Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most widespread neurodevelopmental disorders globally, marked by chronic symptoms of in attention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity. Its multifactorial origin and phenotypic heterogeneity make it a complex condition, and despite substantial research, the precise causes of ADHD remain poorly understood. A significant challenge in advancing ADHD research is the lack of a unified resource that consolidates animal models across different species and considers the diversity of ADHD subtypes and associated coexisting conditions. This lack of standardization of the models delays progress in developing a deeper understanding of the neuronal and molecular mechanisms behind the disorder, which is essential to advance its treatment.

This review aims to bridge this gap by offering a comprehensive compilation of available animal models used in ADHD research, accompanied by an evaluation of their validity. It is essential for researchers to have access to a range of models, each selected based on the specific scientific objectives and hypotheses of their studies. The review highlights that an extensive approach to studying ADHD, including its various dimensions and associated conditions, requires the use of multiple animal models. Moreover, it emphasizes the importance of assessing the mechanisms and broader effects of current pharmacological treatments while also exploring novel therapeutic possibilities. By providing a clearer and more structured resource, this work pursues to assist researchers in selecting the most appropriate models for their investigations. Additionally, it aims to contribute to the broader understanding of ADHD neurobiology, offering new perspectives for new models and the potential for more targeted therapeutic strategies.

Background: Adolescent substance use differs across cultures, but the key drivers may be shared. We examined whether country of residence, psychological distress, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), and Big Five personality traits are associated with alcohol and drug use, and whether these associations vary by country.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional online survey of 5,108 upper-secondary students aged 15–19 from the United States, Sweden, Serbia, Morocco, and Vietnam. Outcomes were scores on the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) and the Drug Use Disorders Identification Test (DUDIT). Predictors included country, age, gender, psychological distress, four ACEs (family alcohol problems, family drug problems, physical abuse, psychological abuse), and Big Five traits.

Results: Alcohol use was higher in Sweden and Serbia and lower in Morocco and Vietnam compared with the United States. Drug use was highest in the United States and lower in all other countries (lowest in Vietnam and Serbia). Older age predicted higher AUDIT and DUDIT scores. Gender was unrelated to alcohol use, whereas drug use was highest among young men. Psychological distress showed the strongest positive association with both outcomes. For alcohol, family alcohol and family drug problems predicted higher use; physical and psychological abuse were not significant. For drugs, family drug problems and experiences of physical and psychological abuse predicted higher use; family alcohol problems did not. Personality effects were consistent: extraversion predicted higher use, whereas conscientiousness, agreeableness, openness, and — more modestly for alcohol—neuroticism predicted lower use. Associations were largely stable across countries.

Conclusion: While levels of alcohol and drug use differ across countries, the core predictors are consistent: psychological distress and early adversity elevate risk, whereas conscientiousness and agreeableness are protective and extraversion signals vulnerability. Prevention efforts should combine trauma-informed, mental-health approaches with personality-targeted programs. Limitations include uneven country distributions and pandemic timing.

How can breathing space support the developing brain?

This lecture explores the neurobiological impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and neurodevelopmental differences in school-aged youth, presenting findings from a decade-long integrative review on yoga-based interventions in educational and psychiatric settings. The outcomes include mental health, self-control capacity, executive functioning, academic skills, as well as self-esteem, resilience and quality of life. Drawing from neuroscience and clinical practice, the talk highlights how trauma-sensitive approaches to yoga, such as Trauma-Adapted Yoga (TAY), may support self-regulation, resilience, and quality of life in children and adolescents with diverse needs.

In the 21st century, mental health problems among young people constitute a major public health concern, placing substantial responsibility on school nurses, for whom mental health support is often one of the most complex and challenging aspects of daily practice.The aim of this integrative review was to systematically examine and synthesize the literature on school nurse strategies for promoting mental health among students, and to use the findings to identify evidence-based approaches to guide school nursing practice and school systems in strengthening and standardizing mental health promotion interventions.An integrative literature review in accordance with Whittemore and Knafl was conducted. Literature searches were conducted in CINAHL, PsycINFO, and PubMed. The final sample consists of 11 articles.The analysis revealed one overarching theme, school nurses’ strategic approaches for promoting mental health and five categories, present and visible, visual and digital means, person-centered health promotion, mindful and cognitive support strategies, and assessing sleep as a dimension of well-being.A process-oriented approach for school nurses emerged from the review, comprising Establishing Presence, Person-Centered Encounter, and Tailored Interventions, which can serve as a strategy or manual to guide efforts to promote students’ mental health.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental syndrome typically diagnosed in childhood that may persist into adulthood. Its etiology encompasses both genetic and environmental factors, with genetic studies indicating catecholamine dysfunction and epidemiological evidence emphasizing neuroinflammation as a potential trigger. To investigate the roles of inflammation and development processes in ADHD, we conducted a longitudinal behavioral study using female Swiss mice with a dopamine deficit model. We explored the impact of neonatal dopaminergic lesions, treatment with abscisic acid (ABA)—an anti-inflammatory hormone—and developmental changes by comparing behavioral patterns in juvenile and adult mice. Postmortem analyses assessed neuroinflammation through microglial morphology, NLRP3, cytokine expression, and the excitatory/inhibitory (E/I) ratio in specific brain regions. Neonatal dopaminergic lesions induced hyperactivity and hypersensitivity in juvenile mice that persisted into adulthood. In adults, increased social interaction and memory impairment were observed in lesioned mice. Brain development mitigated impulsivity, while ABA treatment reduced locomotor activity, downregulated pain sensitivity, and influenced social interaction, although it did not completely resolve cognitive deficits in lesioned adult mice. In brain regions such as the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), posterior insular cortex (pIC), and hippocampus, lesions significantly altered microglial morphology. In the ACC, lesions increased IL-1β and TNFα levels, decreased Arg1 mRNA levels, and disrupted the E/I balance. Importantly, ABA treatment restored microglial morphology, normalized IL-1β and Arg1 expression and upregulated vGAT levels. This study demonstrates that dopamine deficits lead to microglia alterations and E/I imbalance, contributing to ADHD symptoms. While some symptoms improve with brain development, targeting microglial health in specific brain regions emerges as a promising therapeutic approach for managing ADHD.

