RECENT RESEARCH
However, the results suggest that both types of exercise may improve core symptom scores, providing preliminary evidence for Baduanjin as a potential supplementary intervention for children with ADHD.
Zhou J, Jiang W, Wang J, Dou J. Network meta-analysis of the effects of long-term non-pharmacologic treatment on inhibitory control in children and adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. J Psychiatr Res. 2025 Jul; 187:261-276. doi: 10.1016 / j. jpsychires. 2025.05.028. Epub 2025 May 13. PMID: 40398202.
Objective: To conduct a network meta-analysis comparing the effects of various long-term non-pharmacological treatments on inhibitory control in children and adolescents with Attention- Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder( ADHD) to provide theoretical support for non-pharmacological interventions in ADHD management.
Methods: Randomized controlled trials( RCTs) on the effects of longterm non-pharmacological treatments on inhibitory control in children and adolescents with ADHD published up to November 11, 2024, were searched in databases such as CNKI, Web of Science, APA PsycInfo, Embase, PubMed and Cochrane Library.
Results: A total of 42 studies, including seven non-pharmacological types, were included, involving 1981 children and adolescents with ADHD, with a mean age of 10.04 ± 1.82 years. Both traditional and network meta-analyses based on post-test data revealed that physical exercise, cognitive training, behavior therapy, and neurofeedback significantly improved inhibitory control( P < 0.05), with physical exercise showing the best improvement( SUCRA: 85.9 %). At the same time, board games, EMG feedback, and meditation had no significant effect( P > 0.05). Follow-up analysis showed that behavior therapy and cognitive training had a good maintenance effect( P < 0.05), with behavior therapy demonstrating the best sustained effect( SUCRA: 95.1 %). In contrast, physical exercise, board games, and neurofeedback showed diminishing effects over time and had no significant long-term effect( P > 0.05).
Conclusion: Existing evidence shows that physical exercise, cognitive training, behavior therapy, and neurofeedback all have a positive effect on improving inhibitory control in children and adolescents with ADHD, with physical exercise showing the best effect, though with poor maintenance, while cognitive training and behavior therapy had a slightly lower effect, but their maintenance was better.
Lifestyle medicine
Arnold LE, Hendrix K, Pan X, Vollebregt MA, Yu M, Kerson C, Arns M, Hatsu IE, DeBeus R, Hollway J, Roley-Roberts ME. Lifestyle Effects in a Randomized Controlled Trial of Neurofeedback for Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder. J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol. 2025 Nov; 35( 9): 491-499. doi: 10.1089 / cap. 2025.0019. Epub 2025 May 16. PMID: 40376739.
Objectives / Background: Multiple factors influence symptom severity in Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder( ADHD). We examined four of these: diet, sleep hygiene, exercise, and lighting, in the International Collaborative ADHD Neurofeedback( ICAN) randomized clinical trial, which found large significant improvement with both active neurofeedback and control condition without treatment difference.
Methods: A total of 142 participants aged 7-10 had breakfast and lunch intake and exercise recorded at each neurofeedback session. Parents completed the Children ' s Sleep Habits Questionnaire( CSHQ). Parents and teachers rated inattention on Conners3. Lifestyle changes were correlated with inattention changes.
Results: At baseline, CSHQ correlated with parent-rated inattention( r = 0.17, p = 0.04), and length of sleep correlated with teacher-rated inattention( r = 0.20, p = 0.03). From baseline to treatment end food group variety( p = 0.029, d = 0.22) and sleep problems( p < 0.0001, d =-0.49) improved significantly, exercise time and protein intake marginally( p = 0.06- 0.08). Parent-rated inattention improvement correlated with CSHQ improvement( Rho = 0.26, p = 0.002) and marginally with protein intake increase( Rho = 0.18, p = 0.06). The three components of the light-emittingdiode( LED)-induced circadian pathway hypothesis were significant.
Conclusions: Most measures improved, but few significantly. How much they impact classroom attention remains unclear. Although parent ratings of inattention improvement correlated with sleep problems improvement, composited parent / teacher ratings( primary outcome) did not. The circadian pathway hypothesis associated with LED lighting was supported. These findings warrant further studies examining the role sleep hygiene can play in improving ADHD symptoms. Meanwhile, attention to sleep hygiene seems appropriate in any treatment plan for ADHD.
Western herbal medicine
Golsorkhi H, Montazerlotfelahi H, Abniki E, Vafaee-Shahi M, Kamalinejad M, Qorbani M, Bahrami M, Dadmehr M. Efficacy and Safety of Rosa canina L. and a Traditional Polyherbal Formulation Syrup in Children and Adolescents with Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder: A Factorial Randomized Double-Blind Placebo- Controlled Clinical Trial. Phytother Res. 2025 Sep; 39( 9): 4116-4125. doi: 10.1002 / ptr. 70061. Epub 2025 Aug 2. PMID: 40751509.
Attention-deficit / hyperactivity disorder( ADHD) is a neuropsychiatric disorder in children and adolescents. A number of patients do not respond adequately to psychostimulant medications or sometimes experience intolerable side effects. The present study was conducted to determine the efficacy and safety of Rosa canina L. and a traditional polyherbal formulation( PHF) syrup on ADHD as a complementary treatment. Ninety ADHD patients aged 5-14 years based on DSM-5 diagnostic criteria
242 | vol31 | no4 | AJNM