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Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and disordered eating behaviors: links, risks, and challenges faced
Radek Ptacek1, George B Stefano2, Simon Weissenberger3
1Department of Psychiatry, Charles University 1st Medical Faculty and General Teaching Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic; Department of Psychology, University of New York in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic.
Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment
|April 5, 2016
Summary
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is linked to eating disorders (EDs), with shared dopaminergic signaling pathways potentially explaining this connection. Understanding this relationship is crucial for both conditions.
Area of Science:
- Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Psychiatry
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a persistent neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity.
- ADHD is frequently comorbid with various conditions, notably eating disorders (EDs), including binge eating disorder, bulimia nervosa, and anorexia nervosa.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the intricate relationship between ADHD and EDs.
- To review proposed mechanisms underlying the ADHD-ED comorbidity.
- To discuss the role of sex differences and common neural substrates in this association.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies investigating the comorbidity of ADHD and EDs.
- Analysis of proposed etiological factors for the co-occurrence of ADHD and EDs.
- Examination of the role of dopaminergic signaling in both conditions.
Main Results:
- Several hypotheses explain the ADHD-ED link: impulsive behavior, shared psychological comorbidities, nutritional deficiencies impacting ADHD, and common risk factors.
- Sex differences are significant, with higher ED incidence in females who may mask ADHD symptoms.
- Dopaminergic signaling is identified as a common neural substrate, crucial for motor activity and emotion, influencing motivated behaviors like eating.
Conclusions:
- The interconnection between ADHD and EDs is multifaceted, involving behavioral, psychological, and neurobiological factors.
- Dopaminergic pathways offer a potential unifying explanation for the observed comorbidities.
- Further research into this relationship is essential for improved diagnosis and treatment strategies.
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