Cognitive and neural mechanisms underlying the relationship between Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and disordered eating behaviour

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Disordered eating behaviour is a common comorbidity of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Previous research has linked specific symptoms of ADHD (e.g. inattention, impulsivity) to specific types of disordered eating behaviour, and these relationships seem to be mediated through both negative mood and through attention to and reliance on internal cues of hunger and satiety. This PhD project will further investigate the mechanisms through which specific symptoms of ADHD lead to specific types of disordered eating. The project will first assess how inattention towards interoceptive cues of satiety/hunger may lead to disordered eating behaviour, through the completion of a systematic literature review and laboratory-based eating behaviour studies. The nature of the relationship between ADHD symptoms and disordered eating behaviour will then be assessed through the use of Lisdexamfetamine, a drug used in the treatment of both ADHD and binge eating disorder. This will allow the observation of the specific ADHD symptoms which are influenced by LDX, and how this effect may mediate the action of LDX on binge eating. The project will also assess the relationship between ADHD symptomatology and disordered eating behaviour in adolescents, which is of particular interest as ADHD symptomatology changes at this age and disordered eating patterns may emerge. This will be achieved through longitudinal collection of survey data, allowing the predictive modelling of which ADHD symptoms are most predictive of the development of disordered eating behaviour, which will be potentially useful in guiding development of preventative measures. A further laboratory-based eating behaviour study will assess the relationship between ADHD symptoms and disordered eating behaviour in adolescence, to observe how the longitudinal survey results are consistent with effects on ad libitum food intake.