ADHD comes in three distinct types, new study suggests

Ever open 27+ browser tabs… and forget why you opened the first one to begin with?

Scientists say that kind of attention chaos in people with ADHD can be categorized into three different types, rather than a single overarching category as previously thought, according to a new study in JAMA Psychiatry.

The breakdown

Scientists analyzed brain scans from 1,100+ children in the US, China, and Australia.

After examining different patterns in the brain scans, researchers found three distinct neurological profiles in children with ADHD:

1. Severe combined type. People with this profile show both hyperactivity and inattention, plus higher levels of emotional dysregulation.
2. Hyperactive/impulsive. Marked by restlessness, impulsive decisions, and difficulty staying still. Think the classic “leg bouncing under the desk” type.
3. Inattentive. Less hyperactivity, but significant issues with focus, organization, and sustained attention. People with this profile frequently miss deadlines and leave to-do lists half finished.

But…before anyone rushes to rewrite the diagnostic manuals, researchers say their findings still need to be replicated. Until then, ADHD remains a clinical diagnosis based on behavioral evaluation, not brain scans.

The potential impact: ADHD diagnoses have skyrocketed across the US in recent decades, with ADHD medication use in children rising nearly five-fold between 2006-2020, and more than 10-fold in adults. If confirmed, researchers say their new findings could lead to more personalized treatments tailored to each of the three ADHD types.