1. Galesne C, Kinouani S, Dow C, Charles MA, Tafflet M, van der Waerden J, Heude B, Khalfallah O, Le Mouroux C, Davidovic L, Galera C. Cord blood C-reactive protein and ADHD symptoms at age 5: Evidence from two French birth cohorts. Brain Behav Immun. 2026: 106780.

BACKGROUND: Conditions associated with perinatal inflammation have been identified as risk factors for neurodevelopmental disorders, including Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). However, data linking early inflammatory biomarkers with later ADHD symptoms remain scarce. The acute phase C-reactive protein (CRP) is a key marker of systemic inflammation. To date, no studies have examined the association between CRP levels in cord blood (reflecting neonatal inflammation) and subsequent childhood ADHD symptoms. Here, we aimed to investigate whether elevated cord blood CRP concentrations are associated with child’s ADHD symptoms at age 5. METHODS: We analyzed data from 1019 and 831 mother-child pairs enrolled in the ELFE and EDEN prospective birth cohorts, respectively. CRP levels in cord blood were measured using an immunoassay. ADHD symptoms were assessed at age 5 using the hyperactivity-inattention subscale of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Outcomes included both continuous scores and categorical thresholds: borderline (≥6) and abnormal (≥7) hyperactivity-inattention symptoms. Multivariate linear and logistic regression models were conducted within each cohort to assess associations between elevated CRP levels (≥75th percentile) and ADHD symptoms. Results were then pooled using random-effects meta-analytic methods. All analyses were conducted using R version 4.5.0. RESULTS: Borderline hyperactivity-inattention scores were observed in 21% of children in the ELFE cohort and 14% in EDEN. After adjusting for maternal sociodemographic, lifestyle, and pregnancy-related factors, as well as child characteristics at birth, elevated cord blood CRP was significantly associated with higher odds of ADHD symptoms: borderline scores (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.42; 95% CI: 1.08-1.86), abnormal scores (aOR = 1.48; 95% CI: 1.06-2.08), and increased continuous symptom scores (β = 0.29; 95% CI: 0.04-0.54). CONCLUSIONS: Higher CRP concentrations in cord blood are associated with greater ADHD symptom severity at age 5. These findings support the hypothesis that early-life inflammation may contribute to the developmental origins of ADHD and suggest that CRP could serve as a potential early biomarker of neurodevelopmental vulnerability.

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2. Greenberg NF, Becker SP, Luebbe AM, Kofler MJ, Burns GL, McDonald KL, Jarrett MA. ADHD Symptoms, Internalizing Symptoms, and Friendship Features in Emerging Adults: The Moderating Effect of Cognitive Disengagement Syndrome Symptoms. J Atten Disord. 2026: 10870547261437613.

OBJECTIVE: Previous research has revealed that individuals with ADHD exhibit difficulties in social functioning including obtaining and maintaining quality friendships. Cognitive disengagement syndrome (CDS) symptoms and internalizing symptoms frequently co-occur with ADHD symptoms and negatively influence social functioning, yet relatively little is known about how these symptoms uniquely relate to friendship features. METHODS: The present study sought to examine associations among these variables in a large, multi-site sample of emerging adults. Participants (N = 4,756; 18-29 years; 72.7% female; 79.8% White) enrolled in five universities in the United States completed measures of ADHD, CDS, internalizing symptoms, and friendship features. RESULTS: Moderated conditional effects modeling revealed that internalizing symptoms accounted for significant variance in the association between ADHD symptoms and friendship features in all models. CDS symptoms were a significant moderator of the association between ADHD symptoms and friendship features (both positive and negative) such that there was a weaker association between ADHD symptoms and friendship impairment at higher levels of CDS symptoms. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that CDS symptoms may buffer the association between ADHD and friendship features. Future research should continue to explore the associations among ADHD, CDS, and internalizing symptoms and their impact on friendship functioning.

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3. Irmak DE, Temizkan E, Akyürek G, Bumin G. Psychometric Testing of the Turkish School Setting Interview in Pediatric Neurodevelopmental Disorders. Child Care Health Dev. 2026; 52(3): e70282.

