Mind Wandering (Internal Distractibility) in ADHD: A Literature Review

Summary & key facts

The authors reviewed the small number of studies that look at mind wandering — which they call internal distractibility — in people with ADHD. They found that the research so far is limited but points to mind wandering being common in ADHD and linked to worse functioning. Because the evidence is sparse, the authors recommend more research to understand how mind wandering affects daily life and treatment options.

Key facts:

• This paper is a literature review: the authors examined existing studies rather than running new experiments.
• Only a small number of studies have directly studied mind wandering in people with ADHD, so the evidence is limited.
• Those studies suggest that mind wandering is common in ADHD. Mind wandering means attention drifts inward and away from the current task.
• The research indicates that mind wandering in ADHD is associated with worse outcomes or functioning, though the evidence is not extensive.
• The authors conclude that more research is needed to find out how common mind wandering really is, what causes it, and how it affects daily life and treatment.

Abstract

The limited research on mind wandering in ADHD indicates that it is prevalent and morbid supporting further research on the subject.

Topics

Mind wandering and attention Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies Sleep and Wakefulness Research

Categories

Cognitive Neuroscience Life Sciences Neuroscience

Tags

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder Clinical psychology Cognition Developmental psychology Epistemology Law MEDLINE Mind-wandering Operationalization Philosophy Political science Psychiatry Psychology PsycINFO

Conditions & symptoms

ADHD Difficulty focusing