Frontier mental health research: psychedelics & drug studies

Each month our editorial team sifts through hundreds of papers and curates notable findings—for practitioners and informed readers who want to stay current with the evidence. Subscribe to the monthly Research Digest for expert analysis and concise summaries of key papers.

13 papers

Emotion Dysregulation in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Philip Shaw, Argyris Stringaris, Joel T. Nigg, Ellen Leibenluft
American Journal of Psychiatry Summary & key facts 2014 1,128 citations

This review looked at research on emotion dysregulation (problems managing emotions) in people with ADHD. It found three main points: emotion dysregulation is common across the lifespan and causes substantial problems; it may come from trouble noticing, recognizing, or paying attention to emotional cues tied to a brain circuit that…

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Mind wandering and attention Sleep and related disorders

The history of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Klaus W. Lange, Susanne Reichl, Katharina Lange, Lara Tucha, Oliver Tucha

The paper says the modern DSM-IV-TR idea of ADHD is relatively new, but people with symptoms like inattention, restlessness, and impulsivity were described more than 200 years ago. For example, Sir Alexander Crichton in 1798 wrote about children who could not keep their attention on one thing and were easily…

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Autism Spectrum Disorder Research

Amphetamines for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children and adolescents

Salima Punja, Larissa Shamseer, Lisa Hartling, Liana Urichuk, Ben Vandermeer, Jane Nikles, et al.

Most of the included studies were at high risk of bias and the overall quality of the evidence ranged from low to very low on most outcomes. Although amphetamines seem efficacious at reducing the core symptoms of ADHD in the short term, they were associated with a number of adverse…

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Bipolar Disorder and Treatment Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior

Assessment of magnesium levels in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

T Kozielec, B Starobrat-Hermelin
PubMed 1997 87 citations

Researchers measured magnesium in 116 children with ADHD (ages 9–12). They checked magnesium in blood serum, red blood cells, and hair. They found many children had low magnesium and reported a link between magnesium levels and a measure of development and distractibility.

Magnesium in Health and Disease

Participatory translational science of neurodivergence: model for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and autism research

Edmund Sonuga‐Barke, Susie Chandler, Steve Lukito, Myrofora Kakoulidou, Graham Moore, Niki Cooper, et al.

RE-STAR tested a new way of doing research that puts young people with ADHD and/or autism at the centre of the research team. Over 24 months, a Youth Researcher Panel of ten people (aged 18–25 at recruitment) moved from giving advice to becoming co-researchers involved across the project. The team…

Autism Spectrum Disorder Research Health Policy Implementation Science Mental Health and Patient Involvement

Screen time and childhood attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: a meta-analysis

Hezuo Liu, Xiaorong Chen, Min-Hui Huang, Xiaomin Yu, Gan Ye, Ji Wang, et al.

This paper combined nine studies with 81,234 children to look at screen time and ADHD. Children who had screen time of 2 hours a day or more had higher odds of ADHD than those with less than 2 hours (odds ratio 1.51, 95% confidence interval 1.20–1.90). The authors reported a…

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Child Development and Digital Technology Green IT and Sustainability

Interoceptive awareness in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Jan R. Wiersema, Elke Godefroid
PLoS ONE Summary & key facts 2018 20 citations

This 2018 study asked whether adults with ADHD can notice their bodily signals (interoceptive awareness). The researchers compared 24 adults with ADHD to 23 adults without ADHD. They used a heartbeat perception task (an objective test) and a questionnaire (a subjective test). Both groups performed similarly on both measures. The…

Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Psychosomatic Disorders and Their Treatments

Attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adults: evidence base, uncertainties and controversies

Samuele Cortese, Mark A. Bellgrove, Isabell Brikell, Barbara Franke, D. Wayne Goodman, Catharina A. Hartman, et al.
World Psychiatry Summary & key facts 2025 17 citations

This article explains how ADHD can continue into adulthood and looks at common signs in adults. It says ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition that usually begins in childhood but often persists. Adults with ADHD most often have trouble with attention, time management, memory, and organization. Symptoms can look different from…

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Functional Brain Connectivity Studies Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Misdiagnosis: Why Medical Evaluation Should Be a Part of ADHD Assessment

Joseph Sadek
Brain Sciences Summary & key facts 2023 10 citations

Our review suggests that a thorough medical evaluation should be conducted prior to the diagnosis of ADHD. Allied health professionals and psychologists who diagnose ADHD should seek medical clearance from a physician prior to making the ADHD diagnosis in order to reduce misdiagnosis rates and improve patient outcomes. ADHD diagnosis…

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Cardiovascular Syncope and Autonomic Disorders Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies

Sex differences in adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: A population-based study

Ferran Mestres, Vanesa Richarte, J Crespin, Carla Torrent, Spencer Biel, Carolina del Valle Ramos, et al.
European Psychiatry Summary & key facts 2025 3 citations

This study analyzed 900 adults with ADHD from a hospital program in Barcelona. It found that women had more severe ADHD symptoms, more depression and anxiety, less substance use, worse functioning, and greater disability than men, and that women were diagnosed later. The combined ADHD subtype (both inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive)…

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Mind wandering and attention Perfectionism, Procrastination, Anxiety Studies

What is the Most Helpful Body‐Scan Posture for People with Attention‐Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Tendency?

Ayano Fukuichi, Takafumi Wakita, Genji Sugamura

The authors made and checked two short scales (MERS and MDRS) to measure helpful or unhelpful reactions during mindfulness exercises. They used three small studies with university students (21, 192, and 19 people). In a small experiment, people with a hyperactive/impulsive tendency said slumped sitting felt harder and lying on…

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions Sleep and related disorders
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