BACKGROUND: This study investigated the validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the School Setting Interview (SSI) for children with neurodevelopmental disorders. METHODS: A cross-sectional psychometric validation design was used with 115 schoolchildren (6-17 years) diagnosed with either specific learning disability (n = 63) or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (n = 52) in school and clinical settings across Turkey. Students completed the Turkish SSI, and convergent validity was examined via correlations with the School Function Assessment (SFA). As hypothesis-testing construct validity evidence, SSI scores were compared between genders, and reliability was evaluated through Cronbach’s alpha and item analysis. RESULTS: The Turkish SSI showed excellent convergent validity, correlating strongly with SFA participation (r = 0.97), performance (r = 0.97) and assistance (r = 0.95) scores. Additionally, no significant gender differences were found (p = 0.17). Internal consistency was high (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.96), with every item contributing positively to the scale. CONCLUSION: The Turkish SSI is a brief, reliable and valid instrument for gauging student-environment fit in children with neurodevelopmental disorders, enabling educators and occupational therapists to identify barriers and design targeted interventions that foster academic participation and success.

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4. Jwa Y, Lee J, Yu H, Lee CW, Hur HJ, Do HS, Lim J, Lim SW, Kim JH, Hwang IA, Kang HS, Ha TH, Park J, Myung W. Retrospective childhood attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder traits and their differential associations with mood disorder presentations in adulthood. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2026.

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5. Kasahara S, Aono S, Takatsuki K, Niwa SI, Yabuki S. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and autism spectrum disorder in chronic pain: a study in Japanese pain centers. Sci Rep. 2026; 16(1).

Chronic pain is influenced by physical and psychosocial factors and associated with symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD); however, the specific symptom dimension related to pain severity and the underlying psychosocial pathways remain unclear. This cross-sectional screening study included 958 adult patients with persistent chronic pain despite standard care at their initial visit to multidisciplinary pain centers (Japan). Screening positivity rates were 17.1% for ADHD and 4.4% for ASD. ADHD symptoms, but not ASD symptoms, were considerably associated with higher pain intensity and extremely severe pain [average numerical rating scale score: 9-10]. Among patients with extremely severe pain, 27.4% were screened positive for ADHD. Hierarchical logistic regression analyses revealed that the association between ADHD symptoms and extremely severe pain was attenuated after adjustment for anxiety/depression and pain catastrophizing. Path analyses further indicated that ADHD symptoms were indirectly associated with severe chronic pain through anxiety/depression alone or through anxiety/depression combined with pain catastrophizing. Thus, ADHD symptoms are more strongly associated with pain severity than ASD symptoms in patients with persistent chronic pain, and emotional and cognitive factors may play a key mediating role. Screening for ADHD symptoms is crucial for comprehensive management of severe chronic pain.

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6. Luo J, Shao W, Wu Y, Huang H, Xu G, Qi Y, Overton P, Zheng Y, He F. Comparing ADHD symptom network structure in Chinese youth with ADHD: ADHD alone vs. ADHD with comorbidities. J Psychiatr Res. 2026; 199: 62-9.

BACKGROUND: ADHD is often comorbid with other psychiatric conditions, but it remains unclear whether comorbidities influence the structure of ADHD symptoms. This study examines ADHD symptom profiles in individuals with ADHD and comorbidities (AC) and individuals with ADHD only (AP). METHODS: The study used a secondary dataset obtained from a mental health survey of 1906 Chinese youth with ADHD, comprising AP (n = 897) and AC (n = 1009). Symptoms were assessed using the caregiver-rated CBCL DSM-oriented ADHD scale (CBCL-ADH). Partial correlation networks were estimated using the EBICglasso algorithm. Network Comparison Tests (NCTs) were conducted to compare the structure of CBCL-ADH items between the AP and AC groups, as well as across subgroups (e.g., gender and age groups). RESULTS: The network of CBCL-ADH items remained largely invariant across groups, despite higher ADHD severity observed in the AC group (p < .001). Subgroup analyses were generally consistent, with some exceptions: a marginal difference in network structure between age groups (p = .07) and an elevated risk of developing comorbidities among older participants (12-16 years) and female participants. CONCLUSION: While comorbid conditions appear unrelated to the structure of caregiver-informed ADHD symptoms, further investigation is warranted to examine ADHD structure using multi-informant assessments, as well as the complex interactions between ADHD and comorbid symptom profiles. Variations in subgroups highlight the need for developmental and sociocultural considerations in managing comorbidities. These findings suggest that targeting central ADHD symptoms (e.g., hyperactivity) may offer benefits for ADHD improvement across comorbid presentations, though further validation is needed.

