There is greater variety in the size of men's brains than of women's. This could help explain why some psychiatric disorders such as ADHD and autism are more prevalent in boys. Leiden brain researcher Lara Wierenga has published an article about this in the international journal Cerebral Cortex.

Rates of ADHD have increased significantly in the U.S. over the past several years, leading to an ongoing debate about the validity of the disorder. Because you are likely to be asked by patients (or their parents) about this issue, it’s helpful for you to have some background in exactly how much the prevalence has increased, and what factors may be driving this trend.

Why is it so hard to find a good psychiatrist—one who can actually help you feel better, instead of worse? How do you go about searching for a good psychiatrist, and if you already have one, how do you know if you are receiving good care? I offer some insider's tips further below, but first, a look at the issues.

Many successful people have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson, Ikea founder Ingvar Kamprad, singer Justin Timberlake and comedian-actor Howie Mandel. On the more local level, Daniel Arrigg Koh is among successful people who don’t let ADHD get in the way of their accomplishments.

Virtual reality could prove useful in clinical practice, but more research is needed...This year's Disrupt NY Hackathon featured an innovative use of virtual reality in helping diagnose attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Designed by a team of high school students from New Jersey, the virtual reality experience aims to simplify the process of diagnosing ADHD.

A study published in the June issue of JAMA Pediatrics found that teens with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder are about one-third more likely to be involved in a car accident than people without ADHD...One of the study's researchers, Dr. Flaura Winston, professor of pediatrics at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia...says that while this finding is important, it's not necessarily cause for alarm. In fact, she calls the study's relatively low increase in risk encouraging, saying that the statistics illustrate "that it's a manageable risk."

People living with untreated ADHD have a tendency to self-medicate. When ADHDers self-medicate, their drug of choice can range from mostly benign (like coffee) to unhealthy but legal (like cigarettes) to potentially more problematic (like alcohol). And in some cases, logically enough, ADHDers end up self-medicating with stimulants. It’s not hard to see the rationale here: for the ADHD brain, illicit stimulants can perform some of the same functions as legal ADHD medications like amphetamine and methylphenidate.

Researchers have only recently begun studying older adults and ADHD, with most studies taking place in the last 10 years or so. Current thought says ADHD lasts into older adulthood; in contrast with the former belief that a person matured out of ADHD. Research shows older adults respond to medication for this condition in much the same way children do; medication helps increase the attention span, improving ability to focus and complete tasks.