ADHD Research News
New ADHD research studies referenced in this week's ADHD in the News:
- Ciulkinyte, Austeja, et al. “Genetic Neurodevelopmental Clustering and Dyslexia.” Molecular Psychiatry (July 15, 2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41380-024-02649-8.
- Referenced in “Dyslexia and ADHD share genetic links, study shows (Medical Xpress, September 10, 2024)”
- Corrigan, Neva M., et al. “COVID-19 Lockdown Effects on Adolescent Brain Structure Suggest Accelerated Maturation That Is More Pronounced in Females than in Males.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 121, no. 38 (September 17, 2024): e2403200121. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2403200121.
- Referenced in “Teen brains 'aged' during Covid lockdowns, new research suggests (NBC News, September 9, 2024)”
- Kandeğer, Ali, et al. “Excessive Mind Wandering, Rumination, and Mindfulness Mediate the Relationship between ADHD Symptoms and Anxiety and Depression in Adults with ADHD.” Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy 31, no. 1 (2024): e2940. DOI: 10.1002/cpp.2940.
- Referenced in “Excessive mind wandering mediates link between ADHD and depression/anxiety, study finds (PsyPost, September 10, 2024)”
- Moran, Lauren V., et al. “Risk of Incident Psychosis and Mania With Prescription Amphetamines.” American Journal of Psychiatry (September 12, 2024). DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.20230329.
- Referenced in “High Doses of ADHD Meds Could Trigger Psychosis (HealthDay, September 12, 2024)”
- Sang, Katherine, et al. Improving the Workplace Support for Neurodivergent Women Managing Their Menstrual Health: Neurodiversity and Menstrual Health at Work. Heriot-Watt University, 2024. DOI: 10.17861/T43A-Q687.
- Referenced in “Neurodivergent women 'urgently' need workplace support around menstrual health (Medical Xpress, September 6, 2024)”
- Schuck, Sabrina E.B., et al. “A Randomized Controlled Trial of Traditional Psychosocial and Canine-Assisted Interventions for Children with ADHD.” Human-Animal Interaction Bulletin 6, no. 1 (2018): 64-80. DOI: 10.1079/hai.2018.0001.
- Referenced in “How can dogs help with ADHD? (High School Insider | Los Angeles Times, September 10, 2024)”
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.