1. Barbosa Bastos De Souza Neto EA, Oliveira HF, Santos Ramos W, Martin Dantas EH, Alves Pereira BH, de Souza Mariano Bastos R. Efficacy and safety of atomoxetine in the treatment of ADHD in children and adolescents: a systematic review. Front Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2025; 4: 1731330.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of atomoxetine in the treatment of adolescents with ADHD, comparing its effects with other available treatments. The primary outcome was the reduction of ADHD symptoms, and the secondary outcome was the occurrence of adverse effects. METHODS: A search was conducted in the Medline/PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases. The research question and strategy were based on the PICO model. Inclusion criteria were restricted to studies involving children and adolescents aged 6-16 years, focusing on comparisons between atomoxetine and other treatments. Eligible studies were published in English, Spanish, or Portuguese, with no restrictions on publication year. A total of 575 articles were initially retrieved. After removing duplicates, 527 references were screened by title and abstract, and 69 were selected for full-text review. Following this stage, 63 references were excluded, and 6 studies were ultimately deemed eligible. RESULTS: The six included studies involved a total of 905 participants. Atomoxetine demonstrated comparable efficacy to methylphenidate in reducing ADHD symptoms. The most common adverse effects were nausea, fatigue, and appetite changes. No severe adverse events were consistently reported. Atomoxetine’s efficacy was particularly evident in patients who did not tolerate or respond to stimulant medications. CONCLUSION: Available evidence suggests that atomoxetine is an effective and safe option for treating ADHD in adolescents, representing a valid alternative particularly for patients who do not tolerate stimulant medications. Continued research, especially long-term studies, is necessary to confirm its efficacy across different patient subgroups. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: Identifier CRD420251152121.

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2. Boonchooduang N, Phetsena M, Mekpoti N, Louthrenoo O. Musical Hallucinations in a Preadolescent With ADHD: A Case Report. J Dev Behav Pediatr. 2025.

BACKGROUND: Musical hallucinations are a rare auditory phenomenon, with fewer than 50 pediatric cases reported in the literature. They are particularly uncommon in children without hearing impairment or psychosis. CASE PRESENTATION: A Thai girl with ADHD, diagnosed at age 5 years and treated with methylphenidate, presented with a 1-week history of bilateral musical hallucinations. The hallucinations consisted of instrumental music without lyrics, were nonpulsatile, occurred predictably during specific hours, and were emotionally distressing. Audiologic evaluation showed normal hearing bilaterally, and EEG showed normal background activity with no epileptiform changes during hallucination episodes. She also exhibited frequent eye blinking consistent with simple motor tics. Developmental assessment revealed some developmental delays, with a KBIT-2 composite IQ of 87, showing a moderate discrepancy between verbal (79) and nonverbal (98) domains, potentially reflecting both neurodevelopmental vulnerabilities and sociolinguistic factors. Initial nonpharmacological interventions including media restriction and behavioral techniques were unsuccessful. Low-dose risperidone (0.25 mg/day) led to complete resolution of hallucinations, tics, and associated emotional distress within 3 weeks. She remained symptom-free at the 3-month follow-up. CONCLUSION: Musical hallucinations can occur in children with ADHD even in the absence of hearing impairment, epilepsy, or psychosis. Early recognition, comprehensive evaluation, and multidisciplinary management are essential. When symptoms cause significant distress, low-dose risperidone may be an effective treatment. Recognizing the structured and nonpsychotic nature of musical hallucination in neurodevelopmental contexts may help avoid misdiagnosis and guide appropriate intervention.

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3. Brown C. Is paracetamol in pregnancy a risk factor for ADHD?. Nature. 2026.

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4. Casals N, Larsson S, Hansen M. Correction: Machine learning on a smartphone-based CPT for ADHD prediction. Front Psychiatry. 2025; 16: 1771553.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1564351.].

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5. Dolgin E. Why teens with ADHD are so vulnerable to the perils of social media. Nature. 2026.

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6. Jones N. ADHD treatments move beyond stimulants. Nature. 2026.

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7. Kopanska M, Trojniak J, Bartman P, Torices S, Toborek M. Sensing brainwave dynamics in masked attention-deficit/hyper activity disorder: A quantitative electroencephalography-based approach to quantifying electrophysiological biomarkers in a high-functioning adult. J Physiol Pharmacol. 2025; 76(6): 717-28.

The diagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in high-functioning adults is challenging, often relying on subjective reports which can be confounded by compensatory mechanisms. Quantitative electroencephalography (QEEG) is an objective neurophysiological tool that can identify biomarkers associated with attentional dysregulation. This case report aims to illustrate the clinical utility of QEEG in characterizing the neural correlates of suspected ADHD in a high-functioning adult female. A 31-year-old high-functioning female with chronic symptoms of inattention and executive dysfunction underwent an eight-channel resting-state QEEG assessment under both eyes-open (EO) and eyes-closed (EC) conditions. Data were analyzed using the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) to determine the absolute and relative power of spectral bands and to compute key frequency ratios, including the theta/beta ratio (TBR). To confirm the clinical diagnosis of ADHD and exclude comorbid psychiatric or neurodevelopmental disorders, standardized diagnostic tools were employed, including the DIVA 2.0 structured interview. Data analysis revealed a marked excess of relative theta power in frontal and central regions, which persisted and amplified in the EC condition (e.g., F3: 21.37% in EO vs. 27.10% in EC). The TBR in frontal leads surpassed the clinical threshold of 1.5. Notably, a paradoxical alpha response was observed, with a decrease in posterior Alpha power upon eye closure. A mild rightward frontal asymmetry was also present. We found that the patient’s QEEG profile provided objective, quantifiable evidence that supports her subjective clinical presentation and is consistent with neurophysiological subtypes of adult ADHD. This case highlights the value of QEEG as an adjunctive diagnostic tool for illustrating potential neural correlates of ADHD in high-functioning individuals and for suggesting potential targets for therapeutic strategies. While this single-case study highlights QEEG’s potential, the findings underscore the need for larger-scale research to validate these neuromarkers for broader clinical application.

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8. Loftis JM, Ast HK, Bruton AM, Srikanth P, Ramesh R, Erikson DW, Robinette LM, Hatsu IE, Leung BMY, Machingo TA, Arnold LE, Johnstone JM. Multinutrient Supplementation in Children With ADHD Reduced Pro- and Anti-Inflammatory Immune Factors in the MADDY Randomized Controlled Trial. J Atten Disord. 2026: 10870547251397701.

OBJECTIVE: While individual nutrients have shown effects on inflammatory mechanisms, the effects of multinutrients (vitamins + minerals, antioxidants, and amino acids) on inflammation are unknown. We investigated whether 8 weeks of multinutrient supplementation, in a randomized controlled trial of 83 children with ADHD, would alter immune factors compared to placebo. METHODS: Multiplex technology was used to measure 25 immune factors in blood samples collected at baseline and week 8. Immune factors were compared between multinutrient and placebo groups using the Mann-Whitney test. Linear mixed effects models evaluated immune factor change over time. To understand the functional relevance of the immune factors affected by multinutrient supplementation, pathway analysis was performed using the Database for Annotation, Visualization, and Integrated Discovery (DAVID) v6.7 Bioinformatics Resources. RESULTS: Interleukin (IL)-5 and IL-13 levels differed following multinutrient supplementation versus placebo (p = .005 and .03, respectively). IL-5 decreased by 1.3% in the multinutrient group (95% CI [-8.6%, 6.7%]) and increased by 17.5% in the placebo group (95% CI [6.9%, 29.2%]). IL-13 decreased by 11.4% in the multinutrient group (95% CI [-18.2%, -4.0%]), compared to a 2.4% increase in the placebo group (95% CI [-7.2%, 13.1%]). When comparing immune factors between treatment responders versus non-responders in the multinutrient group, there was a 4.3% increase in IL-15 in multinutrient responders (95% CI [-6.8%, 16.8%]) and a 14.3% decrease in non-responders (p = .03, 95% CI [-24.9%, -2.4%]). Pathway analysis identified T helper type 2 (Th2) signaling pathways affected by multinutrient supplementation, including IL-17 and cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction pathways. CONCLUSION: Th2 immune factors may be influenced by multinutrient supplementation and associated with behavioral improvements in ADHD.

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9. Madhusoodanan J. Untangling the connection between dopamine and ADHD. Nature. 2026.

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10. Makin S. Six highlights from ADHD research. Nature. 2026.

