ADHD in the News 2020-04-09

Adherence Challenges With Medications in Patients With ADHD

The stimulant medications, such as methylphenidate and amphetamines, are the mainstay of pharmacotherapy for persons with ADHD and have been used for over 30 years...Unfortunately, poor adherence to and premature termination of stimulants continue to undermine their benefits. Pappadopulos and colleagues5 reported that the adherence rates in children whose ADHD symptoms were treated with stimulants ranged from 56% to 75% with greater than 50% ceasing treatment despite their efficacy.



Neurofeedback Treatments Rated Effective in ADHD

Neurofeedback treatments for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) demonstrate medium to large effect sizes and remission rates between 32% and 47%, according to a study published online in the journal Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback. “[S]tandard neurofeedback protocols in the treatment of ADHD can be concluded to be a well-established treatment, or ‘efficacious and specific’ in line with the American Psychological Association guidelines,” researchers wrote.



Preventing Suicidal Behavior in ADHD

Individuals with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have an elevated risk for suicidal behaviors...Zheng Chang and colleagues recently published the results of a large study addressing this question in the journal Biological Psychiatry...During months when individuals filled prescriptions for ADHD medications, there was a 31-39% lower risk of a suicide attempt compared with months without a filled ADHD medication prescription.



Attentional, emotional ADHD classifications provide ‘more clinically relevant’ diagnosis approach among adults

ADHD in adults presents as an attentional type and an emotional type, according to results of a replication analysis published in Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. Researchers posited that this system provides a more clinically relevant approach to ADHD diagnosis among adults than does the DSM system.



Understanding early visual processing steps could have implications for schizophrenia, ADHD

Researchers at the National Eye Institute (NEI) have defined a crucial window of time that mice need to key in on visual events...Understanding these early visual processing steps could have implications for conditions that affect perception and visual attention, like schizophrenia and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The study was published online in the Journal of Neuroscience. NEI is part of the National Institutes of Health.



Adult ADHD And Empowering Those With The Condition Featured On “Behind The Scenes” With Laurence Fishburne

Award-winning American actor Laurence Fishburne (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laurence_Fishburne) is the host of the informative show "Behind The Scenes". The TV program covers a wide array of topics of educating its viewing audience about issues impacting people across the globe. A new episode will feature adult ADHD and how to empower and support those affected by the condition.



Homeschooling a child with ADHD? Here’s some expert advice

As you collapse into bed after another exhausting day of managing your child with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) 24/7, you’re probably wondering how your family is going to survive an extended stay-at-home order. While it’s challenging enough for you to stay calm in the midst of all of the changes and unknowns of COVID-19, it’s extra tough supervising kids who struggle with academics, miss their friends and argue with their siblings...What can you do to ease the stress and create a home structure that works for everybody?



How this college provides free mental health services remotely during COVID-19

As more schools remain closed due to the coronavirus, Adrian College students in Michigan are receiving free telemental health services from board certified telemental health providers through an online portal. Students first virtually meet with a college nurse practitioner who refers them to either a certified health counselor or a psychiatric nurse practitioner to receive medication from Mantra Health, a digital psychiatry company that treats anxiety, ADHD and depression.