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Attention Deficit May Be The Wrong Way To Understand ADHD, Says US Psychiatrist

<span><a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health/adhd">ADHD</a></span> may be less about an inability to pay attention and more about difficulties sustaining engagement with tasks, according to a US psychiatrist who has questioned whether the condition's name adequately captures its symptoms.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (<a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health/adhd" data-type="tilCustomLink">ADHD</a>) is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects attention, executive function, impulse control, and activity levels. It typically begins in childhood, with symptoms appearing before age 12, and frequently persists into adulthood. 

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, ADHD symptoms fall into two primary categories: 

Inattention: Difficulty sustaining focus, missing details, making careless mistakes, forgetfulness in daily routines, and struggling to stay organized.

Hyperactivity and impulsivity: Fidgeting, excessive talking, restlessness (including internal restlessness in adults), interrupting others, and acting without thinking. 

However, Dr. <span>Awais Aftab</span>, a psychiatrist in Cleveland, Ohio, and clinical associate professor of psychiatry at Case Western Reserve University, has questioned whether the term “attention deficit” adequately captures the condition.

“The condition’s name notwithstanding, ‘<span>attention deficit</span>’ may be the wrong conceptual framing for ADHD,” he wrote in an article in The New York Times.

<strong>Also read</strong>: <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/adhd-your-pupils-may-explain-how-the-brain-handles-attention-says-new-indian-study-article-156152018" data-type="tilCustomLink">ADHD: Your Pupils May Explain How The Brain Handles Attention, Says New Indian Study</a>

<h2>ADHD May Be More About Sustained Engagement </h2>

Aftab argued that ADHD may involve difficulties with the brain's ability to assign importance to a task and sustain the effort needed to complete it, rather than simply an inability to filter out distractions. 

People with ADHD can often concentrate on activities that interest them. The difficulty may arise when they need to maintain attention and effort over time, particularly when tasks are repetitive or offer little immediate reward. 

“If attention is about the mind homing in on what’s relevant in a given moment, engagement is about keeping that spotlight pointed at the same target over time,” Aftab wrote. 

His argument offers a different way of thinking about some of the everyday challenges associated with ADHD, including starting tasks, staying organized, and following through on activities that require sustained mental effort.

<h2>What Do <span rel="noindex"><a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health/adhd">ADHD</a> Medications</span> Do? </h2>

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ADHD is often treated with stimulant medications, such as <span>Adderall</span>, which can help reduce symptoms and improve attention and impulse control. 

Aftab argued that the effects of these medications may extend beyond attention itself. 

“Stimulants create what looks like improved attention and focus, but they really do so by enhancing the salience of mundane activities – tricking the brain into assigning greater worth and significance to things like math homework and laundry,” he said. 

Citing a study published in Cell that examined the effects of stimulants on the brain, Aftab suggested that the medications' effects on brain networks could support a broader understanding of ADHD. However, findings about how stimulants affect the brain do not, by themselves, establish that ADHD is primarily a problem of motivation or task engagement rather than attention.

Aftab also suggested that some patients may rely on medication to keep up with lifestyles that are not suited to their needs. This raises broader questions about how treatment, daily demands, and individual needs intersect, rather than suggesting that medication is unnecessary. 

He also emphasized evidence linking ADHD medication use with lower risks of adverse outcomes, including death, self-harm, transport accidents, criminality, and addiction-related problems.

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ADHD may be less about an inability to pay attention and more about difficulties sustaining engagement with tasks, according to a US psychiatrist who has questioned whether the condition's name adequately captures its symptoms. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects attention, executive function, impulse control, and activity levels. It typically begins in childhood, with symptoms appearing before age 12, and frequently persists into adulthood. What Are The Symptoms Of ADHD? According to the National Institute of Mental Health, ADHD symptoms fall into two primary categories: Inattention: Difficulty sustaining focus, missing details, making careless mistakes, forgetfulness in daily routines, and struggling to stay organized. Hyperactivity and impulsivity: Fidgeting, excessive talking, restlessness (including internal restlessness in adults), interrupting others, and acting without thinking. However, Dr. Awais Aftab, a psychiatrist in Cleveland, Ohio, and clinical associate professor of psychiatry at Case Western Reserve University, has questioned whether the term “attention deficit” adequately captures the condition. “The condition’s name notwithstanding, ‘attention deficit’ may be the wrong conceptual framing for ADHD,” he wrote in an article in The New York Times. Also read: ADHD: Your Pupils May Explain How The Brain Handles Attention, Says New Indian StudyADHD May Be More About Sustained Engagement Aftab argued that ADHD may involve difficulties with the brain's ability to assign importance to a task and sustain the effort needed to complete it, rather than simply an inability to filter out distractions. People with ADHD can often concentrate on activities that interest them. The difficulty may arise when they need to maintain attention and effort over time, particularly when tasks are repetitive or offer little immediate reward. “If attention is about the mind homing in on what’s relevant in a given moment, engagement is about keeping that spotlight pointed at the same target over time,” Aftab wrote. His argument offers a different way of thinking about some of the everyday challenges associated with ADHD, including starting tasks, staying organized, and following through on activities that require sustained mental effort. What Do ADHD Medications Do?    ADHD is often treated with stimulant medications, such as Adderall, which can help reduce symptoms and improve attention and impulse control. Aftab argued that the effects of these medications may extend beyond attention itself. “Stimulants create what looks like improved attention and focus, but they really do so by enhancing the salience of mundane activities – tricking the brain into assigning greater worth and significance to things like math homework and laundry,” he said. Citing a study published in Cell that examined the effects of stimulants on the brain, Aftab suggested that the medications' effects on brain networks could support a broader understanding of ADHD. However, findings about how stimulants affect the brain do not, by themselves, establish that ADHD is primarily a problem of motivation or task engagement rather than attention. Aftab also suggested that some patients may rely on medication to keep up with lifestyles that are not suited to their needs. This raises broader questions about how treatment, daily demands, and individual needs intersect, rather than suggesting that medication is unnecessary. He also emphasized evidence linking ADHD medication use with lower risks of adverse outcomes, including death, self-harm, transport accidents, criminality, and addiction-related problems.

attention deficit may be the wrong way to understand adhd, says us psychiatrist

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Attention Deficit May Be The Wrong Way To Understand ADHD, Says US Psychiatrist

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