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11. McHugh CM, John JR, Wu WT, Eapen V. The spectrum of neurodevelopmental disorders: comorbidities as clues to pathogenesis. Curr Opin Psychiatry. 2026; 39(2): 91-102.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: High comorbidity rates across neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) may suggest shared pathogenic mechanisms rather than independent disease processes. This review synthesizes recent neuroimaging evidence (2024-2025) examining how comorbidity patterns reveal circuit-level convergence across traditional diagnostic boundaries. RECENT FINDINGS: Studies of brain connectivity demonstrate that four core transdiagnostic dimensions of cognitive rigidity, sensory processing, repetitive behaviours, and social-emotional regulation show both circuit convergence and disorder-specific patterns across autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, Tourette syndrome and anxiety disorders. Analyses of how brain networks change over time clarify inconsistencies in earlier static studies, revealing that temporal network inflexibility predicts symptom severity better than anatomical connectivity alone. Developmental studies suggest circuit dysfunction emerges early (as early as 18 months for sensory processing) and creates cascade effects throughout maturation. Interventions targeting specific brain circuits produce transdiagnostic improvements, validating circuit-based approaches over disorder-specific supports. SUMMARY: Comorbidity patterns provide critical clues to shared pathogenesis, with circuit-level evidence supporting dimensional models over categorical diagnoses. The timing and of circuit dysfunction inform whether patterns reflect shared vulnerabilities, developmental cascades, or independent processes converging on similar phenotypes. These findings suggest that assessments and interventions targeting underlying brain mechanisms may be more effective than traditional categorical diagnosis-based interventions.

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12. Osa T, Mohr M, Halling J, Veyhe AS, Lundstrøm LH, Strøm M, Petersen MS. Prevalence of ASD, ADHD and co-occurring conditions among children and adolescents in the Faroe Islands, 2004-2022: a nationwide register-based study. BMC Pediatr. 2026.

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13. Owens B. ADHD is on the rise, but why?. Nature. 2026.

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14. Piccolo A, La Fauci M, De Domenico C, Di Cara M, Fulgenzi A, Mancuso N, Bonanno L, Tresoldi M, Muratore R, Impallomeni C, Tripodi E, Cucinotta F. The Impact of Executive Functions on Metaphonological Skills: Correlation and Treatment Implication for ADHD Children. J Clin Med. 2026; 15(2).

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder frequently associated with impairments in executive functions (EF). These deficits have been linked to difficulties across various cognitive domains, including metaphonological skills (MS), essential for phonological awareness and processing abilities. Background/Objectives: This pilot study examines the correlations between EF and MS in ADHD children. Methods: A total of 84 children aged 6-14 years, diagnosed with ADHD and an IQ ≥ 70, were assessed using the NEPSY-II test to evaluate executive functions and the Assessment of Metaphonological Skills Test to assess phonological processing abilities. Results: Correlational analyses and multiple regression models were employed to explore the relationships between EF and MS, focusing on attention, cognitive flexibility, and response inhibition. Rhyme was positively correlated with processing speed and negatively correlated with response inhibition. Phonemic segmentation was significantly related to auditory attention and response inhibition. Age emerged as a significant predictor of phonemic synthesis and final syllable deletion, consistent with the developmental maturation of executive and phonological abilities. Conclusions: The findings suggest that deficits in executive functioning in ADHD children are closely linked to metaphonological abilities, which play a crucial role in the acquisition of reading and writing skills. Integrating EF training into phonological interventions can help reduce learning difficulties and improve cognitive and language outcomes.

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15. Pozo-Rodríguez M, Cruz S, Conde-Pumpido-Zubizarreta S, Carracedo A, Tubío-Fungueiriño M, Fernández-Prieto M. A systematic review on the association between executive function and emotional regulation in autism, ADHD, and autism/ADHD. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2026; 183: 106570.

