ADHD in the News 2024-10-17

Study describes fluctuations, remissions seen with ADHD

New research shows an unexpected relationship between the daily demands of patients’ lives and the waxing and waning of ADHD.



Survey finds 25% of adults suspect they have undiagnosed ADHD

[Excerpt] A new national survey of 1,000 American adults commissioned by The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and College of Medicine finds that 25% of adults now suspect they may have undiagnosed ADHD. But what worries mental health experts is that only 13% of survey respondents have shared their suspicions with their doctor.



Lawmakers Pan DEA’s Leaked Plans for Telehealth

Legislators who want to see an extension of COVID-era telemedicine flexibilities slammed a draft proposed rule from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) that would curb telemedicine prescribing of controlled substances.



Girls with ADHD in childhood tend to become less conscientious and agreeable as adolescents

A longitudinal study of a racially and socioeconomically diverse group of girls found that those diagnosed with ADHD in childhood tend to become less conscientious, agreeable, and emotionally stable as they grow up. Girls from higher-income families tended to describe their personalities in a more negative way. The paper was published in Research on Child and Adolescent Psychopathology.



Does drinking coffee while pregnant cause ADHD? Our study shows there’s no strong link

International guidelines recommend people limit how much coffee they drink during pregnancy. Consuming caffeine – a stimulant – while pregnant has been linked to how the baby’s brain develops. Some studies have shown increased coffee consumption during pregnancy is associated with the child having neurodevelopmental difficulties.



Around 3% of children suffer from symptoms of both autism and ADHD

A study in Spain found that around 3% of schoolchildren exhibit symptoms of both autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Approximately 0.5% of children could be diagnosed with both disorders. About 33% of autistic children and 31% of those with autism symptoms that do not reach the diagnostic threshold also had ADHD. Additionally, 10% of children with ADHD also had autism. The paper was published in Autism Research.



Young people with ADHD benefit from tactile massage

Tactile massage can relieve hyperactivity, impulsivity and attention deficit in ADHD. This is the result of a small-scale study conducted at the University of Gothenburg. Young people also found that the massage made it easier to fall asleep.



Educational psychologists can play a part in fighting TikTok mental health and neurodiversity misinformation

Educational psychologists could help to fight mental health and neurodiversity misinformation on TikTok as more young people self-diagnose based on poor quality content on the platform, a new study says.



Understanding the connection between ADHD and substance use disorder

Pediatrician Jan Widerman, DO, discusses ADHD and SUD in children and adults and shares guidance on treatment and medication.



Mental Health in the Sun: The Role of Vitamin D Deficiency in Mental Illness

Of the many researched integrative medicine interventions for the treatment of mental health conditions, perhaps one of the simplest is vitamin D. While controversy around its use remains, including recent guidelines that recommend against testing vitamin D levels for virtually any reason,my own clinical experience combined with the latest research strongly suggest benefits for a number of mental health conditions.



A History of ADHD and its Treatment

Leon Neyfakh and Arielle Pardes, journalists and co-hosts of the podcast Backfired: Attention Deficit, talk about their new podcast, which chronicles the history of ADHD, why diagnoses have shot up, and how it's treated.



ADHD: Misunderstood, Underdiagnosed—and Treatable

UMD Expert on Disorder Sheds Light and Shares Insights During Awareness Month