Background: Substance use disorder (SUD) is a growing public health concern in Sweden. Various treatments for SUD exist, with motivational treatment, cognitive behavioral therapy, and relapse prevention being the nationally recommended approaches. Attachment theory and the salutogenic theory with its core concept, sense of coherence (SOC) provides valuable insights into individuals’ available personal resources and their potential for adherence to treatment. The aims of the present study were to examine attachment styles (secure, insecure-avoidant, and insecure-anxious) and SOC (overall and dimensional - comprehensibility, manageability, and meaningfulness- scores) in individuals with SUD; to explore potential correlations between these constructs ; and to assess their predictive value for treatment completion. Methods: Clinical data were collected between 2014 and 2023 from 164 clients at a Swedish outpatient clinic for addiction who initiated the intensive, integrated treatment program. The sample comprised 109 men and 55 women, aged 18 to 72 years (M = 40.71). Data were gathered using validated self-report instruments (the Attachment Style Questionnaire and the Sense of Coherence Questionnaire). Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and logistic regression. Results: Individuals with SUD predominantly exhibited an insecure-avoidant attachment style. The four dimensions reflecting insecure attachment (discomfort with relationships, relationships as secondary, need for approval, and preoccupation with relationships) were negatively correlated with overall SOC and its three components. In contrast the secure attachment dimension (confidence in self and others) showed positive association with SOC. The strongest associations were found between the manageability component of SOC and all attachment dimensions. The insecure-anxious attachment style showed the strongest association with early dropout from treatment, while higher manageability was significantly associated with an increased likelihood of treatment completion. Conclusion: The predominance of an insecure-avoidant attachment style among clients undergoing intensive, integrated treatment for SUD underscores the importance of reinforcing a secure attachment and strengthening SOC to facilitate treatment completion. These findings highlight the need for comprehensive, integrated social and psychiatric care for individuals with SUD.

Background: Comorbidity between substance use dis-orders and other mental health conditions is common,yet existing treatments often fail to address its full spec-trum. Opportunities for integrated treatment are limited,and the effects of such treatment remain relatively unex-plored. This study explores the experiences of individualswith substance use disorders who successfully completeda four-month integrated intensive program at an outpatientaddiction-care clinic in western Sweden.

Method: An anonymous survey combining quanti-tative measures and qualitative open-ended questions wasused to evaluate the experiences of 65 clients (out of 117)who completed the program between 2015 and 2021.

Results: The findings revealed that most clients ex-pressed high levels of satisfaction with the program. Themean scores for the questions ranged from 9.17 to 9.35, in-dicating a generally positive experience. The standard de-viations were relatively low (1.17 to 1.34), suggesting con-sistency in responses. The median scores for all questionswere 10, with ranges indicating that most participants ratedtheir experiences at the highest level. The analysis identi-fied three key categories of clients’ experiences: (1) strongrelationships and a comprehensive treatment approach; (2)engaged, knowledgeable staff who lead with warmth; and(3) opportunities for self-development through novel expe-riences.

Conclusion: Clients who successfully completed thefour-month integrated intensive program reported high sat-isfaction levels, positive relationships with staff, and valu-able self-development insights. However, the high dropoutrate limited gaining an understanding of the barriers to pro-gram completion, highlighting the need for further researchaimed at enhancing retention rates and developing moreeffective integrated treatment interventions for individualswith substance use disorders.

The coexistence of mental and physical health illnesses could be accounted for by an underlying general disease factor (termed d-factor), reflecting theoretical underpinnings based on possible genetic and pathophysiological overlapping mechanisms.

This study evaluated whether the d-factor underlies mental and physical health illnesses in adolescents. A series of confirmatory factor analyses were conducted using data from 1120 adolescents. The proposed common underlying factor, we believe is the d-factor, was consistently present across different modeling approaches, including unidimensional, correlated-factor, and bifactor models. The best model fit was achieved with the bifactor model represented by mental, neurological, and psychical conditions tested. The first compelling evidence was provided supporting the existence of the transdiagnostic d-factor in youth, opening the door to innovative research of comorbid mental and physical health conditions.