Skip to main content Accessibility help
×
Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-g7gxr Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-03T05:11:20.518Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

18 - Inattention and Hyperactivity

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 March 2023

Stephen Hupp
Affiliation:
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Cara L. Santa Maria
Affiliation:
Fielding Graduate University, California
Get access

Summary

This chapter describes pseudoscience and questionable ideas related to attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The chapter opens by discussing diagnostic changes and controversies such as adult-onset ADHD. Dubious treatments include neurofeedback, neurocognitive training, supplements, and cannabis-based products. The chapter closes by reviewing research-supported approaches.

Type
Chapter
Information
Pseudoscience in Therapy
A Skeptical Field Guide
, pp. 297 - 311
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2023

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Agnew-Blais, J. C., Polanczyk, G. V., Danese, A., Wertz, J., Moffitt, T., & Arseneault, L. (2016) Evaluation of the persistence, remission, and emergence of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in young adulthood. JAMA Psychiatry, 73(7), 713720. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2016.0465.Google Scholar
Ahmann, E., Tuttle, L. J., Saviet, M., & Wright, S. D. (2018). A descriptive review of ADHD coaching results: Implications for college students. Journal of Postsecondary Education and Disability, 31(1), 1739. www.ahead.org/professional-resources/publications/jped/archived-jped/jped-volume-31.Google Scholar
American Psychiatric Association. (1968). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (2nd ed.). American Psychiatric Association.Google Scholar
American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596.Google Scholar
American Psychiatric Association. (2022). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, fifth edition, text revision (DSM-5-TR). American Psychiatric Association.Google Scholar
Barkley, R. A. (Ed.) (2015). Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: A handbook for diagnosis and treatment (4th ed.). Guilford.Google Scholar
Barkley, R. A. (2016a). Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and self-regulation: Taking an evolutionary perspective on executive functioning. In Vohs, K. D. & Baumeister, R. F. (Eds.), Handbook of self-regulation: Research, theory, and applications (3rd ed., pp. 497513). Guilford.Google Scholar
Barkley, R. A. (2016b). Is there an adult onset type of ADHD? Issues in establishing persistence and remission of ADHD from childhood to adulthood. The ADHD Report, 28(8), 613.Google Scholar
Barkley, R. A., & Fischer, M. (2019). Hyperactive childhood syndrome and estimate life expectancy at young adult follow-up: The role of adult ADHD and other potential predictors. Journal of Attention Disorders, 23(9), 907923. https://doi.org/10.1177/1087054718816164.Google Scholar
Barkley, R. A., Murphy, K. R., & Fischer, M. (2008). ADHD in adults: What the science says. Guilford.Google Scholar
Biederman, J., Petty, C. R., Clarke, A., Lomedico, A., & Faraone, S. V. (2011). Predictors of Persistent ADHD: An 11-year follow-up study. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 45(2), 150155. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2010.06.009.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Biederman, J., Petty, C. R., Evans, M., Small, J., & Faraone, S. V. (2010). How persistent is ADHD? A controlled 10-year follow-up study of boys with ADHD. Psychiatry Research, 177(3), 299304. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2009.12.010.Google Scholar
Black, N., Stockings, E., Campbell, G., Tran, L. T., Zagic, D., Hall, W. D., Farrell, M., & Degenhardt, L. (2019). Cannabinoids for the treatment of mental disorders and symptoms of mental disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet Psychiatry, 6(12), 9951010. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(19)30401-8.Google Scholar
