Testing the clinical mechanisms of ADHD with depression and gender

£2.4 million has been funded to trials evaluating the clinical mechanisms of ADHD, with consideration to its progression with depression, parental impact, and ADHD in women

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is neurodevelopmental condition usually diagnosed in children and can cause restlessness, difficulty concentrating and impulsive behaviour.

ADHD has often lead to difficulties for some people, increasing their risk of anxiety and depression, and impacting on their relationships, career and even life-expectancy.

However, much ADHD research has been conducted on boys and men. While the condition largely affects women also, the symptoms can go unnoticed until much later in life.

Now, the Medical Research Council (MRC) are leading three projects across three universities to understand the clinical mechanisms of ADHD with depression, as well as the role of close relationships and genetics.

Understanding the clinical mechanisms of ADHD in women and girls

Looking at how ADHD presents in girls and women, and why so many women are not diagnosed with the condition until they are adults, the first project, led by Dr Jessica Agnew-Blais at Queen Mary University of London will use existing data from a longitudinal cohort with yearly assessments of ADHD to assess whether the onset of puberty is associated with increasing ADHD symptoms.

ADHD has been viewed as a childhood disorder mainly affecting boys, which means much of the research to date has overlooked girls and women.

As more women and girls are being diagnosed with the condition, researchers find the information on how to treat women and girls is lacking and requires new data collection to understand whether hormonal fluctuations across the menstrual cycle are associated with increased ADHD symptoms and impairment.

ADHD’s relationship with subsequent depression

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and depression can go hand-in-hand. Doctors sometimes call them coexisting conditions, meaning you can have both at the same time.

Another study, led by Led by Dr Lucy Riglin at Cardiff University, will identify more people at risk of depression with their ADHD at an earlier stage to help people manage their condition.

Dr Joanna Latimer, Head of Neurosciences and Mental Health at MRC, part of UK Research and Innovation, said: “Previous research has shown that intervening at an early stage is crucial. If ADHD is correctly diagnosed and treated, the negative impacts that it can lead to in some circumstances will be greatly reduced.

“Our hope is that these projects will mean a greater number of people can be offered evidence-based interventions at the right time, so that the condition does not hold children and young adults back from reaching their potential.”

The impact of parental response in early years

Another aspect of the clinical mechanisms of ADHD is whether it is genetically formed from parents.

Differing parental responses to the infant’s activity and emotions could change the impact of ADHD on learning in later life.

Another project, led by Professor Emily Jones at Birkbeck, University of London and Professor Sam Wass at University of East London, will analyse family history of ADHD and combine data collected with a new analysis of existing data from older children.

Using clinical mechanisms of ADHD intervention data, parents will be supported with this information to better manage their child’s attention through real-time monitoring of the child’s behaviour.

This data will be collected in the ‘ToddlerLab’ from people’s homes. This lab will use motion tracking, facial recognition and wireless wearable neuroimaging to measure brain activity during natural play.

The ‘ToddlerLab’ will investigate the relationship between the response of the parent to the child’s activity and emotion, and whether it could lessen the subsequent impact on the child’s ability to concentrate as they get older.