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7. Lynch JD, Subedi S, Zimon M, Peisch V, Arnett AB. Associations between ADHD Symptoms and Psychiatric Symptoms in Children: Effects of Functional Impairment and Temperament. J Atten Disord. 2026: 10870547261438181.

OBJECTIVE: ADHD is a highly prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder that is associated with elevated rates of co-occurring psychiatric symptoms. The present study evaluated the role of functional impairment in mediating the association between ADHD symptoms and psychiatric symptoms, as well as the moderating role of temperament traits. METHOD: Participants included two cohorts: an early childhood longitudinal sample (ages 2-4 years; n = 93) and a middle childhood cross-sectional sample (ages 7-11 years; n = 92). Both cohorts were oversampled for ADHD diagnosis or concerns. ADHD symptom severity, psychiatric symptoms, functional impairment, and temperament were assessed by caregiver report. Linear mediation and moderated mediation models were conducted, with ADHD symptom severity as the independent variable, functional impairment as the mediator, and psychiatric symptoms as the dependent variable; additionally, baseline psychiatric symptoms were covaried in the longitudinal early childhood analysis. RESULTS: Across both samples, we found significant mediation effects for depression and aggression. In the middle childhood sample, functional impairment also fully mediated the association between ADHD and anxiety symptom severity. In the moderated mediation models, negative affect enhanced indirect effects on depression in early childhood and aggression in middle childhood. There were no protective effects of surgency. CONCLUSIONS: Intervention specifically targeting functional impairment in this population has key clinical implications as it may help reduce the elevated risk of psychiatric comorbidity in the ADHD population, particularly in children with elevated levels of negative emotionality who are seemingly at highest risk.

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8. Orell G, Barazanji N, Fernell E, Gillberg C, Lindberg G, Walter S. Traits of autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in irritable bowel syndrome with pronounced symptoms. Scand J Gastroenterol. 2026: 1-11.

OBJECTIVES: Gastrointestinal symptoms are common in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, little is known about the relationship between gastrointestinal symptoms with ASD and/or ADHD in adults. Emerging evidence has revealed potential connections between Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and ASD. Notably, shared genetic architecture has been identified between IBS and ASD. This cross-sectional study aimed at assessing the prevalence of ASD and/or ADHD traits in IBS patients and whether these traits impacted the clinical presentation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Adult patients with moderate-severe IBS (N = 150) were offered screening questionnaires for ASD and ADHD. The patients also completed questionnaires for symptom severity and underwent a rectal balloon barostat examination. Participants screening positive for ASD and/or ADHD were compared to participants screening negative for both conditions. RESULTS: Screening questionnaires were obtained from 110 patients (86 women). In total, 34/110 participants screened positive for ASD and 45/110 for ADHD, and 26 among those screened positive for both conditions. IBS symptom severity was higher in the group screening positive for ADHD, and somatic symptom burden was higher in both positive screening groups. Barostat thresholds for maximum tolerable pressure were lower in the group screening positive for ASD, and anxiety scores were higher in the group screening positive for ADHD. CONCLUSIONS: We found that positive screening for ASD and ADHD were both highly prevalent in a cohort of patients with moderate-severe IBS. The patients who screened positive for ASD and/or ADHD presented significant clinical differences compared to those who did not.

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9. Shang J, Cui H, Shu C, Zheng L, Liu F, Peng Y, Wei Z, Ni X, Liu J. Comprehensive overview of triclosan neurotoxicity and construction of adverse outcome pathways using a systems toxicology approach: Triclosan-induced attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder as an example. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. 2026; 316: 120169.

Triclosan (TCS) is widely applied to daily necessities as a chemical bacteriostatic agent. Environmental TCS levels have increased significantly following the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, posing a potential threat to humans and ecosystems. Epidemiological investigations and toxicological studies have shown that long-term TCS exposure can damage human tissues and organs and induce neurodevelopmental disorders in offspring. However, studies on the mechanisms underlying its neurotoxicity and toxicity risk assessments are limited. This review summarizes the status of environmental and human TCS exposure and systematically outlines its neurotoxic effects. To further elucidate the mechanisms underlying TCS neurotoxicity, using TCS-induced attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as an example, we constructed an adverse outcome pathway (AOP) framework based on a systematic toxicology approach. We found that TCS increased the expression of cannabinoid receptor 1, which activates the « neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction » pathway, leading to ADHD-like behaviors, including cognitive, learning, and memory deficits, by modulating chemical synaptic transmission and neurotransmitter levels. The AOP framework was further used to assess the associated neurodevelopmental toxicity risks of TCS, contributing to a better understanding of its characteristics and safety. Thus, future research on the mechanisms underlying TCS toxicity and issues related to its detection and regulation should be emphasized.

