Impact of COVID-19 for people living and working with ADHD: A brief review of the literature

Jack Hollingdale; Nicoletta Adamo; Kevin Tierney

doi:10.3934/publichealth.2021047

Impact of COVID-19 for people living and working with ADHD: A brief review of the literature

AIMS Public Health. 2021 Aug 23;8(4):581-597. doi: 10.3934/publichealth.2021047. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Jack Hollingdale¹, Nicoletta Adamo^{2

3}, Kevin Tierney²

Affiliations

¹ Compass, Compass Psychology Services Ltd, London, UK.
² SCAAND Department, Michael Rutter Centre, South London and Maudsley NHS Trust, London, UK.
³ Department of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.

Abstract

Objective: COVID-19 lockdowns have changed the social and environmental context. Those with ADHD are more vulnerable to experiencing difficulties than their non-ADHD peers. This paper attempts to provide a brief summary of the literature that has emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Method: A literature search was completed using the following databases; Embase, Ovid Medline, APA PsycInfo. A total of 36 papers were identified as relevant to the topic.

Results: The pandemic has exacerbated the core symptoms of ADHD and co-occurring difficulties. Services have adapted their assessment and intervention protocols for tele-health working and findings suggest that tele-interventions present a viable alternative. However, much of this research utilises small sample sizes and a restricted number of population groups.

Conclusions: More research is required to determine the effectiveness of ADHD care during the pandemic and whether adaptations will be retained post-pandemic.

Keywords: ADHD; COVID-19; education provision; interventions; service provision.

Publication types

Review