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Brain Sciences
Special Issues
Addressing ADHD in Children: Contemporary Treatment Strategies
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Addressing ADHD in Children: Contemporary Treatment Strategies

A Special Issue of Brain Sciences (ISSN 2076-3425) belonging to the section "Developmental Neuroscience".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 November 2026 | Viewed by 6662

Editor

Dr. Richard Gallagher

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Division of Child Study Center, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016-6402, USA
Interests: anxiety disorders; attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children; behavioral problems in children; learning disorders in children; executive function

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Treatment research in youth Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders in the last 15 to 20 years has contributed to major advances in impacting the core symptoms as well as functional impairments in family and social relationships, executive functioning, and emotional regulation. Along with a number strides in medication treatment, substantial growth in treatment has occurred in psychosocial interventions and the use of non-medication interventions targeting alterations in brain activity. To provide an opportunity to gather summaries and updates on these varied means of altering the development in youth with ADHD, Brain Science is developing a Special Issue dedicated to covering these exciting investigations. The editors are seeking submissions that provide comprehensive reviews of clinical trials or new investigations in several broad areas: novel forms of parent education and advances in behavioral parent training; the state of science in addressing social functioning; approaches to enhance executive functioning in home and school situations; methods that address emotion and behavior regulation; and treatments that directly target brain activity. The Special Issue aims to provide a comprehensive source that will serve as a reference for both researchers and clinicians. The editors aim to facilitate readers’ ability to incorporate recent advances in their clinical work or to build upon this work to create even more groundbreaking investigations.

Dr. Richard Gallagher
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Brain Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorders)
  • children
  • adolescent
  • executive function deficits and treatment
  • functional impairments
  • psychosocial interventions
  • brain activity-targeted treatments

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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19 pages, 855 KB  
Article
Immediate Effects of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in Children with ADHD: A Pilot Resting-State fNIRS Study
by Betül Koçarslan, Herdem Aslan-Genç, Emre Yorgancıgil, Gülnaz Yükselen, Zeynep Seda Albayrak, Gökçen Aydın, Sinem Burcu Erdoğan, Ata Akın and Asli Demirtas-Tatlidede
Brain Sci. 2026, 16(6), 564; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci16060564 - 27 May 2026
Viewed by 1166
Abstract
Background: Children with ADHD exhibit deficits not only with attentional control but also with emotional dysregulation and experiential avoidance. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) directly targets these processes by enhancing psychological flexibility and reducing maladaptive responses to internal experiences. Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) [...] Read more.
Background: Children with ADHD exhibit deficits not only with attentional control but also with emotional dysregulation and experiential avoidance. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) directly targets these processes by enhancing psychological flexibility and reducing maladaptive responses to internal experiences. Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) offers a feasible and reliable method for assessing cortical hemodynamics in the ADHD population due to its portability and robustness to motion. This study aimed to investigate the immediate effects of a single-session ACT intervention on resting-state prefrontal hemodynamic activity in children with ADHD. Methods: Twenty children with ADHD underwent a single session of emotion regulation-focused ACT intervention. Resting-state fNIRS data were acquired immediately before and after the intervention. Changes in oxygenated (HbO) and deoxygenated hemoglobin (HbR) concentrations were statistically compared using paired t-tests. Results: All participants completed the protocol, and fNIRS acquisition was well tolerated. Post-intervention analyses revealed significant hemodynamic alterations after the session, marked by increased HbO at 0–240 s in the right lateral prefrontal cortex. HbO levels after the intervention were associated with SNAP hyperactivity scores. Conclusions: These findings provide preliminary evidence that single-session ACT intervention may be associated with short-term changes in resting hemodynamic activity in children with ADHD. fNIRS may demonstrate utility as a sensitive modality for detecting short-term intervention-related changes in neural activity. Given the exploratory nature of the study, future research with larger, controlled, and longitudinal designs is needed to evaluate the reproducibility of these findings and the clinical relevance of the observed hemodynamic changes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Addressing ADHD in Children: Contemporary Treatment Strategies)
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Review

