “defocused attention” while helping strengthen the brain systems involved in focus and self-control.

Adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder often face distinct challenges in maintaining sexual satisfaction and connection with their partners. A recent analysis of personal accounts from people with the condition revealed that characteristics such as a heightened need for novelty and difficulty regulating focus can deeply influence their intimate lives. The findings were published in…

The Background: Motor vehicle crashes remain one of the most significant public health challenges in the United States. In 2022 alone, nearly 44,000 people died on American roads, and more than 2.6 million crash-related injuries required emergency care. Most people are familiar with the usual suspects: drunk driving, speeding, and distracted driving from phones. These…

Children who display more symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) tend to earn lower grades in school, and new research provides evidence that these symptoms directly cause poorer academic performance. By applying advanced genetic models to data from twins and siblings, scientists found that ADHD symptoms negatively affect grades, while grades do not appear to influence…

Key point: Conditions such as attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder and speech disorders were associated with higher odds for severe substance use, while autism was linked to a decreased risk among college students.

Early planning can help prevent disruptions in treatment, medication access and support

This week’s roundup covers new data on cardiometabolic risk in patients with serious mental illness and ADHD, alongside a pipeline update on a new indication for an already-approved drug. Policy developments include a milestone in the anticipated US adult ADHD guidelines from APSARD and a landmark settlement over social media’s impact on teen mental health.