ADHD in the News 2025-06-05
How ADHD Affects Adults
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) was once thought of as a condition that affects only children. The belief was that children would grow out of it, but research has shown that the condition often persists throughout life. In fact, ADHD is the second most prevalent psychiatric disorder in adults, but many misconceptions still exist about it.
White House Health Report Included Fake Citations
A report on children’s health released by the Make America Healthy Again Commission referred to scientific papers that did not exist.
“Significant gaps” in ADHD research post 2020 hindering development of effective policy
A lack of reliable data tracking the prevalence and incidence of ADHD post-2020 has resulted in significant gaps in an evidence base to develop realistic health policy, according to new research from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience
Adults with ADHD face long-term social and economic challenges, study finds — even with medication
A new study published in the Journal of Psychiatric Research sheds light on the long-term challenges faced by individuals diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The research shows that adults with ADHD are more likely to struggle with education, employment, and overall social functioning compared to those without the condition.
ADHD linked to higher risk of irritable bowel syndrome, global study reveals
In a recent review article published in the journal Scientific Reports, researchers systematically identified and analyzed existing research to explore the link between attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and various intestinal disorders.
Parenting Training Reduces Healthcare Needs for Kids With Asthma Plus ADHD
Key Takeaways: An intervention for parents of children with both asthma and ADHD reduced unscheduled healthcare visits compared with usual care. Asthma control improved significantly, as did parent-rated ADHD symptoms. The study was limited by its focus on families in Hong Kong, with unknown generalizability to U.S. care settings.
Centanafadine Effective, ‘Clinically Meaningful’ for Adult ADHD
LOS ANGELES — The novel norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin reuptake inhibitor (NDSRI) centanafadine (Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.) is effective and “clinically meaningful” for adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), new research suggested. In a combined analysis of two phase 3 trials with a total of 859 adults, more patients who received the NDSRI had at least an 18-point improvement at week 6 on the ADHD Investigator Symptom Rating Scale (AISRS) total scores compared with patients on placebo.
Researchers show cannabis dependence drives links to psychiatric disorders
In a recent study published in the journal Nature Mental Health, researchers in the United States investigated and compared the genetic relationships and causal links between cannabis use, cannabis use disorder (CanUD), and a wide range of psychiatric disorders.
Autism and ADHD have distinct brain connectivity signatures, study finds
[Excerpt] Researchers at the National Institutes of Health and King's College London recently carried out a large-scale statistical analysis aimed at comparing the patterns of communication between different regions in the brains of individuals diagnosed with ASD with those observed in the brains of individuals with ADHD. Their findings, published in Nature Mental Health, suggest that although ASD and ADHD can appear together, they are associated with different brain connectivity patterns.
Blocking Opioid Receptors May Restore Healthy Dopamine Balance
Summary: New research identifies a promising strategy for correcting dopamine imbalances in the brain using a drug that blocks kappa opioid receptors (KOR). In mouse models with a rare mutation that causes dopamine to leak abnormally, KOR blockers reduced this leakage and restored normal behavior. This approach could offer safer treatment alternatives for conditions like ADHD, bipolar disorder, and autism, which are often linked to disrupted dopamine signaling. Importantly, the treatment did not affect animals without the mutation, suggesting targeted therapeutic potential with fewer side effects.
These Two Stimulants Should Be Contraindicated During Pregnancy, Group Says
Consumer advocacy organization Public Citizen is sounding the alarm about potential risks for birth defects associated with modafinil (Provigil) and armodafinil (Nuvigil), two stimulants commonly prescribed during pregnancy. The group argued that animal toxicity studies and post-marketing observational studies have turned up sufficient evidence to justify additional precautions for pregnant patients.
Legislation allowing ADHD med refills for more than a month at a time gains speed at State House
[Excerpt] Bill S795 by Sen. Alana DiMario, a Narragansett Democrat, passed 36-0 and now joins the amended version of bill H5866 by Portsmouth Democratic Rep. Michelle McGaw, which passed the House 70-0 on April 22. Now each bill awaits a committee hearing in the opposite chamber. Both bills would allow for non-opioid Schedule II stimulants like Adderall, Ritalin, and Vyvanse, which are commonly used as ADHD treatments, to be prescribed and dispensed in larger amounts for doctor and patient convenience.
Women With ADHD: The Difference Diagnosis and Treatment Can Make in Quality of Life
Busy Philipps and Ann Childress, MD, explore the unique challenges women face in ADHD diagnosis, highlighting personal stories and the importance of treatment.