Executive function (EF) and emotion regulation (ER) have been proposed as transdiagnostic factors that contribute to the socio-emotional and behavioural difficulties observed in neurodevelopmental disorders, particularly autism and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Investigating potential differences in the association between EF and ER in autism, ADHD and autism/ADHD co-occurrence could be an important avenue to inform possible differential diagnosis. In this study, we present a systematic review examining the associations between EF and ER in autism, ADHD, and autism/ADHD. PubMed, Web of Science, PsycInfo, and Scopus datasets were searched for empirical articles, published between January 2013 and October 2024. Twenty-two articles were included. Of these, four analysed the relationship between EF and ER in autism, 16 in ADHD and two in autism/ADHD, demonstrating a clear focus on the study of these dimensions in ADHD over the past decade. Although age (i.e., children versus adults) and methodological (i.e., task-based versus report-based measures) differences may contribute to the variability of findings, the overall evidence suggests an association between EF difficulties and emotional dysregulation across conditions. Further research comparing autism, ADHD and autism/ADHD individuals is needed to draw clearer conclusions about how the association between EF and ER differs across these neurodevelopmental disorders, to inform more accurate diagnosis.

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16. Pradana FGA, Wibowo RA, Baker G. The effects of exergaming on executive functions in children with ADHD: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. Health Psychol Behav Med. 2026; 14(1): 2614157.

PURPOSE: A growing number of studies have investigated the effectiveness of exergaming on the executive functions (EFs) in children with ADHD. Whilst some studies have shown beneficial effects, other studies provide mixed effects and there has yet to be a focused synthesis of the literature on this topic. METHODS: A systematic review (PROSPERO; CRD42024549395) was conducted following PRISMA guidance, drawing from eligible studies across eleven databases. Studies were screened based on eligibility criteria by two independent reviewers. Risk of bias (Cochrane ROB2) and certainty of evidence (GRADE criteria) were independently assessed by two reviewers. The Synthesis Without Meta-analysis (SWiM) using vote counting based on direction of effect was conducted on studies with incomplete data. Separate meta-analyses were performed for each EF process using random-effect meta-analysis. RESULTS: A total of 2,263 studies were identified. After removing duplicates and non-RCTs automatically, 1,546 studies were screened by title and abstract resulting in 35 full texts being retained for detailed screening with 4 studies meeting all inclusion criteria. Two studies in the SWiM showed beneficial effects on overall EFs. Meta-analyses on two studies found exergaming was beneficial for inhibition (SMD = -5.07; 95%-CI [-14.08, 3.95]), working memory (SMD = -0.31; 95%-CI [-0.88, 0.26]), and cognitive flexibility (SMD = -0.84; 95%-CI [-1.50, -0.19]). The mean drop-out rate was 13.82% indicating high adherence. Implementation data identified that a console, game license, a room, television, and supervision from trainers/parents are needed to implement exergaming across different settings and contexts. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that although the direction of effects shows positive trends, the evidence remains insufficient and imprecise to determine the clear conclusion whether exergaming can increase EFs and adherence to PA in children with ADHD. Future research with high-quality measurement of the outcome and completely reporting outcome data is necessary to strengthen the evidence and to inform the implementation.

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17. Rout MR, Gaddis A, Yeguez CE, Sibley MH, Groves NB. Disparities in Adult ADHD Care Delivery Among U.S. Telepsychology Providers. J Atten Disord. 2026: 10870547251409862.

OBJECTIVE: At least a third of U.S. adults with ADHD do not access recommended treatments (medication or cognitive behavioral therapy [CBT]), and those receiving treatment face barriers (e.g., inconsistent availability of medication). We investigated systemic inequities in CBT access for adults with ADHD versus psychiatric diagnoses with similar prevalence. METHOD: We accessed and extracted publicly available listings from the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact (PSYPACT) provider directory (N = 12,898) in April 2025. RESULTS: Only 26.4% of PSYPACT providers explicitly offer any services for adult ADHD. They were nearly three times more likely to treat adult depression (69.2%) and anxiety (74.0%). CBT for adult ADHD was offered by just 21.3% of providers. CONCLUSION: U.S. psychologists are chief CBT providers for adult mental disorders; however, they systemically underserve adults with ADHD. Contributors to this inequity must be identified to advance adult ADHD care, as untreated ADHD is a costly public health burden.

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18. Smit S, Normand S, Mikami AY. Parent Mental Health and Engagement in Parenting Interventions for Child ADHD. Res Child Adolesc Psychopathol. 2026; 54(1): 11.

