College students with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are at higher than average ... more College students with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are at higher than average risk for alcohol and substance use; however, it is unclear whether having ADHD, either alone or in combination with other factors, increases this risk. Further, no prior studies have systematically examined factors that correlate with alcohol and substance use among college students with ADHD. A sample of first year college students with (n = 228; 52.2% female; 76.8% Caucasian) and without (n = 228; 51.3% female; 51.3% Caucasian) ADHD from 10 eastern US universities participated in a longitudinal study examining the long-term outcomes of college students with ADHD. Participants completed a battery of measures including self-report ratings of alcohol and substance use; ADHD, externalizing disorder, anxiety disorder, and depression symptoms; executive functioning; and learning and study strategies. First-year college students with ADHD were significantly more likely to use tobacco, cannabi...
Journal of postsecondary education and disability, 2018
College students with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are at greater risk than pe... more College students with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are at greater risk than peers for im-paired educational functioning; however, little is known regarding their longitudinal academic outcomes. This study examined: (a) differences between ADHD and control participants in academic outcomes (i.e., semester GPA, credits attempted, credits earned) over the first two years of college, and (b) factors that predict second year outcomes. A sample of 456 students (50% with ADHD; 51.8% female; 71.7% Caucasian) from 10 universities completed two annual assessments. Compared to students without ADHD, students with ADHD experience more academic difficulties that persist over two years. Motivation to study reported in year one was a significant predictor of year two GPA, suggesting the importance of providing services as early as possible to support students before they struggle.
The purpose of the present study was to conduct a systematic review of the literature, adhering t... more The purpose of the present study was to conduct a systematic review of the literature, adhering to PRISMA guidelines, regarding evidence of neuroplasticity in children and adolescents in response to cognitive or sensory-motor interventions. Twenty-eight studies employing seven different types of neuroimaging techniques were included in the review. Findings revealed that significant variability existed across the 28 studies with regard to the clinical populations examined, type of interventions employed, neuroimaging methods, and the type of neuroimaging data included in the studies. Overall, results supported that experience-dependent interventions were associated with neuroplastic changes among children and adolescents in both neurotypical and clinical populations. However, it remains unclear whether these molecular neuroplastic changes, including the degree and direction of those differences, were the direct result of the intervention. Although the findings are encouraging, method...
Nonmedical use of prescription opioid medication (NMPO) in the United States is a public health c... more Nonmedical use of prescription opioid medication (NMPO) in the United States is a public health crisis, resulting in high rates of emergency room visits, morbidity, and mortality. The purpose of this study was to explore prevalence estimates and correlates of NMPO among a convenience sample of college students in the northeast and southeast regions of the US to help generate directions for future research. Motivations for misuse, age of onset, access, concomitant substance use, and individual factors were investigated among a sample of undergraduate students from two universities. Participants (N = 847) completed a battery of various self-report measures. Findings revealed that 7.7% (Southeastern University) and 12.8% of students (Northeastern University) reported lifetime NMPO, whereas past-month NMPO was reported by 0.8% and 0.9% of participants, respectively. Lifetime history of regularly using alcohol, nonmedical use of benzodiazepine medication, nonmedical use of prescription s...
Objective: In this paper, we examine the relationships among symptoms of anxiety and depression, ... more Objective: In this paper, we examine the relationships among symptoms of anxiety and depression, impulsivity, and mindfulness among university faculty members during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a unique focus on whether these symptoms and practices of mindfulness differed with age, gender, ethnicity, and location. Methods: Participants (N = 302) from 2 universities completed online questionnaires pertaining to anxiety, depression, mindfulness, demographics, and impulsivity. Results: Lower mindfulness and greater impulsivity were associated with higher rates of anxiety and depression. Gender differences emerged; female participants experienced greater anxiety, less mindfulness, and worsened eating and sleeping habits compared to males. Individuals with direct COVID-19 experience (self-and/or family) did not report significantly different levels of anxiety, depression, mindfulness, or impulsivity. Ethnicity differences also emerged; relative to white participants, non-white participan...
Objective: Misuse of prescription stimulant medication is a prevalent problem on American college... more Objective: Misuse of prescription stimulant medication is a prevalent problem on American college campuses; however, few studies have been conducted beyond the United States. Although Iceland has the highest methylphenidate prescription rates in the world, prevalence of stimulant misuse within the Icelandic college student population remains to be investigated. Method: We examined the prevalence of prescription stimulant misuse among N = 521 college students in Iceland, using an online survey. Results: Overall prevalence of lifetime stimulant misuse was approximately 13%; 11% among participants without a prescription for stimulant medication, and 42% among participants holding a prescription. The primary reported reason for misuse was academic enhancement; risk factors included male sex, anxiety symptoms, and ADHD symptomatology. Conclusion: The present findings have implications for public health policy in Iceland, particularly as it relates to the college population. Prevention an...
