Brain Scans Indicate 3 Types of ADHD
Newser • • health
Key Points:
- A large brain imaging study of 446 children with ADHD identified three distinct brain-based "biotypes," including a newly recognized subtype characterized by severe emotional dysregulation and explosive reactions.
- This third biotype shows abnormalities in 45 brain regions, particularly those related to emotion and control, nearly double the abnormalities seen in the other two subtypes.
- Children in this extreme subtype often experience intense meltdowns, require more intensive care and multiple medications, and are at higher risk for future psychiatric issues.
- Although ADHD diagnosis currently relies on behavior rather than brain scans, these findings may prompt future revisions to diagnostic manuals to formally include emotional dysregulation as a core symptom.
- The study's insights could also lead to improved, more tailored treatment approaches for children with this severe emotional subtype of ADHD.
