Autonomic nervous system functioning in ADHD
Groom, Madeleine J.
Groom, Madeleine J.
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.
MIDER Authors
Citations
Altmetric:
Date
2023
Type
Book chapter
Subject
Attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity, Pharmacology
Collections
Citation
Bellato, A., Wiersema, J. R. & Groom, M. J. (2023). Autonomic nervous system functioning in ADHD. In: Matson, J. L. (ed.) Clinical handbook of ADHD assessment and treatment across the lifespan Cham: Springer International Publishing, pp. 37-75.
Journal / Source Title
DOI
PMID
Publisher
Springer International Publishing