Prescription stimulant medications are considered a safe and long-term effective treatment for At... more Prescription stimulant medications are considered a safe and long-term effective treatment for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Studies support that stimulants enhance attention, memory, self-regulation and executive function in individuals with ADHD. Recent research, however, has found that many college students without ADHD report misusing prescription stimulants, primarily to enhance their cognitive abilities. This practice raises the question whether stimulants actually enhance cognitive functioning in college students without ADHD. We investigated the effects of mixed-salts amphetamine (i.e., Adderall, 30 mg) on cognitive, autonomic and emotional functioning in a pilot sample of healthy college students without ADHD ( = 13), using a double-blind, placebo-controlled, within-subjects design. The present study was the first to explore cognitive effects in conjunction with mood, autonomic effects, and self-perceptions of cognitive enhancement. Results revealed that ...
Experimental and clinical psychopharmacology, 2016
Increasing numbers of adults, particularly college students, are misusing prescription stimulants... more Increasing numbers of adults, particularly college students, are misusing prescription stimulants primarily for cognitive/academic enhancement, so it is critical to explore whether empirical findings support neurocognitive benefits of prescription stimulants. Previous meta-analytic studies have supported small benefits from prescription stimulants for the cognitive domains of inhibitory control and memory; however, no meta-analytic studies have examined the effects on processing speed or the potential impairment on other domains of cognition, including planning, decision-making, and cognitive perseveration. Therefore, the present study conducted a meta-analysis of the available literature examining the effects of prescription stimulants on specific measures of processing speed, planning, decision-making, and cognitive perseveration among healthy adult populations. The meta-analysis results indicated a positive influence of prescription stimulant medication on processing speed accura...
ADHD is a chronic neurodevelopmental disorder that typically results in persistent academic diffi... more ADHD is a chronic neurodevelopmental disorder that typically results in persistent academic difficulties over time. Although most colleges offer support services, students often do not use the available services or those to which they are entitled. The present study examined predictors of academic performance among college students with and without ADHD. In addition, the rate, predictors, and outcomes of academic service use were explored. A series of multivariate analyses of variance (MANOVAs) and regression analyses were conducted using SPSS v. 21 ® software. First year college students with ADHD earned significantly lower grade point averages (GPAs) relative to students without ADHD. Additionally, ADHD combined with other disorders, but not ADHD alone, predicted higher rates of service use relative to students without ADHD. Finally, the findings suggest that typically available academic services are not independently related to GPA among first-year college students with or withou...
To test if the relationship between ADHD and academic achievement is mediated by service utilizat... more To test if the relationship between ADHD and academic achievement is mediated by service utilization and/or study skills, and if these mediation effects are moderated by parental education level. A bootstrapping method within structural equation modeling was used with data from 355 first year college students meeting strict criteria for ADHD or clearly without ADHD to test the mediation and moderation effects. Study skills, but not service utilization, significantly mediated the relationship between ADHD status and GPA; however, this relationship was not significant among students with at least one parent holding a master's degree or higher. Among first year college students study skills may be a more salient predictor of educational outcomes relative to ADHD status. Additional research into support services for college students with ADHD is needed, however, results suggest interventions targeting study skills may hold particular promise for these students.
The most common and widely studied treatments for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD... more The most common and widely studied treatments for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD) are psychostimulant medications and behavioral interventions. The purpose of this article is to review empirically-supported, behavioral school-based interventions that are designed to enhance classroom behavior and academic achievement of students with this disorder. Two major types of interventions are described including (a) proactive or antecedent-based interventions that primarily target academic and organizational skills and (b) reactive or consequent-based interventions that target social behavior and classroom deportment. The use of teachers, peers, parents, computers, and the students themselves as treatment mediators is reviewed. Implications of findings for delivery of school-based services for this population as well as directions for future research are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
International Journal of Disability, Development and Education, 2006
... of the Diag-nostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, DSM-IV (American Psychiatric A... more ... of the Diag-nostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, DSM-IV (American Psychiatric Association ... in outpatient clinic settings with minimal school outcome data beyond teacher ratings ... ADHD could be involved in all phases of a social relationship intervention to encourage ...