Blanck, P., Perleth, S., Heidenreich, T., Kröger, P., Ditzen, B., Bents, H., & Mander, J. (2018). Effects of mindfulness exercises as stand-alone interventions on symptoms of anxiety and depression: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Behaviour Therapy and Research, 102, 2535. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2017.12.002.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Canadian ADHD Resource Alliance. (2020). Cannabis and ADHD: A CADDRA policy statement. www.caddra.ca/cannabis-and-adhd-a-caddra-policy-statement/.Google Scholar
Caye, A., Rocha, T. B., Anselmi, L., Murray, J., Menezes, A. M. B., Barros, F. C., Gonçalves, H., Wehrmeister, F., Jensen, C. M., Steinhausen, H. C., Swanson, J. M., Kieling, C., & Rohde, L. A. (2016). Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder trajectories from childhood to young adulthood: Evidence from a birth cohort supporting a late-onset syndrome. JAMA Psychiatry, 73(7), 705712. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2016.0383.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cooper, R. E., Williams, E., Seegobin, S., Tye, C., Kuntsi, J., & Asherson, P. (2017). Cannabinoids in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: A randomized controlled trial. European Neuropsychopharmacology, 27(8), 795808.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cortese, S., Adamo, N., Del Giovane, C., Mohr-Jensen, C., Hayes, A. J., Carucci, S., Atkinson, L. Z., Tessari, L., Banaschewski, T., Coghill, D., Hollis, C., Simanoff, E., Zuddas, A., Barbui, C., Purgato, M., Steinhausen, H. C., Shakraneh, F., Xia, J., & Cipriani, A. (2018). Comparative efficacy and tolerability of medications for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in children, adolescents, and adults: A systematic review and network meta-analysis. Lancet Psychiatry, 5(9), P727738. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(18)30269-4.Google Scholar
De Crescenzo, F., Cortese, S., Adamo, N., & Janiri, L. (2017). Pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment of adults with ADHD: A meta-review. Evidence Based Mental Health, 20(1), 111. https://doi.10.1136/eb-2016-102415.Google Scholar
Dumas-Mallet, E., & Gonon, F. (2020). Messaging in biological psychiatry: Misrepresentations, their causes, and potential consequences. Harvard Review of Psychiatry, 28(6), 395403. https://doi.org/10.1097/HRP.0000000000000276.Google Scholar
Faraone, S. V. & Antshel, K. M. (2014). ADHD: nonpharmacologic interventions. Child & Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 23(4), P965972. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chc.2014.06.003.Google Scholar
Faraone, S. V., Banaschewski, T., Coghill, D., Zheng, Y., Biederman, J., Bellgrove, M. A., Newcorn, J. H., Gignac, M., Al Saud, N. M., Manor, I., Rohde, L. A., Yang, L., Cortese, S., Almagor, D., Stein, M. A., Albatti, T. H., Aljoudi, H. F., Alqahtani, M. M. J., Asherson, P., … Wang, Y. (2021). The World Federation of ADHD international consensus statement: 208 evidence-based conclusions about the disorder. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, 128, 789818. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.01.022.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Faraone, S. V., & Biederman, J. (2016). Can attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder onset occur in adulthood? JAMA Psychiatry, 73(7), 655656. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2016.0400.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Faraone, S. V., Biederman, J., Spencer, T., Mick, E., Murray, K., Petty, C., Adamson, J. J., & Monuteaux, M. C. (2006). Diagnosing adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: Are late onset and subthreshold diagnoses valid? American Journal of Psychiatry, 163(10), 17201729. https://doi.org/10.1176/ajp.2006.163.10.1720.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Fordham, B., Sugavanam, T., Edwards, K., Stallard, P., Howard, R., das Nair, R., Copsey, B., Lee, H., Howick, J., Hemming, K. , & Lamb, S. E. (2021). The evidence for cognitive behavioral therapy in any condition, population or context: a meta-review of systematic reviews and panoramic meta-analysis. Psychological Medicine, 51, 2129. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291720005292.Google Scholar