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10. Tamm L, Quiroz M, Peugh JL, Epstein JN, Becker SP. Does Short-Term Memory Moderate the Relation Between Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Symptom Dimensions and Anger Regulation in Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder?. J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol. 2026: 10445463261445015.

BACKGROUND: Emotion regulation (ER) difficulties affect many children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). ADHD is also associated with working memory (WM) and related short-term memory (STM) impairments, including functionally and anatomically distinct phonological (PH) and visuospatial (VS) subsystem deficits. Neurocognitive deficits in PH and VS may moderate the link between ADHD symptoms and anger dysregulation, which the current study tested in children diagnosed with ADHD. METHOD: Participants were 168 children aged 8-12 years with ADHD. Caregivers and teachers completed ADHD inattentive (IN) and hyperactivity-impulsivity (HI) symptom ratings. Children reported on their responses to anger including suppression, dysregulation, and coping and completed PH and VS WM tasks from which STM variables were derived. Multivariate linear models evaluated whether PH and VS factors and their interactions with IN and HI were associated with anger regulation, controlling for sex and medication status. RESULTS: Main effects were observed for caregiver-rated HI on anger dysregulation and coping; for VS on anger suppression, dysregulation, and coping; and PH on anger dysregulation. Significant caregiver-rated HI × VS interactions for anger dysregulation and coping emerged, as well as a significant caregiver-rated IN × PH interaction for anger dysregulation. Higher HI symptoms were associated with more anger dysregulation and lower anger coping only at high (stronger) levels of VS performance. Higher IN symptoms were associated with lower anger dysregulation only at very low (poorer) levels of PH performance. No significant findings emerged for teacher-rated ADHD symptoms. DISCUSSION: The findings add to the literature suggesting that ADHD symptoms, particularly HI, play a role in anger regulation, and that the association may be partially modulated by STM. Future studies of ER in ADHD should consider specific anger management strategies, in addition to disaggregating VS and PH, given that both interacted with the association of caregiver-rated ADHD and anger regulation. Implications for intervention are discussed.

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11. Therribout N, Romo L, Hennequin T, Chrétienneau C, Davost L, Fontaine T, Bellivier F, Vorspan F, Dereux A, Karsinti E, Icick R. Psychometric properties of ADHD screening and diagnostic tools in patients with severe substance use disorders. Int J Clin Health Psychol. 2026; 26(1): 100682.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare the performance of several tools for diagnosing ADHD in an adult population suffering from SUD, within a multi-tool diagnostic procedure. METHOD: Eighty-two patients suffering from SUD and suspected of ADHD were referred to undergo the procedure. They were asked to complete two questionnaires: the Adult Self Report Scale (ASRS-6) and the Wender Utah Rating Scale (WURS-25) and three interviews: the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI-S), the Dual Diagnosis Screening Interview (DDSI) and the Diagnostich Interview Voor ADHD (DIVA-5). Their performance was compared to a consensus statement provided by trained psychiatrists and psychologists informed by all the assessments. RESULTS: All the tools showed good sensitivity (0.81-0.98), but only the DIVA-5 showed good specificity (0.88). Accordingly, the negative predictive value calculated for an assumed prevalence of ADHD of 23 % was high for all tools (0.88 – 0.99) whereas only the DIVA-5 showed a good positive predictive value (0.71). CONCLUSION: The ASRS, the WURS, the MINI and the DDSI are thus useful screening tools among SUD patients, but the DIVA-5 seems to provide the most accurate information to ascertain ADHD diagnosis in this population. Further investigations are needed to assess the impact of prior standardized comorbidity evaluations on the accuracy of DIVA-5.

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12. Vergara Nieto Á A, Diaz AH, Millán MH, Oyarzo DS, Gacitúa JA. Physical exercise as a non-pharmacological strategy for ADHD considering neurobiological mechanisms, cognitive benefits, and practical recommendations: a narrative review. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2026.

