Attention deficit disorder (ADD) is an outdated term that is no longer officially used.[1] The correct term now is attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, there is a lot of confusion between these terms. Some people use the terms “ADD” and “ADHD” interchangeably, and others consider ADD a subtype of ADHD.

[Excerpt] Jonathan Bastian talks with Anthony Rostain, Chair of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health at Cooper University Health Care, about how ADHD presents itself in adults and the difference between an inability to focus as opposed to an actual psychiatric disorder.

A peer-reviewed study published in the Journal of Global Health analyzed data from more than 6,600 families with a child with a neurodevelopmental condition (NDC)-;autism, [sic] attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, developmental language disorder, Down syndrome, Williams syndrome, and intellectual disability-;from [sic] 70 countries, including the United States.

Symptom-based ADHD diagnoses may not align with a patient’s underlying neuropathy, making it harder to develop individualized treatment plans. In a new study published in Psychiatry Research, a team led by Yale School of Medicine’s Bruce Wexler, MD, identified four ADHD subgroups based on biomarkers observed during digital neurotherapy.

Researchers have identified a “significant relationship” between higher mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNA-cn) and the occurrence of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Results from the systematic review and meta-analysis were published in the journal Frontiers in Psychiatry.

Non-invasive brain stimulation, combined with cognitive training, could significantly improve symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children, according to new research jointly led by the University of Surrey and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

In a letter to the American public, the heads of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and FDA acknowledged ongoing stimulant drug shortages and recounted their initiatives to improve access — while calling for efforts to diminish potential overuse and misuse of these powerful medications.

Sometimes, conversations around mental health and neurotype are divided into a false dichotomy of consumers/clients and providers/professionals. Many assume that providers cannot have their own lived experience with a diagnosis they also treat, which is simply not the case.

KEY POINTS: Untreated or undiagnosed ADHD can lead to more serious problems, but ADHD is highly treatable. ADHD rarely exists alone: 75 percent of patients have at least one comorbidity; 60 percent have two or more. Objective and subjective measures work together across medicine—and they should for ADHD as well.

In today’s Health Talk, we’re breaking down information on some parents and experts expressing alarm over teens self-diagnosing themselves with ADHD. Dr. Justin Schreiber from UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh joined us in studio.

KEY POINTS: Don’t let your kids play video games 24/7 this summer. Worry less about the time spent on screens and more about getting kids outdoors and with other people. Creatively use tech tools to encourage physical, social, and creative play. Screen time is easy, parenting is not.

An innovative training program for pediatricians is building confidence in diagnosing and treating mental health issues, getting children and teens help faster. Dr. Markeita Moore said she sees the need for mental health help in her patients daily.