ADHD Then and Now: How Our Understanding Has Evolved (with David Anderson, Ph.D.)

In honor of ADHD Awareness Month, David Anderson, Ph.D., discusses how our understanding of ADHD has changed over the past 25 years. He addresses developments in diagnosis and treatment since 1998, challenges in the field of ADHD today, and progress in the years to come.

Download the slides associated with this webinar here:

6:34 history of ADHD diagnosis
12:13 how our understanding of ADHD has evolved
17:47 mapping comorbidities
19:14 developmental ADHD for a lifetime
21:17 differences in gender presentation of ADHD
23:32 Sluggish Cognitive Tempo
26:12 neuroscience developments
28:14 treatment developments
32:35 treatment in 1998
36:32 treatment in 2023
42:41 Challenges in the field of ADHD today
46:07 Where is the hope?
48:00 Resources
49:02 How do we dismantle ADHD stereotypes? ADHD is "Real, common and treatable"
50:33 What can we do to help teachers?
54:12 clinician bias
58:21 anxiety

Related Resources
1. Download: 3 Defining Features of ADHD

2. Read: The Evolution of ADHD

3. Read: Generations: A Family’s History With ADHD

4. eBook: Your Complete ADHD Guide

[jonathanberry]

🎯 Key Takeaways for quick navigation:

00:01 🎙️ *Introduction to the webinar and the significance of understanding ADHD over 25 years.*
- Introduction by Carol Fleck and Dr. Dave Anderson about the significance of the webinar.
- ADHD's evolution since 1998, highlighting its importance and the mission to raise awareness.
- The impact of ADHD myths on individuals and families.
05:00 📜 *Historical context and evolution of the ADHD diagnosis.*
- The historical progression of ADHD diagnosis from the 18th century to modern times.
- The challenges and evolution in naming conventions, from "minimal brain damage" to "hyperkinetic reaction of childhood."
- Transition from subtypes to presentations in ADHD diagnosis, emphasizing the need for reliability across development.
12:21 🧠 *Evolving understanding of ADHD symptoms and diagnosis criteria.*
- The DSM-5 criteria and the grouping of symptoms for inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive presentations.
- Exploration of the "Phi Dye" acronym, focusing on frequency, intensity, duration, and impairment in ADHD diagnosis.
- The ongoing research and debate about late onset or adult onset forms of ADHD and the search for objective markers.
15:12 🔄 *Chronic nature, comorbidities, and developmental factors of ADHD.*
- Chronicity of ADHD from childhood into adulthood and the evolving understanding of symptom presentations over time.
- The prevalence of comorbidities such as mood disorders, anxiety, and substance use disorders in individuals with ADHD.
- Environmental factors and risks exacerbating ADHD symptoms, leading to challenges like academic failure or involvement in the school-to-prison pipeline.
21:11 ♀️ *Gender differences, stigma, and biases in ADHD diagnosis and presentation.*
- Exploration of sex differences in ADHD presentation, with females potentially being more diagnosed with inattentive symptoms.
- The role of stigma, biases, and misconceptions in the diagnosis and understanding of ADHD in females.
- The importance of recognizing ADHD symptoms beyond anxiety or depression in females for accurate diagnosis and treatment.
22:18 🧬 *Evolution of ADHD Science Over Time*
- Discussion on how the understanding of ADHD has evolved over the last 25 years.
- Emphasis on the complexities added by new scientific discoveries, including different presentations and levels of severity.
- Exploration of potential modifiers like emotion regulation and sluggish cognitive Tempo (SCT) in ADHD diagnosis.
28:22 📚 *Evidence-Based Practices in ADHD Treatment*
- Explanation of evidence-based practices in treating ADHD from 1998 to 2023.
- The importance of standardized and uniform treatment approaches for better outcomes.
- Highlighting challenges and gaps in treatments, including prevalence of non-evidence-based treatments.
36:32 🎯 *Advances and Challenges in ADHD Treatment*
- Overview of advances made in ADHD treatment over the past 25 years, including behavioral peer interventions and organizational skills training.
- Discussion on weak evidence areas such as cognitive training, neurofeedback, physical activity, and Omega-3s.
- Emphasis on addressing challenges like parental mental health concerns and ensuring diverse representation in research.
43:00 🧠 *Understanding ADHD Treatment and Stigma*
- The section discusses the challenges and stigmas surrounding ADHD treatment and interventions.
- There's a shortage of child psychologists and psychiatrists, leading to scrutiny and stigmatization of psychiatric interventions like ADHD medication.
- Caregivers may hesitate to use evidence-based treatments due to societal perceptions and misinformation, resulting in a rise of unproven treatments.
- The stigma surrounding ADHD and psychiatric interventions can negatively impact affected individuals' mental health, leading to comorbidities and reduced help-seeking behavior.
46:16 🌐 *Future Prospects in ADHD Care*
- The segment focuses on advancements in understanding ADHD and the hope for more personalized, effective treatments.
- Advances in neuroscience and genetics offer promise for precision medicine tailored to individual risk and protective factors.
- There's a significant push to expand the mental health workforce and utilize telehealth to increase access to care.
- Societal movements aim to combat mental health stigma and promote more inclusive terminology like "neurodivergence."
49:02 🍎 *Educational Challenges and ADHD*
- This section delves into the struggles educators face in understanding and addressing ADHD in the classroom setting.
- Teachers often lack adequate training to effectively manage ADHD-related behaviors, leading to challenges in classroom management.
- The emphasis is on creating inclusive classrooms that support the social-emotional development of all students, including those with neurodiverse conditions.
- There's a need for standardized training across educational settings to equip educators with the necessary skills and strategies to support students with ADHD.
54:37 🤝 *Addressing Clinician Bias and Diagnosis*
- The segment highlights the importance of addressing clinician biases in diagnosing ADHD and ensuring evidence-based treatment approaches.
- Clinicians need standardized training to ensure accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment strategies for ADHD.
- Addressing biases is crucial, especially considering disparities in diagnosis rates among different demographic groups, such as girls, women, and older adults.
- Emphasizing evidence-based practices and fostering collaboration among clinicians can help in reducing misdiagnoses and improving outcomes.

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[Chimpy_Mc_Gibbon]

Thank you so much for these. I always forget to attend but the uploads are worth their weight in gold!

[ExkupidsMom]

This is a particularly well-done talk. excellent presenter and information. It's disappointing that it is so focused on kids, though. We need to include adults in the informational dissemination, especially women, who are likely to be misdiagnosis until adulthood.

[adhdmarriage]

Very helpful information about ADHD treatment and intervention.

[JustDisc]

This was a well explained update on adhd. Truly appreciated for myself, my wife and others. Thank you!

[MrsLili]

Thank you very much! The information Dr. Anderson provided in this webinar was so helpful!