Objective: Maladaptive daydreaming (MD) entails excessive immersion and engagement in complex fantasy worlds, causing distress and impairing functioning. Maladaptive Daydreamers often report that existing diagnostic labels are unhelpful for them. Previous studies reported high rates of comorbid attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) among persons with MD, raising the question of their separateness. This study explored whether MD differs essentially from ADHD by examining an ADHD sample, hypothesizing a much lower incidence of MD.

Method: Adults diagnosed with ADHD (N = 83) were assessed for ADHD symptoms, MD, depression, loneliness, and self-esteem. Participants who exceeded the study's cutoff score for suspected MD were invited to participate in a structured diagnostic interview for MD.

Results: In accordance with the hypothesis, only 20.5% of the ADHD sample met the proposed diagnostic criteria for MD. Compared with ADHD-only participants, this subgroup presented increased depression, loneliness, and lowered self-esteem.

Conclusion: MD has unique clinical characteristics that are distinct from ADHD. We suggest that in some cases presenting with ADHD symptoms, an MD conceptualization may better explain the clinical picture. Future research should aim at a better differentiation of daydreaming, ADHD, and related constructs such as mind-wandering.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9790222PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jclp.23355DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

adhd
9
maladaptive daydreaming
8
adhd sample
8
adhd symptoms
8
depression loneliness
8
immersive daydreaming
4
daydreaming underlie
4
underlie deficit
4
deficit attention?
4
attention? prevalence
4

Similar Publications

Purpose: Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental condition that affects approximately 5% of the pediatric population, with increased prevalence among those with type 1 diabetes (T1D). Reports suggest that unrecognized and untreated ADHD impairs T1D control and that ADHD may be underdiagnosed in the Polish population. The International Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes recommends neurodevelopmental assessments in children with T1D, but specific guidelines on procedures and implementation are lacking.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background/objectives: Although ADHD in adults has become visible and inclusive in recent years in diagnostic manuals, research is still limited regarding the long-term outcomes of patients with this disorder. The main objective of this research was to address the many facets of predictor variables in girls with ADHD facing unplanned pregnancies at young ages in order to improve the management of pre-, peri-, and postnatal complications that may occur, as well as for early psychiatric diagnosis and effective intervention.

Methods: PubMed and Web of Science Databases were used to perform literature research, and a total of 27 records were selected and used for data extraction.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and Tourette syndrome (TS) are neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) with overlapping symptoms, suggesting a partially shared genetic origin. This study investigates the prevalence of connective tissue-related conditions in individuals with ASD, ADHD, or TS. : A questionnaire was administered to families of 120 individuals with ASD, ADHD, or TS, collecting sociodemographic data and examining 10 types of disorders affecting various organs and systems.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a disorder that starts in childhood, sometimes persisting into adulthood. It puts a strain on their social, professional, family, and environmental lives, which can exacerbate disorders such as anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder. : This paper aims to predict ADHD in children and adults and explain the main factors impacting this disorder.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Programmes designed to support children with known, or increased likelihood of, autism or ADHD often focus on reducing behaviours central to a clinical diagnosis. However, supporting children to pursue their own goals and cope with everyday life through fostering executive function (EF) development, without enforcing neuro-normative assumptions, may be more acceptable to neurodivergent people, and more beneficial. The co-production process for this neurodiversity-affirming programme involved: Review of research priorities identified during published public-and-clinician consultations; iterative programme development through two pilot rounds with a general community sample; and consultation with stakeholders (parents with a connection to autism or ADHD, alongside early years specialists, psychologists and therapists) to check acceptability of the proposal, and refine the logic model and materials.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!