Signs of adhd in teens
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Signs of ADHD in Teens
Core Symptoms: Inattention, Hyperactivity, and Impulsivity
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adolescents is characterized by pervasive and impairing symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity7. These core symptoms can manifest in various ways, impacting different aspects of a teenager's life, including academic performance, social interactions, and daily functioning.
Behavioral and Emotional Challenges
Negative Moods and Social Contexts
Teens with high levels of ADHD symptoms often experience more negative moods and fewer positive moods compared to their peers. They also tend to have lower alertness and engage more in entertaining activities rather than achievement-oriented pursuits. Additionally, these adolescents spend more time with friends and less time with family, which can contribute to unhealthy lifestyle behaviors and increased vulnerability to substance use, such as tobacco and alcohol2.
Comorbidities and Behavioral Disorders
A significant number of adolescents with ADHD also exhibit comorbid conditions such as oppositional defiant disorder (68%) and conduct disorder (39%). These comorbidities further impair their social competence, behavioral and emotional adjustment, and school performance. Interestingly, while parents and teachers rate these teens as more impaired, the adolescents themselves often perceive their adjustment as better, differing mainly in depressive symptoms and antisocial acts4.
Academic and Functional Impairments
Academic Performance and Executive Functioning
Adolescents with ADHD often struggle with academic performance due to difficulties in verbal learning, vigilance, and executive functions such as organization, time management, and planning (OTP) skills. These challenges are more pronounced in the disruptive/disorganized ADHD phenotype, which is characterized by severe OTP problems and frequent disruptive behavior at school1.
Sleep Disturbances
Sleep disturbances are common among adolescents with ADHD and are associated with poorer clinical, neurocognitive, and functional outcomes. These disturbances can exacerbate ADHD symptoms and contribute to the heterogeneity of the disorder's presentation and prognosis6.
Gender, Race, and Family Adversity
Gender Differences
There are notable differences in the presentation of ADHD symptoms between males and females. Females are more likely to exhibit the ADHD + internalizing phenotype, characterized by higher rates of comorbid anxiety and depression. In contrast, males are more frequently found in the disruptive/disorganized ADHD phenotype1.
Impact of Race and Family Adversity
Higher family adversity and African American race are associated with the disruptive/disorganized ADHD phenotype. This suggests that socio-economic and cultural factors play a significant role in the manifestation and severity of ADHD symptoms in adolescents1.
Conclusion
ADHD in adolescents presents a complex array of symptoms and challenges that vary by individual characteristics such as gender, race, and family adversity. Core symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity are often accompanied by negative moods, social difficulties, comorbid behavioral disorders, academic impairments, and sleep disturbances. Understanding these diverse presentations is crucial for effective screening, diagnosis, and treatment tailored to the unique needs of each adolescent.
Sources and full results
Most relevant research papers on this topic
Presenting problem profiles for adolescents with ADHD: differences by sex, age, race, and family adversity.
Adolescents with ADHD exhibit varying presenting problem phenotypes, influenced by sex, family adversity, and race/ethnicity, which may inform treatment matching and screening efforts.
Observational StudyThe ADHD spectrum and everyday life: experience sampling of adolescent moods, activities, smoking, and drinking.
High ADHD symptom levels in adolescents are associated with more negative moods, lower alertness, more entertainment activities, less family time, and increased tobacco and alcohol use.
Observational Study
Highly CitedAttention deficit hyperactivity disorder in teens and adults: they don't all outgrow it.
ADHD persists into adulthood, with treatment options similar to those used for children, but symptoms and concerns may appear differently.
Highly CitedAdolescents with ADHD: patterns of behavioral adjustment, academic functioning, and treatment utilization.
ADHD adolescents exhibit more oppositional defiant disorder, conduct disorder, and poorer social competence, behavioral adjustment, and school performance compared to control teens.
Highly CitedEvidence-based pharmacological treatment options for ADHD in children and adolescents.
Pharmacological treatment options for ADHD in children and adolescents show large effect sizes and good tolerability, but more research and novel medications are needed for improved outcomes.
Systematic ReviewHighly CitedSleep disturbances in adolescents with ADHD: A systematic review and framework for future research.
Sleep disturbances in adolescents with ADHD are associated with poorer clinical, neurocognitive, and functional outcomes.
Systematic ReviewHighly CitedAttention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and hyperkinetic disorder
ADHD is a common mental disorder affecting children and adolescents, with core symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and/or impulsivity.
Highly CitedEarly motor signs of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: a systematic review
Early motor signs of ADHD may be associated with developmental coordination disorder and motor overflow movements, but current clinical screening methods are insufficient for accurate detection.
Systematic Review
Very Rigorous JournalMethylphenidate for children and adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Methylphenidate may provide benefits for children and adolescents with ADHD, but its long-term safety and effectiveness remain uncertain.
Systematic ReviewHighly CitedParent-teen behavior therapy + motivational interviewing for adolescents with ADHD.
STAND is an acutely effective treatment for adolescents with ADHD, but more work is needed to establish long-term effects.
RCTHighly Cited