Frequent Smart Phone, Internet Use Linked To Symptoms Of ADHD in Teens (npr.org)

Most teens today own a smartphone and go online every day, and about a quarter of them use the internet "almost constantly," according to a 2015 report by the Pew Research Center. Now a study published this week in JAMA suggests that such frequent use of digital media by adolescents might increase their odds of developing symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. From a report: "It's one of the first studies to look at modern digital media and ADHD risk," says psychologist Adam Leventhal, an associate professor of preventive medicine at the University of Southern California and an author of the study. When considered with previous research showing that greater social media use is associated with depression in teens, the new study suggests that "excessive digital media use doesn't seem to be great for [their] mental health," he adds. Previous research has shown that watching television or playing video games on a console put teenagers at a slightly higher risk of developing ADHD behaviors. But less is known about the impact of computers, tablets and smartphones.

Comments

Re:Is fast attention switching really a deficit?

[Anonymous Coward]

You need to be aware of the specific properties and diagnostic criteria in related diagnoses.

One thing I wish more people would realize is the very significant overlap between several ADHD criterion and adhedonia or related symptoms.

These symptoms are related to motivational disorders. In the majority of cases of adhedonia and major depressive disorder there is not so much an inability to experience pleasure but rather a hindrance of the effects of positive re-enforcement associated with pleasurable activities.

An individual suffering from all these conditions will be less likely to associate anticipation of a pleasurable experience with immediate pleasure and reward. These effects normally facilitate motivation to encourage the anticipated pleasurable activity or outcome.

The lack of awareness or even admittance of the concept of depression into youth behavioral assessment and diagnosis is extremely frightening.

Adults?

[antdude]

What about adults? :P