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19 pages, 326 KB  
Review
Childhood ADHD and Its Adult Mimics: When First-Time ADHD Diagnoses in Adulthood May Reflect Other Conditions—A Narrative Review
by Alessandro Cuomo, Mario Pinzi and Andrea Fagiolini
Brain Sci. 2026, 16(9), 965; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci16090965 - 13 Sep 2026
Viewed by 667
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) begins in childhood, but its presentation changes over time. Adult ADHD is increasingly recognized; in the United States, 2023 survey data indicate that approximately 6% of adults reported a current diagnosis. This narrative review examines the developmental course of [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) begins in childhood, but its presentation changes over time. Adult ADHD is increasingly recognized; in the United States, 2023 survey data indicate that approximately 6% of adults reported a current diagnosis. This narrative review examines the developmental course of ADHD from childhood to adulthood and the controversial phenomenon of apparent late-onset presentations. Broadened diagnostic criteria, greater public awareness, and expanded access through telehealth may contribute to the rise in adult diagnoses, but these factors do not establish population-level diagnostic inflation. In some first-time adult assessments, the presenting symptoms may be better explained by an alternative or co-occurring condition; longitudinal studies also document associations between childhood ADHD and later borderline personality disorder or bipolar disorder without showing that diagnostic substitution is common. Methods: This is a narrative, non-systematic review. The primary and secondary literature were identified through targeted searches of PubMed/MEDLINE and Google Scholar (studies published through July 2026) using combinations of the terms “adult ADHD”, “diagnostic inflation”, “late-onset ADHD”, “executive function”, “borderline personality disorder”, “retrospective recall” and “stimulant diversion”, supplemented by hand-searching the reference lists of key reviews, current diagnostic manuals (DSM-5, DSM-5-TR, ICD-11) and consensus statements. All cited empirical claims and figures were verified against the primary source before submission. Results: The clinical presentation of ADHD shifts from overt hyperactive–impulsive behaviour in childhood toward executive dysfunction and subjective restlessness in adulthood. Longitudinal cohorts show both persistence and fluctuating remission, while birth-cohort evidence for apparently late-onset ADHD is substantially reduced when cases undergo repeated, multi-informant reassessment. Evidence for the recent rise in adult diagnoses is most direct for criterial broadening and expanded access, is qualitatively strong but difficult to quantify for correction of historical underrecognition and remains contested for genuinely adult-onset ADHD. Mood, anxiety, substance-use, sleep, stress-related, and personality conditions can overlap with or mimic ADHD-like symptoms. Prospective studies also report associations between childhood ADHD and later borderline personality disorder or bipolar disorder, but do not establish how often adult ADHD is diagnosed instead of either condition. Screening instruments and retrospective childhood recall therefore require interpretation within a full developmental and differential assessment. Conclusions: Adult ADHD is a genuine, historically underrecognized, and treatable condition. Its increased visibility warrants careful assessment, because a later diagnosis based on weakly corroborated retrospective evidence may be overconfident even when it is ultimately correct. Maintaining diagnostic integrity across the lifespan requires developmentally informed assessment, systematic differential diagnosis, cautious use of screening instruments, and explicit separation of clinical conclusions from administrative or medico-legal determinations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Addressing ADHD in Children: Contemporary Treatment Strategies)
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20 pages, 368 KB  
Review
Review of Emotion Regulation Psychosocial Interventions for Children and Adolescents with ADHD
by Rosanna Breaux, Charity Majusiak, Annah R. Cash, Stephanie N. Pham and Michelle Le
Brain Sci. 2026, 16(6), 560; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci16060560 - 25 May 2026
Viewed by 2671
Abstract
Emotion dysregulation (ED), emotional responses that impair goal-directed behavior, have been argued to be a core characteristic of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and are associated with functional impairment beyond the core symptoms of ADHD. Additionally, deficits in emotion regulation (ER), the ability to increase, [...] Read more.
Emotion dysregulation (ED), emotional responses that impair goal-directed behavior, have been argued to be a core characteristic of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and are associated with functional impairment beyond the core symptoms of ADHD. Additionally, deficits in emotion regulation (ER), the ability to increase, decrease, or maintain the intensity, duration, and trajectory of emotions are common among children and adolescents with ADHD. Despite this, treatment efforts to improve such ER abilities and to decrease ED in youths with ADHD have been limited, particularly during the adolescent developmental period. Clinical knowledge was used to inform PsycInfo and Google Scholar searches to identify the relevant literature. This narrative review discusses transdiagnostic interventions (cognitive behavioral therapy, the Unified Protocol for Children/Adolescents, dialectical behavior therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, and mindfulness-based interventions) that can be used to target ER in ADHD, and interventions for youths with ADHD that either have been found to improve ER outcomes or that directly target ER/ED for youths with ADHD and their families. We end our review by highlighting the gaps and limitations in the existing literature prior to drawing conclusions and making recommendations for future research in this important area. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Addressing ADHD in Children: Contemporary Treatment Strategies)
19 pages, 603 KB  
Review
Parental ADHD as a Mechanistic Barrier to Behavioral Parent Training Implementation: An Intergenerational Framework for Addressing Childhood ADHD
by Lauren M. Friedman, Gabrielle Fabrikant-Abzug and Lindsay C. Chromik
Brain Sci. 2026, 16(5), 495; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci16050495 - 30 Apr 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1334
Abstract
Behavioral parent training (BPT) is a front-line psychosocial treatment for childhood ADHD, yet its real-world effectiveness is often constrained by parents’ ability to consistently implement learned strategies. Parental ADHD is a prevalent and mechanistically important factor shaping both parenting behavior and child treatment [...] Read more.
Behavioral parent training (BPT) is a front-line psychosocial treatment for childhood ADHD, yet its real-world effectiveness is often constrained by parents’ ability to consistently implement learned strategies. Parental ADHD is a prevalent and mechanistically important factor shaping both parenting behavior and child treatment response. Among parents with ADHD, deficits in executive functioning and emotion regulation, abilities essential for consistent and effective BPT implementation, often interfere with parents’ ability to apply learned strategies. Consequently, parental ADHD predicts reduced in-home skill use and attenuated child treatment gains, positioning it as a potentially critical, treatment-relevant risk factor. This narrative review synthesizes evidence on the intergenerational transmission of ADHD-related impairments, the impact of parental ADHD on parenting practices, and the role of parental ADHD as a moderator of BPT outcomes. We also examine existing approaches to addressing parental ADHD within the context of child BPT, including both pharmacological and psychosocial strategies, and evaluate their implications for parenting and child response. Building on this, we propose an intergenerational reconceptualization of psychosocial care for childhood ADHD in which parental functioning is routinely assessed and supported within BPT. Promising directions include integrating CBT-informed strategies to scaffold parents’ cognitive and regulatory processes, incorporating digital health tools that provide just-in-time guidance at the point of parenting performance, and tailoring BPT emphasis for families affected by multigenerational ADHD. Ultimately, embedding parent-focused supports within BPT may be essential for strengthening treatment impact, durability, and real-world effectiveness for many children and families. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Addressing ADHD in Children: Contemporary Treatment Strategies)
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