Study skills in people with ADHD: a systematic review of the medical evidence
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.56294/neuro2025223Keywords:
ADHD, ADDH, Attention Deficit Disorders with Hyperactivity, Academic Performances, Psychological Factors, academic performance, methylphenidate, cognitive behavioral therapyAbstract
Introduction: Attention deficit and/or hyperactivity disorder is a neurobiological condition that affects executive functions important for learning, such as attention, planning and impulse control. In contrast, it does not imply an inability for optimal academic achievement. The aim of this systematic review was to analyze whether students with this diagnosis can really develop their study skills adequately.
Material and methods: Original studies, systematic reviews and meta-analyses published in the last ten years in English and Spanish, focused on school and university age students, were reviewed. The search was performed in the PubMed and Elsevier databases.
Results: They showed that pharmacological treatment with methylphenidate, combined with regular physical exercise and cognitive-behavioral therapy, significantly improve academic performance by enhancing executive functions.
Conclusion: It is concluded that the diagnosis does not determine academic failure. Rather, a personalized multidisciplinary approach increases learning, self-esteem and autonomy of students. This study proposes to address a limiting view and move towards comprehensive and evidence-based containment strategies.
References
Historia del concepto de TDAH [Internet]. Fundacioncadah.org. 2024. Available from: https://www.fundacioncadah.org/web/printPDF.php?idweb=1&account=j289eghfd7511986&contenido=historia-del-concepto-de-tdah
¿Qué es el TDAH? [Internet]. Psychiatry.org. 2024. Available from: https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/la-salud-mental/trastorno-por-deficit-de-atencion-con-hiperactivid/%C2%BFque-es-el-tdah
Sulkes SB. Trastorno por déficit de atención/hiperactividad (TDAH) [Internet]. Manual MSD versión para profesionales. Manuales MSD; 2024. Available from: https://www.msdmanuals.com/es/professional/pediatr%C3%ADa/trastornos-del-aprendizaje-y-del-desarrollo/trastorno-por-d%C3%A9ficit-de-atenci%C3%B3n-hiperactividad-tdah
Díaz-Heijtz R, Mulas F, Forssberg H. Alterations in the pattern of dopaminergic markers in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Revista de neurologia [Internet]. 2006 Spring;42 Suppl 2:S19-23. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16555214/
NeureducaAdmin. Funciones ejecutivas: ¿qué son y para qué sirven? [Internet]. Nuereduca Tarragona y Vila-seca. 2018. Available from: https://neureduca.com/funciones-ejecutivas/
Mueller A, Hong DS, Shepard S, Moore T. Linking ADHD to the Neural Circuitry of Attention. Trends in Cognitive Sciences. 2017 Jun;21(6):474–88.
Comorbilidades del TDAH [Internet]. Fundacioncadah.org. 2018 [cited 2025 Jul 17]. Available from: https://www.fundacioncadah.org/web/articulo/comorbilidades-del-tdah.html
Vázquez-Justo E. TDAH y Trastornos asociados. 2017 [cited 2024 Oct 16]; Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Adolfo-Pinon-Blanco/publication/321490376_TDAH_y_Trastornos_asociados/links/5a2e6205a6fdccfbbf89bd64/TDAH-y-Trastornos-asociados.pdf#page=20
Hodgson K, Hutchinson AD, Denson L. Nonpharmacological Treatments for ADHD. Journal of Attention Disorders. 2012 May 29;18(4):275–82.
Battagliese G, Caccetta M, Luppino OI, Baglioni C, Cardi V, Mancini F, et al. Cognitive-behavioral therapy for externalizing disorders: A meta-analysis of treatment effectiveness. Behaviour Research and Therapy [Internet]. 2015 Dec;75(1):60–71. Available from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0005796715300486
Brassell AA, Shoulberg EK, Pontifex MB, Smith AL, Delli Paoli AG, Hoza B. Aerobic Fitness and Inhibition in Young Children: Moderating Roles of ADHD Status and Age. Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology. 2015 Nov 4;46(5):646–52.
Kortekaas-Rijlaarsdam AF, Luman M, Sonuga-Barke E, Oosterlaan J. Does methylphenidate improve academic performance? A systematic review and meta-analysis. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. 2018 Jan 20;28(2):155–64.
Lambez B, Harwood-Gross A, Golumbic EZ, Rassovsky Y. Non-pharmacological interventions for cognitive difficulties in ADHD: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Psychiatric Research. 2020 Jan;120(1):40–55.
Pontifex MB et al.. Meta-análisis de los efectos de la actividad física sobre la función ejecutiva en niños y adolescentes con TDAH. 2014. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2014.11.001.
Anne F. Kortekaas-Rijlaarsdam et al. et al.. ¿El metilfenidato mejora el rendimiento académico? Una revisión sistemática y meta-análisis. 2019. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-018-1106-3.
María José Rodrigo et al. et al.. Una revisión sistemática de acciones dirigidas a estudiantes universitarios con TDAH. 2021. Disponible en Redalyc.
Ana Rodríguez López et al.. TDAH y éxito académico en estudiantes universitarios. 2023. Disponible en Redalyc.
Laia Rodríguez et al. et al.. Definición de la persistencia de los síntomas del TDAH en la edad adulta. 2020. Disponible en ScienceDirect
Ismael Huertas Herrera et al. et al.. Resultados a largo plazo del TDAH. 2020. Disponible en Elsevier.
Carmen Morón Marchena et al. et al.. Rendimiento académico de adolescentes con TDAH y otros problemas de conducta y aprendizaje. 2021. Disponible en Elsevier
. Silvia López-Villalobos et al.. Efecto del ejercicio aeróbico en la mejora de la función ejecutiva en niños con TDAH. 2021. Disponible en Elsevier.
Carlos A. Díaz-Pinzón et al. et al.. Heterogeneidad en el TDAH. 2019. Disponible en Scielo.
Brandon Rennie et al.. Un estudio longitudinal del funcionamiento neuropsicológico y el rendimiento académico en niños con y sin signos de TDAH. 2014. https://doi.org/10.1080/13803395.2014.921284.
Karen A. G. et al. et al.. Intervenciones para mejorar el funcionamiento ejecutivo y la memoria de trabajo en niños en edad escolar con ADHD. 2022. Disponible en ScienceDirect.
Rebeca Fernández-Castillo et al.. Intervenciones no farmacológicas para las dificultades cognitivas en el TDAH. 2021. Disponible en Dialnet.
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Sofia Julieta Gonzalez, Romina Martínez Leardi (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
The article is distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License. Unless otherwise stated, associated published material is distributed under the same licence.
