Dear Colleagues,

Attention-Deficit with Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder affecting about 5% of school-age children that persists at adulthood in about 60% of the cases. The biological and genetic origins of ADHD are widely admitted although the pathophysiological paths are still not that clear besides neuropsychological issues like the lack of inhibition and mind wandering. Several regions of the central nervous system seem to be involved, from the prefrontal cortex to the cerebellum.

Contrasting with the huge number of scientific papers and books on ADHD published in the last four decades, this condition remains under-recognized in some countries. Barriers to care and all form of stigma result and need to be addressed. Governments and other health care stakeholders are not aware of the costs for the health systems and the society. Words must be backed by deeds.

At all age, ADHD is associated with a variety of psychiatric comorbid disorders (e.g., mood and anxiety disorders, substance and non-substance abuse disorders, learning disorders) and non-psychiatric comorbid disorders (e.g. epilepsy, enuresis, atopic disease) that make the clinical presentation sometimes difficult to decipher. Not to mention the co-occurrence of Autism Spectrum Disorder and ADHD. An early and comprehensive diagnosis and a multidisciplinary treatment—including pharmacological ones—are warranted to shift the life trajectory, prevent the apparition of comorbid disorders and damper the multifaceted burden on the patient and its family. The challenge for the clinician taking care of a patient with ADHD is to take into consideration and treat this myriad of issues. It shall be kept in mind that a fatal issue may not be excluded: Untreated ADHD is now recognized as a cause for domestic and driving accidents, (repeated) suicidal attempts and suicide. Nowadays, it is not regarded as bad practice to associate a psychostimulant with an antidepressant, a mood stabilizer or a new antipsychotic agent to the treatment of patients with comorbid ADHD. Nevertheless, clinical studies and evidence-based guidelines are needed. The evaluation of non-pharmacological treatments like mindfulness and neurofeedback—as stand-alone or add-on therapies—has to be encouraged. Finally, the issue of transition from child to adult healthcare services has been raised in the recent years, and guidelines and programs have been proposed.

The current Special Issue will gather reviews and articles on the understanding, pathogenesis and direction for treatment of ADHD and related disorders in children and adults. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to: Genetics, epigenetics, psychiatric and non-psychiatric comorbidity, biomarker discovery, pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapeutic interventions, stigma reduction, and transition.

Dr. Hervé Caci
Guest Editor

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• Comorbidity
• Suicidal behavior
• Stigma
• Treatment
• Prevention
• Transition