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13. Wong A, Goh PK, Mellor GS, Tsang J, Banerjee M, Khaireddin MM, Hartung CM. Racial and Ethnic Heterogeneity in Grit’s Relations With ADHD Symptom Severity and Impairment: Indications of Decreased Relevance in Asian Versus White College Students. J Atten Disord. 2026: 10870547261437608.

OBJECTIVE: Grit is a potential resilience factor that might help expand ADHD’s conceptualization and inform empowering interventions. Yet, no work has examined how components of grit, particularly consistency of interests (COI), may relate to ADHD symptom severity and impairment. Additionally, it is unclear whether these relations may differ with respect to one’s race and ethnicity. Thus, the current study aimed to examine whether race and ethnicity moderate grit and COI’s relations with ADHD symptom severity and impairment in college students. METHODS: Participants, aged 18 to 25 years, were derived from two samples of a multisite college ADHD study: Exploratory Sample (N = 1,771; M(age) = 19.21, SD = 1.40) and Confirmatory Sample (N = 3,809; M(age) = 19.11, SD = 1.31). All participants self-reported ADHD symptom severity, functional impairment, and levels of grit. RESULTS: Examination of main effects across samples revealed that grit and COI were significantly and negatively associated with ADHD symptom severity. Further, in a sample of participants with five or more ADHD symptoms (N = 1,153; M(age) = 19.22, SD = 1.41), follow-up analyses investigating impairment revealed that grit had a significant, positive relation with impairment, and COI had a significant, negative relation with impairment. Grit’s relations with ADHD symptom severity and impairment were generally consistent across race and ethnicity. Yet, there was a significant moderating effect with respect to the White versus Asian comparison concerning COI-ADHD relations. Follow-up analyses revealed that the strength of these relations was significantly weaker in Asian college students. CONCLUSION: Results provided greater specificity in grit’s role as a resilience factor for ADHD and highlighted the need for further exploration of resilience factors to inform more comprehensive conceptualizations of ADHD in Asian college students.

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14. Wu H, Yu M, Huang S, Peng Y, Wei G, Huang C. The Gut-Brain Axis as a Mediator of Environmental Endocrine Disruptors in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Systematic Review and Mechanistic Synthesis. Biol Psychiatry Glob Open Sci. 2026; 6(3): 100717.

The rising global prevalence of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) underscores the importance of environmental factors, particularly environmental endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EEDs), whose mechanistic links to ADHD remain unclear. The gut-brain axis, a key modulator of neurodevelopment, is susceptible to EEDs and is altered in ADHD, suggesting a potential mediating pathway. Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and PROSPERO registration (CRD420251152480), we systematically searched PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase (January 2014-July 2025) for studies on EEDs, gut microbiota, and ADHD. Data from 127 included studies (observational, experimental, interventional) were narratively synthesized to evaluate the gut-brain axis as a mediator. We found 1) consistent epidemiological associations between prenatal/childhood EED exposure (e.g., phthalates, bisphenol A, pesticides) and increased ADHD risk; 2) a distinct gut microbial signature in ADHD featuring reduced alpha diversity, elevated Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio, depletion of beneficial taxa (Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium), and impaired short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production; 3) evidence that EED exposure induces convergent gut dysbiosis; and 4) interventional studies indicating that modulating the microbiota (via probiotics, synbiotics, fecal microbiota transplantation) can ameliorate ADHD-related behaviors. These findings support a novel mechanistic model wherein EEDs disrupt gut microbiota homeostasis, thereby contributing to ADHD pathogenesis via immune-inflammatory, microbial metabolite (e.g., SCFA), and neuroendocrine pathways along the gut-brain axis. This review synthesizes evidence positioning the gut-brain axis as a critical mediator linking EED exposure to ADHD. It proposes a unifying etiological framework and highlights the microbiome as a promising target for preventive and therapeutic strategies. Future longitudinal and intervention studies are needed to establish causality. This systematic review proposes a novel mechanism linking environmental endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EEDs), such as phthalates and bisphenol A, to attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Evidence suggests that early-life EED exposure may disrupt the gut microbiome, leading to dysbiosis, which in turn could contribute to ADHD symptoms via immune, metabolic, and neuroendocrine pathways. The findings highlight the gut-brain axis as a key mediator and suggest microbiota-targeted interventions as promising future strategies for ADHD prevention and therapy. eng.

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