Autonomic nervous system functioning in ADHD
Autonomic nervous system functioning in ADHD
In this chapter, we introduce the autonomic nervous system (ANS), discuss the mechanisms underlying arousal regulation in humans, and present theoretical frameworks suggesting that altered autonomic functioning is likely to contribute to behavioral, cognitive, and emotional difficulties experienced by people with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The reviewed evidence in this chapter suggests that autonomic hypofunctioning and difficulties in regulating arousal according to situational demands may cause inattention, restlessness, reduced vigilance and cognitive difficulties (especially during monotonous and unrewarding activities), and emotional dysregulation and irritability in people with ADHD. Although the chapter is specifically focused on ADHD, we also provide the reader with an overview of the literature investigating autonomic dysfunction in psychiatric or psychological conditions that often co-occur with ADHD, including oppositional defiant disorder and conduct disorder, mood disorder, and autism spectrum disorder. We discuss the effects of pharmacological and nonpharmacological interventions for ADHD on autonomic functioning, and we propose that ADHD medication and some nonpharmacological interventions may be effective in reducing inattention and hyperactivity, and improving global functioning in people with ADHD, because they normalize activity of the ANS and improve arousal regulation. The concluding sections include a brief discussion about the possible implications of the findings presented in this chapter for clinical and research practice. Specifically, we stress the importance of clarifying, in future research, the role of altered autonomic functioning in ADHD, which could prove helpful for developing more efficient and valid assessment and intervention tools for people with this neurodevelopmental condition.
37-75
Bellato, Alessio
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Wiersema, Jan R.
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Groom, Madeleine J.
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22 November 2023
Bellato, Alessio
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Wiersema, Jan R.
cc91556a-6a9f-4079-b0b8-502bd729b936
Groom, Madeleine J.
0950cda7-451f-40c3-a4e2-e6df8629de55
Bellato, Alessio, Wiersema, Jan R. and Groom, Madeleine J.
(2023)
Autonomic nervous system functioning in ADHD.
In,
Matson, Johnny L.
(ed.)
Clinical Handbook of ADHD Assessment and Treatment Across the Lifespan.
(Autism and Child Psychopathology Series)
1 ed.
Springer Cham, .
(doi:10.1007/978-3-031-41709-2_3).
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Abstract
In this chapter, we introduce the autonomic nervous system (ANS), discuss the mechanisms underlying arousal regulation in humans, and present theoretical frameworks suggesting that altered autonomic functioning is likely to contribute to behavioral, cognitive, and emotional difficulties experienced by people with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The reviewed evidence in this chapter suggests that autonomic hypofunctioning and difficulties in regulating arousal according to situational demands may cause inattention, restlessness, reduced vigilance and cognitive difficulties (especially during monotonous and unrewarding activities), and emotional dysregulation and irritability in people with ADHD. Although the chapter is specifically focused on ADHD, we also provide the reader with an overview of the literature investigating autonomic dysfunction in psychiatric or psychological conditions that often co-occur with ADHD, including oppositional defiant disorder and conduct disorder, mood disorder, and autism spectrum disorder. We discuss the effects of pharmacological and nonpharmacological interventions for ADHD on autonomic functioning, and we propose that ADHD medication and some nonpharmacological interventions may be effective in reducing inattention and hyperactivity, and improving global functioning in people with ADHD, because they normalize activity of the ANS and improve arousal regulation. The concluding sections include a brief discussion about the possible implications of the findings presented in this chapter for clinical and research practice. Specifically, we stress the importance of clarifying, in future research, the role of altered autonomic functioning in ADHD, which could prove helpful for developing more efficient and valid assessment and intervention tools for people with this neurodevelopmental condition.
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[Accepted version] Autonomic Nervous System functioning in ADHD
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Accepted/In Press date: 2023
e-pub ahead of print date: 21 November 2023
Published date: 22 November 2023
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 482014
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/482014
ISSN: 2192-922X
PURE UUID: 482a7d41-c227-432d-b0c4-255f3ce54820
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Date deposited: 15 Sep 2023 16:33
Last modified: 18 Mar 2024 04:16
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Contributors
Author:
Alessio Bellato
Author:
Jan R. Wiersema
Author:
Madeleine J. Groom
Editor:
Johnny L. Matson
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