Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in Children and Adolescents: Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic

Temporary lockdowns were introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic with the aim of limiting the spread of the coronavirus infection. The resulting isolation imposed changes in daily routine on children and adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), with transfer to distance learning, decreased physical activity, and increased amounts of time in front of TV screens/computer monitors/tablets, etc. This article provides a review presenting current evidence reflecting the associations between social restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic and behavioral problems in children and adolescents with ADHD. The main factors able to influence the severity of ADHD in children and adolescents are analyzed. Particular attention is paid to the role of parental behavior and its influence on the manifestations of ADHD in children in isolation. Results from numerous observations and online surveys of relatives and children with ADHD have demonstrated a multidirectional trajectory of the disorder, depending on numerous factors, including relationships with parents and immediate family. Despite the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, the effects of isolation during critical periods of childhood have the potential to increase the burden of mental illness. Treatment of children and adolescents who had ADHD during the COVID-19 pandemic should be pathogenetic, taking account of the main symptoms of the disease. Priority in selection of pharmacotherapy should be given to drugs with verified efficacy and reliable safety profiles.