College students with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are at higher than average ... more College students with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are at higher than average risk for alcohol and substance use; however, it is unclear whether having ADHD, either alone or in combination with other factors, increases this risk. Further, no prior studies have systematically examined factors that correlate with alcohol and substance use among college students with ADHD. A sample of first year college students with (n = 228; 52.2% female; 76.8% Caucasian) and without (n = 228; 51.3% female; 51.3% Caucasian) ADHD from 10 eastern US universities participated in a longitudinal study examining the long-term outcomes of college students with ADHD. Participants completed a battery of measures including self-report ratings of alcohol and substance use; ADHD, externalizing disorder, anxiety disorder, and depression symptoms; executive functioning; and learning and study strategies. First-year college students with ADHD were significantly more likely to use tobacco, cannabi...
Journal of postsecondary education and disability, 2018
College students with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are at greater risk than pe... more College students with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are at greater risk than peers for im-paired educational functioning; however, little is known regarding their longitudinal academic outcomes. This study examined: (a) differences between ADHD and control participants in academic outcomes (i.e., semester GPA, credits attempted, credits earned) over the first two years of college, and (b) factors that predict second year outcomes. A sample of 456 students (50% with ADHD; 51.8% female; 71.7% Caucasian) from 10 universities completed two annual assessments. Compared to students without ADHD, students with ADHD experience more academic difficulties that persist over two years. Motivation to study reported in year one was a significant predictor of year two GPA, suggesting the importance of providing services as early as possible to support students before they struggle.
The purpose of the present study was to conduct a systematic review of the literature, adhering t... more The purpose of the present study was to conduct a systematic review of the literature, adhering to PRISMA guidelines, regarding evidence of neuroplasticity in children and adolescents in response to cognitive or sensory-motor interventions. Twenty-eight studies employing seven different types of neuroimaging techniques were included in the review. Findings revealed that significant variability existed across the 28 studies with regard to the clinical populations examined, type of interventions employed, neuroimaging methods, and the type of neuroimaging data included in the studies. Overall, results supported that experience-dependent interventions were associated with neuroplastic changes among children and adolescents in both neurotypical and clinical populations. However, it remains unclear whether these molecular neuroplastic changes, including the degree and direction of those differences, were the direct result of the intervention. Although the findings are encouraging, method...
Nonmedical use of prescription opioid medication (NMPO) in the United States is a public health c... more Nonmedical use of prescription opioid medication (NMPO) in the United States is a public health crisis, resulting in high rates of emergency room visits, morbidity, and mortality. The purpose of this study was to explore prevalence estimates and correlates of NMPO among a convenience sample of college students in the northeast and southeast regions of the US to help generate directions for future research. Motivations for misuse, age of onset, access, concomitant substance use, and individual factors were investigated among a sample of undergraduate students from two universities. Participants (N = 847) completed a battery of various self-report measures. Findings revealed that 7.7% (Southeastern University) and 12.8% of students (Northeastern University) reported lifetime NMPO, whereas past-month NMPO was reported by 0.8% and 0.9% of participants, respectively. Lifetime history of regularly using alcohol, nonmedical use of benzodiazepine medication, nonmedical use of prescription s...
Objective: In this paper, we examine the relationships among symptoms of anxiety and depression, ... more Objective: In this paper, we examine the relationships among symptoms of anxiety and depression, impulsivity, and mindfulness among university faculty members during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a unique focus on whether these symptoms and practices of mindfulness differed with age, gender, ethnicity, and location. Methods: Participants (N = 302) from 2 universities completed online questionnaires pertaining to anxiety, depression, mindfulness, demographics, and impulsivity. Results: Lower mindfulness and greater impulsivity were associated with higher rates of anxiety and depression. Gender differences emerged; female participants experienced greater anxiety, less mindfulness, and worsened eating and sleeping habits compared to males. Individuals with direct COVID-19 experience (self-and/or family) did not report significantly different levels of anxiety, depression, mindfulness, or impulsivity. Ethnicity differences also emerged; relative to white participants, non-white participan...
Objective: Misuse of prescription stimulant medication is a prevalent problem on American college... more Objective: Misuse of prescription stimulant medication is a prevalent problem on American college campuses; however, few studies have been conducted beyond the United States. Although Iceland has the highest methylphenidate prescription rates in the world, prevalence of stimulant misuse within the Icelandic college student population remains to be investigated. Method: We examined the prevalence of prescription stimulant misuse among N = 521 college students in Iceland, using an online survey. Results: Overall prevalence of lifetime stimulant misuse was approximately 13%; 11% among participants without a prescription for stimulant medication, and 42% among participants holding a prescription. The primary reported reason for misuse was academic enhancement; risk factors included male sex, anxiety symptoms, and ADHD symptomatology. Conclusion: The present findings have implications for public health policy in Iceland, particularly as it relates to the college population. Prevention an...
