ADHD: inattention and hyperactivity have been the focus of research – but emotional problems may be the missing link

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ADHD is diagnosed using criteria from a document called DSM-5, which include symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity.

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https://theconversation.com/adhd-inattention-and-hyperactivity-have-been-the-focus-of-research-but-emotional-problems-may-be-the-missing-link-207279https://theconversation.com/adhd-inattention-and-hyperactivity-have-been-the-focus-of-research-but-emotional-problems-may-be-the-missing-link-207279
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Saturday, June 10, 2023
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Dopamine, Learning, Technology, Depression, University, IPad, Nature Medicine, DSM-IV codes, Prevalence, Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder predominantly inattentive, Impulsivity, Solution, Parent, Anxiety, Neuroimaging, Reward, Prefrontal cortex, Prescription, Brain, Emotion, Attention, Research, Decoder, Methylphenidate, Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, Emotional dysregulation, Anxiety disorder, Cognitive development, Self-control, National Health, Mood disorder, Sibling, Time, Serotonin, Striatum, NP, National Health Interview Survey, Fudan University, Deficit spending, Motivation, Diagnosis, Ageing, DSM-5, Function (mathematics), Mental health, Dietary supplement, Toy, Medical imaging, Nursing, ADHD
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Summary
Key Points: 
  • ADHD is diagnosed using criteria from a document called DSM-5, which include symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity.
  • But it is becoming increasingly clear to researchers that the condition also comes with self-control problems, affecting the ability to regulate emotions.
  • For example, 2.1% of children with a diagnosis of ADHD also have a mood disorder, such as depression, while 27.4% have an anxiety disorder.
  • Children with anxiety and depression symptoms only exhibited those deficits if they also had problems with attention.
  • So it seems that one possible route to helping children with ADHD or mood disorders with cognitive development is to focus on improving their attention.

Treatments

    • Methylphenidate roughly works by increasing three chemicals in the brain: dopamine, serotonin and noradrenaline.
    • Dopamine can improve attention, learning, working memory and motivation, while noradrenaline reduces impulsivity and boosts attention.
    • This research suggests that cognitive control, which is associated with frontal areas, can be improved by methylphenidate.
    • This should be offered to children with ADHD, in conjunction with pharmacological treatments.

ADHD on the rise

    • The number of ADHD diagnoses are rising across the world, and so are prescriptions of methylphenidate.
    • In the UK, a study estimated that the use of ADHD medications has increased by almost 800% from 2000 to 2015.
    • It may be that the prevalence of ADHD will increase even more in the future as coping strategies become less effective and people seek help and ultimately receive a diagnosis.
    • The more we learn about brain basis of ADHD, the easier it will get to treat.
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