Parenting interventions are a front-line treatment for children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, many parents of children with ADHD have elevated ADHD or depressive symptoms, which may impede their ability to engage in and benefit from such interventions. This secondary data analysis examined associations between parent mental health, treatment engagement, and parenting-related treatment outcomes within a randomized trial of 172 families of children with ADHD. Families received either Parental Friendship Coaching (PFC; a behavioral parent training program) or Coping with ADHD through Relationships and Education (CARE; a parent psychoeducation and social support intervention); both were parenting interventions that aimed to support parents to improve children’s ADHD-related social impairments. Higher parent self-reported ADHD symptoms at baseline were associated with lower home practice completion in PFC, potentially greater perceived group social support in PFC, and higher attendance in CARE. In contrast, parent depressive symptoms were not associated with engagement in either intervention. Overall, higher parent ADHD or depressive symptoms demonstrated few associations with parenting behavior treatment outcomes at post-treatment or 8-month follow-up, and observed effects were both positive and negative in PFC and CARE. It is possible that accessibility-focused adaptations to PFC and CARE reduced the impact of higher parent mental health symptoms on poorer engagement and parenting treatment outcomes. Nevertheless, the generally low levels of ADHD and depressive symptoms in the sample limit the ability to detect possible stronger associations.

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19. Suchołbiak A. Should we consider sex hormone fluctuations relevant in the treatment of women with ADHD?. Psychiatr Danub. 2025; 37(4): 517-8.

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20. Taylor BJ, DiGirolamo A, Snyder A, Smith C, Claussen AH, Hutchins HJ, Phillips Martinez A. Parent Perspectives on Barriers to Behavioral Health Services for Children With ADHD. J Atten Disord. 2026: 10870547251412660.

OBJECTIVE: The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends behavioral therapy as first-line evidence-based treatment for young children with ADHD, and in combination with medications for children ages 6 years and older. However, a significant percentage of young children are receiving medication treatment for ADHD rather than behavioral treatment. There is limited research capturing parent experiences of barriers to implementing behavioral health services for young children with ADHD diagnoses. This paper seeks to fill this gap by exploring these perceived barriers among parents of children diagnosed with ADHD. METHOD: Parents of children with ADHD diagnoses (N = 29) were invited to participate in four focus groups to discuss their experiences with accessing treatment for their child. Focus group participants were recruited from one Southeast city through an ADHD parental support group and nationally from parents attending a conference on ADHD. RESULTS: Three themes emerged as perceived barriers that impact ADHD treatment. Parents reported barriers that can be conceptualized as (1) misconceptions and stigma; (2) availability of financial and time-related resources; and (3) treatment messaging and provider coordination. These barriers may be more pronounced for parents of young children with ADHD living in the Southeast. CONCLUSION: Parent responses about perceived barriers in this study suggest a need for better coordinated care of ADHD across places of service, providers, and families. These findings may inform future efforts to improve access to and utilization of evidence-based treatments for ADHD in the Southeast and nationwide.

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21. Wilson N. Why ADHD goes undiagnosed in girls. Nature. 2026.

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22. Wise J. ADHD: Medication use among UK women increases 20-fold over the past decade, study suggests. Bmj. 2026; 392: s140.

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23. Yang R, Sun W, Liu X, Cao Y. Enhancing attention and emotion regulation in children with ADHD through AR digital picture books: a structural equation modeling approach. Front Psychol. 2025; 16: 1613728.

This study investigates the effectiveness of augmented reality (AR) digital picture books in improving attention and emotional regulation among children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Grounded in self-determination theory and emotion regulation frameworks, a five-variable structural model was constructed: AR motivation → learning motivation → attentional focus → emotional regulation → behavioral improvement. Cognitive load and its interaction effects were introduced as moderating variables. Forty children aged 9-11, including 20 diagnosed with ADHD and 20 typically developing children, participated in a 2-week AR picture book intervention. Quantitative data were collected via student-, teacher-, and parent-rated instruments. T-tests, MANOVA, partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM), and multigroup analysis (PLS-MGA) were used for statistical analysis. The results indicated that AR picture books showed potential to improve learning motivation, attentional focus, and emotional regulation among ADHD children, ultimately enhancing behavioral outcomes. Learning motivation and attention served as significant mediators between AR experiences and emotion regulation. Cognitive load exhibited a negative moderating effect on the attentional-emotional pathway, with divergent patterns observed between ADHD and non-ADHD groups. These findings provide empirical support for the application of AR-based multisensory interaction design in special education interventions and offer practical insights into personalized cognitive-adaptive instructional design for inclusive learning environments.

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