Friedman, N. P., & Robbins, T. W. (2022). The role of prefrontal cortex in cognitive control and executive function. Neuropsychopharmacology, 47(1), 7289.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Fullen, T., Jones, S. L., Emerson, L. M., & Adamou, M. (2020). Psychological treatments in adult ADHD: A systematic review. Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, 42, 500518. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10862-020-09794-8.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hirvikoski, T., Waaler, E., Lindstrom, T., Bolte, S., & Jokinen, J. (2015). Cognitive behavior therapy-based psychoeducational groups for adults with ADHD and their significant others (PEGASUS): An open clinical feasibility trial. ADHD Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, 7, 8899. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12402-014-0141-2.Google ScholarPubMed
Kooij, J. J. S., Bijlenga, D., Salerno, L., Jaeschke, R., Bitter, I., Balázs, J., Thome, J., Dom, G., Kasper, S., Nunes Filipe, C., Stes, S., Mohr, P., Leppämäki, S., Casas, M., Bobes, J., McCarthy, J. M., Richarte, V., Kjems, A., Philipsen, A., … Asherson, P. (2019). Updated European consensus statement on diagnosis and treatment of adult ADHD. European Psychiatry, 56(1), 1434. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eurpsy.2018.11.001.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lee, G. J., & Suhr, J. A. (2019). Expectancy effects on self-reported attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms in simulated neurofeedback: A pilot study. Archives of Neuropsychology, 34(2), 200205. https://doi.org/10.1093/arclin/acy026.Google Scholar
Masters, J. C., Burish, T. G., Hollon, S. D., & Rimm, D. C. (1987). Behavior therapy: Techniques and empirical findings (3rd ed.). Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich College Publishers.Google Scholar
Mitchell, J. T., Sweitzer, M. M., Tunno, A. M., Kollins, S. H., & McClernon, F. J. (2016) “I use weed for my ADHD”: A qualitative analysis of online forum discussions on cannabis use and ADHD. PLoS ONE, 11(5), e0156614. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0156614.Google Scholar
Moffitt, T. E., Houts, R., Asherson, P., Belsky, D. W., Corcoran, D. L., Hammerle, M., Harrington, H. L., Hogan, S., Meier, M. H., Polanczyk, G. V., Poulton, R., Ramrakha, S., Sugden, K., Williams, B., Rohde, L. A., & Caspi, A. (2015). Is adult ADHD a childhood-onset neurodevelopmental disorder? Evidence from a four-decade longitudinal cohort study. American Journal of Psychiatry, 172(10), 967977. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.2015.14101266.Google Scholar
Nigg, J. T. (2013). Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and adverse health outcomes. Clinical Psychology Review, 33(2), 215228. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2012.11.005.Google Scholar
Nimmo-Smith, V., Merwood, A., Hank, D., Brandling, J., Greenwood, R., Skinner, L., Law, S., Patel, V., & Rai, D. (2020). Non-pharmacological interventions for adult ADHD: A systematic review. Psychological Medicine, 50, 529541. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291720000069.Google Scholar
Pera, G., & Robin, A. L. (Eds.) (2016). Adult ADHD-focused couple therapy: Clinical intervention. Routledge.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ramsay, J. R. (2010). Nonmedication treatments for adult ADHD: Evaluating impact on daily functioning and well-being. American Psychological Association.Google Scholar
Ramsay, J. R. (2017). Assessment and monitoring of treatment response in adult ADHD patients: Current perspectives. Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment, 13, 221232. https://doi.org/10.2147/NDT.S104706.Google Scholar
Ramsay, J. R. (2021). Adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. In Wenzel, A. (Ed.), Handbook of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Volume 2, Applications (pp. 389421). American Psychological Association. https://doi.org/10.1037/0000219-012.Google Scholar
Ramsay, J. R., & Rostain, A. L. (2016). Adult ADHD as an implementation problem: Clinical significance, underlying mechanisms, and psychosocial treatment. Practice Innovations, 1(1), 3652. https://doi.org/10.1037/pri0000016.Google Scholar
Rucklidge, J. J., Frampton, C. M., Gorman, B., & Boggis, A. (2014). Vitamin–mineral treatment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in adults: Double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial. British Journal of Psychiatry, 204, 306315. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.bp.113.132126.Google Scholar
