ADHD in the News 2025-05-15
No Causal Link Between Stimulants and Psychotic Experiences in Kids With ADHD
Key Takeaways: There was no evidence to support a causal relationship between stimulant prescription and psychotic experiences in children, ages 9-14 years, treated for attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder. In unweighted analyses, stimulant prescription was associated with subsequent psychotic experiences; however, the reverse was also true in that baseline psychotic experiences predicted subsequent stimulant treatment. When applying doubly robust estimation, there was no evidence of a causal effect of stimulant prescription on the subsequent occurrence of psychotic experiences.
Why Are ADHD Rates So Much Higher in the U.S.?
Roughly 11% of children and 6% of adults in the U.S are currently diagnosed with ADHD—rates that are significantly higher than those reported in most other countries.
Early vitamin D deficiency increases risk of ADHD, schizophrenia and autism
Newborn babies with a vitamin D deficiency have a higher chance of later developing mental disorders such as ADHD, schizophrenia and autism, a major study involving The University of Queensland has found. In the largest population study of its kind, researchers examined vitamin D status of 71,793 people, many of whom had a mental health disorder diagnosed during childhood and early adulthood.
Common neural underpinnings identified for sleep disturbances
Increased sleep difficulties in patients with obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders (OCSDs), chronic tic disorders (CTDs), and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are likely due to disruptions in the cortico-striatal-thalamo-cortical (CSTC) pathway, according to a literature review published in the Harvard Review of Psychiatry.
Alcohol use has particularly negative impact on individuals with ADHD
A study of individuals with alcohol use disorder in France found that the negative impact of problematic alcohol use on quality of life is greater in those with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) than in those without the condition. The adverse effects on quality of life appear to be amplified by dysfunctional efforts to manage the intense emotional dysregulation associated with ADHD under the influence of alcohol. The research was published in the Journal of Psychiatric Research.
Specific Emotional Dysregulation and Personality Traits Uncover ADHD Subtypes
Key point: Clinical ADHD assessment protocols may benefit from examining personality and emotional dysregulation in college students reporting higher levels of ADHD symptoms and using them to determine intervention timing.
Research highlights extended duration of ADHD medication for Finnish children
A recent study by the University of Turku and the University of Helsinki in Finland and the Finnish Social Insurance Institution Kela reveals that the average duration of ADHD medication for children and adolescents is more than three years. However, reliable, controlled data on the safety of marketed ADHD medicines in children are available for only one year of follow-up.
Histamine Alters Dopamine Differently in Male and Female Brains
Summary: Sex differences in neurological disorders like Tourette syndrome, schizophrenia, and ADHD may stem from how histamine affects dopamine in the brain. A new mouse study reveals that histamine decreases dopamine in males but increases it in females, with the female response influenced by the estrous cycle. Researchers also uncovered that the pathways through which histamine regulates dopamine differ between sexes. These findings suggest that personalized treatments targeting histamine receptors by sex could better address dopamine dysregulation in these conditions.
AI-driven brain training reduces impulsiveness in kids with ADHD, study finds
A recent study of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) found that an AI-driven digital cognitive program led to greater reductions in impulsiveness and inattentiveness scores compared to a control treatment. The results suggest that these improvements were achieved by enhancing the children’s neurophysiological efficiency. The findings were published in npj Mental Health Research.
Talk therapy on the rise, psychiatric meds used less often
More talk and fewer pills are being employed to help Americans maintain their mental health, a new study says. Psychotherapy is assuming a larger role in mental health care, while medications prescribed without accompanying therapy are becoming less common, according to results published in early May in the American Journal of Psychiatry.
‘Wired Differently’: Getting diagnosed with ADHD and autism as an adult
[Excerpt] To address some of these topics, we did a five-part video series on these conditions. We introduce you to two Boise-area therapists who specialize in treating ADHD and autism in adults. We also speak with a psychology professor who focuses on helping students thrive academically and personally, despite a diagnosis.
The Mom With Depression and ADHD Who Went Off Her Meds for Pregnancy
[Excerpt] My ADHD medication gives me a little mental boost to be like, Okay, I have clarity about my day, and, I’m not gonna have all this anxiety. I know where my path forward is. When I stopped them, I didn’t have that anymore. The half-dose of sertraline helped stabilize my mood a little, but it was still easy for me to go deep into my thoughts and spin my wheels. You could see a lot of worry on my face.
American tourist arrested in Phuket with 5 ADHD pills
PHUKET: A 27-year-old American man was arrested for possession of a psychotropic substance that can be used for mental treatment. The Kamala police station said its traffic policemen stopped the tourist for a search while riding a motorcycle without a licence plate in tambon Kamala in Kathu district on Sunday.