One of the greatest disservices to children and adults with mental health issues is marginalizing those who need medication…ADHD is a biological, neurological, and genetic disorder. Michael Phelps has not “beat” his ADHD diagnosis…he and his mother, Debbie Phelps (who provided a lot of structure to Michael), would be the first people to tell you…

Diagnosing an adult with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) requires at least five symptoms of inattention and/or hyperactivity and impulsivity, per the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5)…What if an adult has indications of ADHD, but didn’t as a child? Could adult and childhood ADHD be two distinct conditions?

Popping an ADHD pill, such as Adderall, to enhance your studying and boost grades might sound tempting. But you could be risking rare and serious side effects like heart attack, stroke, and possibly even death, for little, if any benefit.

New research discovers that college students who misuse stimulant drugs are more likely to have attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), conduct disorder, or a substance-use disorder than students not misusing stimulants. Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) investigators also found that immediate-release stimulants are more likely to be misused than extended-release versions of the drugs.

“In line with extensive preclinical data, we provide the first evidence, to our knowledge, that methylphenidate treatment during a specific period of maturation alters the cerebral blood flow response, likely reflecting increased dopamine neurotransmission due to neurochemical imprinting by methylphenidate,” the authors, led by Liesbeth Reneman, MD, PhD, Brain Imaging Center at the University of…

Autism shares genetic roots with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)…The first comparison of brain architecture across these conditions has found that all are associated with disruptions in the structure of the corpus callosum. The corpus callosum is a bundle of nerve fibers that links the brain’s left and right hemispheres. The…

Findings based upon publicly-insured children from 2001 to 2010. More Medicaid-covered children are receiving treatments that conform to practice standards for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), including the use of combined medication and psychotherapy, according to a study published in the July issue of Health Affairs.

The list of symptoms for kids who have ADHD reads like a recipe for problems in school…Increasing academic demands have only made it harder for kids with ADHD, argues Dr. Jeffrey Brosco, professor of clinical pediatrics at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. With kids spending more time preparing for standardized tests and…

According to the American Psychological Association more than two million prescriptions are filed for Ritalin each year – many of these are for school-aged children suffering from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)…research suggests Ritalin can be used to treat more than just ADHD. Its positive effect on the nervous system means other conditions can also…

The [Office of Civil Rights] guidance also challenges pernicious stereotypes and assumptions that set students with ADHD back. Teachers may assume that students who perform well on tests and on homework don’t need to be diagnosed, that girls don’t have ADHD, and that interventions should only allow for things like more time on tests instead…

The Summer Treatment Program, which ends Aug. 12, helps children ages 4-12 with behavioral, emotional and learning challenges by focusing on problem-solving strategies, academics and behavioral treatments instead of medication. The program is broken down into several sub-programs: ADHD and behavioral issues program for ages 5 to 12 and pre-kindergarten; Healthy Lifestyle Intervention Program, for…

Like many people with ADHD, I wasn’t always a huge fan of school…By the time I was in college, and especially after I was diagnosed, I started to make incremental adjustments that helped me go back to school a little more gracefully. Here are some things I found useful for doing this.