ADHD research in India: A narrative review.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Child Psychiatry
• Developmental Psychology

Background:

• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder with an unclear cause.
• Understanding ADHD research in India is crucial due to its unique socio-cultural context.
• This review provides a comprehensive overview of ADHD research originating from India.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a comprehensive review of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) research from India.
• To compare Indian ADHD research findings with global trends.
• To identify research gaps and unique contributions within the Indian context.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature search was performed using keywords like "ADHD" and "India" across databases (PubMed, Google Scholar, etc.) from 1966 to 2017.
• Peer-reviewed studies on human subjects conducted in India were included.
• Exclusions comprised case reports, animal studies, and prior reviews.

Main Results:

• Seventy-three studies were analyzed, covering epidemiology, etiology, clinical presentation, comorbidity, assessment, and interventions for ADHD.
• Indian studies reported comparatively lower ADHD prevalence and Bipolar Disorder comorbidity than Western research.
• Unique Indian research explored Ayurvedic and yoga interventions for ADHD.

Conclusions:

• Significant research gaps exist in India concerning ADHD biomarkers, long-term follow-up, and non-pharmacological treatments.
• Future research from India should focus on biomarkers, employ prospective designs, utilize larger sample sizes, and include matched controls.
• Further investigation into culturally specific interventions like yoga and traditional medicine is warranted.