Rucklidge, J. J., & Kaplan, B. J. (2014). Broad-spectrum micronutrient treatment for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: Rationale and evidence to date. CNS Drugs, 28(9), 775785. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40263-014-0190-2.Google Scholar
Sarris, J., Sinclair, J., Karamacoska, D., Davidson, M., & Firth, J. (2020). Medicinal cannabis for psychiatric disorders: A clinically-focused systematic review. BMC Psychiatry, 20, article 24. https://bmcpsychiatry.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12888-019-2409-8.Google Scholar
Schnoll, R., Burshteyn, D., & Cea-Aravena, J. (2003). Nutrition in the treatment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: A neglected but important aspect. Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback, 28(1), 6375.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Schönenberg, M., Weingärtner, A. L., Weimer, K., & Scheeff, J. (2021). Believing is achieving – On the role of treatment expectation in neurofeedback applications. Progress in Neuropsychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry, 105, article 110129. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pnpbp.2020.110129.Google Scholar
Sibley, M. H., Rohde, L. A., Swanson, J. M., Hechtman, L.T., Molina, B. S. G., Mitchell, J. T., Arnold, L. E., Caye, A., Kennedy, T. M., Roy, A., Stehli, A., for the members of the Multimodal Treatment Study of Children with ADHD (MTA) (2018). Late-onset ADHD reconsidered with comprehensive repeated assessments between ages 10 and 25. American Journal of Psychiatry, 175(2), 140149. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.2017.17030298.Google Scholar
Simons, D. J., Boot, W. R., Charness, N., Gathercole, S. E., Chabirs, C. F., Hambrick, D. Z., & Stine-Morrow, E. A. L. (2016). Do “brain training” programs work? Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 17(3), 103186. https://doi.org/10.1177/1529100616661983.Google Scholar
Sonuga-Barke, E. J. S., Brandeis, D., Cortese, S., Daley, D., Ferrin, M., Hotmann, M., Stevenson, J., Danckaerts, M., van der Oord, S., Döpfner, M., Dittmann, R. W., Simonoff, E., Zuddas, A., Banaschewski, T., Buitelaar, J., Coghill, D., Hollis, C., Konofal, E., Lecendreux, M., … Sergeant, J. (2013). Nonpharmacological interventions for ADHD: Systematic review and meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials of dietary and psychological treatments. American Journal of Psychiatry, 170(3), 275289. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.2012.12070991.Google Scholar
Stern, A., Malik, E., Pollak, Y., Bonne, O., & Maeir, A. (2016). The efficacy of computerized cognitive training in adults with ADHD: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Attention Disorders, 20(12), 9911003. https://doi.org/10.1177/1087054714529815.Google Scholar
Tamm, L., Epstein, J. N., Lisdahl, K. M., Tapert, S., Hinshaw, S. P., Arnold, L. E., Velanova, K., Abikoff, H., Swanson, J. M., & MTA Neuroimaging Group. (2013). Impact of ADHD and cannabis use on executive functioning in young adults. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 133(1), 607614. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2013.08.001.Google Scholar
Volkow, N. D., Baler, R. D., Compton, W. M., & Weiss, S. R. B. (2014). Adverse effects of marijuana use. New England Journal of Medicine, 370, 22192227. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMra1402309.Google Scholar
Volkow, N. D., & Swanson, J. M. (2013). Adult attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder. New England Journal of Medicine, 369, 19351944. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMcp1212625.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wright, S. (2014). ADHD coaching matters: The definitive guide. ACO Books.Google Scholar
Zylowska, L. (2012). The mindfulness prescription for adult ADHD. Trumpeter.Google Scholar
Zylowska, L., & Mitchell, J. T. (2021). Mindfulness for adult ADHD: A clinician’s guide. Guilford.Google Scholar

Save book to Kindle

To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure [email protected] is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.

Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.

Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.

Available formats
×

Save book to Dropbox

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.

Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

Available formats
×