Prescription stimulant medications are considered a safe and long-term effective treatment for At... more Prescription stimulant medications are considered a safe and long-term effective treatment for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Studies support that stimulants enhance attention, memory, self-regulation and executive function in individuals with ADHD. Recent research, however, has found that many college students without ADHD report misusing prescription stimulants, primarily to enhance their cognitive abilities. This practice raises the question whether stimulants actually enhance cognitive functioning in college students without ADHD. We investigated the effects of mixed-salts amphetamine (i.e., Adderall, 30 mg) on cognitive, autonomic and emotional functioning in a pilot sample of healthy college students without ADHD ( = 13), using a double-blind, placebo-controlled, within-subjects design. The present study was the first to explore cognitive effects in conjunction with mood, autonomic effects, and self-perceptions of cognitive enhancement. Results revealed that ...
Experimental and clinical psychopharmacology, 2016
Increasing numbers of adults, particularly college students, are misusing prescription stimulants... more Increasing numbers of adults, particularly college students, are misusing prescription stimulants primarily for cognitive/academic enhancement, so it is critical to explore whether empirical findings support neurocognitive benefits of prescription stimulants. Previous meta-analytic studies have supported small benefits from prescription stimulants for the cognitive domains of inhibitory control and memory; however, no meta-analytic studies have examined the effects on processing speed or the potential impairment on other domains of cognition, including planning, decision-making, and cognitive perseveration. Therefore, the present study conducted a meta-analysis of the available literature examining the effects of prescription stimulants on specific measures of processing speed, planning, decision-making, and cognitive perseveration among healthy adult populations. The meta-analysis results indicated a positive influence of prescription stimulant medication on processing speed accura...
ADHD is a chronic neurodevelopmental disorder that typically results in persistent academic diffi... more ADHD is a chronic neurodevelopmental disorder that typically results in persistent academic difficulties over time. Although most colleges offer support services, students often do not use the available services or those to which they are entitled. The present study examined predictors of academic performance among college students with and without ADHD. In addition, the rate, predictors, and outcomes of academic service use were explored. A series of multivariate analyses of variance (MANOVAs) and regression analyses were conducted using SPSS v. 21 ® software. First year college students with ADHD earned significantly lower grade point averages (GPAs) relative to students without ADHD. Additionally, ADHD combined with other disorders, but not ADHD alone, predicted higher rates of service use relative to students without ADHD. Finally, the findings suggest that typically available academic services are not independently related to GPA among first-year college students with or withou...
To test if the relationship between ADHD and academic achievement is mediated by service utilizat... more To test if the relationship between ADHD and academic achievement is mediated by service utilization and/or study skills, and if these mediation effects are moderated by parental education level. A bootstrapping method within structural equation modeling was used with data from 355 first year college students meeting strict criteria for ADHD or clearly without ADHD to test the mediation and moderation effects. Study skills, but not service utilization, significantly mediated the relationship between ADHD status and GPA; however, this relationship was not significant among students with at least one parent holding a master's degree or higher. Among first year college students study skills may be a more salient predictor of educational outcomes relative to ADHD status. Additional research into support services for college students with ADHD is needed, however, results suggest interventions targeting study skills may hold particular promise for these students.
The most common and widely studied treatments for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD... more The most common and widely studied treatments for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD) are psychostimulant medications and behavioral interventions. The purpose of this article is to review empirically-supported, behavioral school-based interventions that are designed to enhance classroom behavior and academic achievement of students with this disorder. Two major types of interventions are described including (a) proactive or antecedent-based interventions that primarily target academic and organizational skills and (b) reactive or consequent-based interventions that target social behavior and classroom deportment. The use of teachers, peers, parents, computers, and the students themselves as treatment mediators is reviewed. Implications of findings for delivery of school-based services for this population as well as directions for future research are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
International Journal of Disability, Development and Education, 2006
... of the Diag-nostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, DSM-IV (American Psychiatric A... more ... of the Diag-nostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, DSM-IV (American Psychiatric Association ... in outpatient clinic settings with minimal school outcome data beyond teacher ratings ... ADHD could be involved in all phases of a social relationship intervention to encourage ...
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