Seasonality and circadian preference in adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: clinical and neuropsychological correlates
Abstract
Objective The objective of the study was to measure both seasonal mood change and circadian preference, and their clinical and neuropsychological correlates, in adults with ADHD during the fall/winter months.Method Twenty-nine adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) were assessed in the fall/winter season using self-report measures of ADHD, mood, seasonality, and circadian preference. Neuropsychological tests were also completed. Correlations between chronobiologic variables and clinical/neuropsychological measures were performed.Results Consistent with prior work in adult ADHD, high rates of seasonal depression were reported in this sample. Based on the morningness-eveningness questionnaire, which assesses circadian preference 11 (40.7%, N = 27) subjects were designated as evening types and only 5 (18.5%) as morning types, a distribution highly discrepant with general population studies. Later circadian preference, independent of seasonality, was strongly correlated with both self-reported symptoms of ADHD and neuropsychological deficits, including impulsive responding and poor target discrimination. None of these findings was attributable to state depression.Conclusions In the fall/winter period, a mood-independent delay in circadian phase may contribute significantly to core pathology in many adults with ADHD. These findings establish a potential target for chronobiologic treatments such as light therapy in this complex population.
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Reductions in sleep quality, delays in circadian phase and evening preference are consistently reported in children and adults with ADHD and may be correlated with the severity of ADHD symptoms.
“Reductions in sleep quality, delays in circadian phase and evening preference are consistently reported in children and adults with ADHD87 and may be correlated with the severity of ADHD symptoms88.”
From Rhythms of life: circadian disruption and brain disorders across the lifespan (2019) · cites this paper as [88]
Increased eveningness is associated with increased ADHD symptoms and poorer sustained attention in adults with ADHD.
“report increased eveningness associated with increased ADHD symptoms and poorer sustained attention on a continuous performance task in 29 adults with ADHD.”
From A systematic review of circadian function, chronotype and chronotherapy in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (2017) · cites this paper as Rybak et al. (2007)
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- Authors
- Rybak, Y. E., McNeely, H. E., Mackenzie, B. E., Jain, U. R., & Levitan, R. D.
- Affiliations
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CA)
- Corresponding author
- Rybak, Yuri E.
- Venue
- Comprehensive Psychiatry
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2007-11
- Volume
- 48
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 562-571
- ISSN
- 0010-440X (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2020627447
- Semantic Scholar
- a7123b6866013cc39c766343c37529349895d4d1
- Cited by
- 102
- References
- 35
- Citations by year
- 2025: 2 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 12 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 10
- FWCI
- 1.41
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Comprehensive Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Eli Lilly and Company
- GlaxoSmithKline
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Circadian rhythm and melatonin
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Sleep and related disorders
- Keywords
- adult ADHD, circadian preference, seasonal variation, seasonal affective disorder, chronobiology, chronotype, evening chronotype, impulsivity, target discrimination, phototherapy, neuropsychological deficits
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity, Mental Disorders, Circadian Rhythm, Female, Humans, Male, Memory Disorders, Middle Aged, Neuropsychological Tests, Prospective Studies, Surveys and Questionnaires, Regression Analysis, Seasons, Comorbidity
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