Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2023 Aug;23(8):451-460.
doi: 10.1007/s11910-023-01280-4. Epub 2023 Jun 19.

Adult Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: a Narrative Review of Biological Mechanisms, Treatments, and Outcomes

Antonio F Pagán  1 , Yazmine P Huizar  2 , Tucker R Short  2 , Zoe Gotcher  2 , Adam T Schmidt  2
Affiliations
Review

Adult Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: a Narrative Review of Biological Mechanisms, Treatments, and Outcomes

Antonio F Pagán et al. Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep. 2023 Aug.

Abstract

Purpose of review: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a heterogeneous and complex neurodevelopmental disorder related to disruptions in various neuronal structures and pathways, dopamine (DA) transporter, and receptor genes, resulting in cognitive and regulation deficits. This article reviews recent research on the biological mechanisms and markers, clinical manifestations, treatments, and outcomes of adult ADHD as well as current controversies within the field.

Recent findings: New research identifies white matter disruptions in multiple cortical pathways in adults with ADHD. New treatments for ADHD in adults such as viloxazine ER have shown preliminary effectiveness in addition to research showing transcranial direct current stimulation can be an effective treatment for adults with ADHD. Although questions exist about the effectiveness of current assessments of and treatments for adult ADHD, recent findings represent a step towards improving the quality of life and outcomes for individuals experiencing this life-long, chronic health condition.

Keywords: ADHD; Adult; Assessment; Neurodevelopmental disorders; Neuropsychology; Treatment.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance
    1. American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders [Internet]. In: DSM-5-TR. American Psychiatric Association Publishing; 2022. Available from: https://psychiatryonline.org/doi/book/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425787.
    1. Song P, Zha M, Yang Q, Zhang Y, Li X, Rudan I. The prevalence of adult attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: a global systematic review and meta-analysis. J Glob Health. 2021;11:04009. This study represents a significant step forward in understanding the global prevalence rate in ADHD. Persistent ADHD across the globe was 2.58%. - PubMed - PMC - DOI
    1. Fayyad J, Sampson NA, Hwang I, Adamowski T, Aguilar-Gaxiola S, Al-Hamzawi A, et al. The descriptive epidemiology of DSM-IV adult ADHD in the World Health Organization World Mental Health Surveys. ADHD Atten Def Hyp Disord. 2017;9:47–65. - DOI
    1. Faraone SV, Larsson H. Genetics of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Mol Psychiatry. 2019;24:562–75. - PubMed - DOI
    1. Makris N, Biederman J, Monuteaux MC, Seidman LJ. Towards conceptualizing a neural systems-based anatomy of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Dev Neurosci. 2009;31:36–49. - PubMed - DOI

MeSH terms

LinkOut - more resources