Will H Canu

Verified

Will verified their affiliation via an institutional email.

Learn more

Verified

Will verified their affiliation via an institutional email.

Learn more

• Ph.D.
• Professor at Appalachian State University

The transition to college can be very challenging for individuals with ADHD. Increased task and life demands happen in tandem with deficits in time management, study skills and habits, and delaying rewards to achieve longer-term goals. Cognitive-behavioral treatment (CBT) holds promise for targeting these and related challenges. Psychosocial interv...

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is characterized by inattentive, hyperactive, and impulsive behaviors. Impairment in individuals diagnosed with ADHD is significant; one such domain of impairment is achieving a college education. College students with ADHD tend to have lower grade point averages, take longer to graduate, and have hig...

Evidence-based practice in psychology (EBPP) has long focused on treatment, but evidence-based psychological assessment (EBPA) is also crucial given the important role of accurate and reliable diagnostic practices in treatment planning. In terms of the diagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), EBPA practices are well-established...

It has been widely maintained that enduring and healthy romantic relationships are critical to quality of life in adulthood, and can buffer the impact of adversity, including psychological disorder. Unfortunately, much research points toward adults with attention‐deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) having short‐lived and discordant romantic relat...

Objective Past work has provided support for the relevance of personality traits and emotional dysregulation (ED), individually, for characterizing ADHD phenotypes beyond symptoms in college-aged populations. Yet, no studies have attempted to integrate these constructs into current ADHD conceptualizations within the context of one another. The curr...

We aimed to assess the psychoeducational quality of TikTok content about attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) from the perspective of both mental health professionals and young adults across two pre-registered studies. In Study 1, two clinical psychologists with expertise in ADHD evaluated the claims (accuracy, nuance, overall quality as...

Objective: The current study aims to compare college adjustment and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on first-year students with and without ADHD. Participants: Two cohorts (pre-pandemic, during the pandemic) of first-year, undergraduate college students (N = 3,006; Mage=18.32) were recruited from a multisite research consortium across several...

Individuals with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are at greater risk for alcohol and cannabis misuse compared to peers. College students with ADHD are particularly vulnerable to problematic alcohol/cannabis use, given widespread misuse of these substances. Experiential avoidance has been positively associated with ADHD symptoms and...

Objective ADHD is associated with stigma, but whether stimulant medication use contributes to this is unknown. We examined how perception of a young woman may be influenced by visible ADHD symptoms and/or prescribed stimulant medication use (PSMU). Method Three-hundred-fourteen undergraduates were randomly assigned to watch one of four videos: a w...

While it is widely recognized that attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) persists into adulthood, methods of assessment for adults are decidedly less well studied than those used with children and adolescents, and this includes the commonly used self-report measures. The assessment of ADHD in adults intrinsically poses certain challenges...

Temporal processing deficits are associated with multiple psychopathologies, including attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and negatively impact functioning in everyday situations that require time management skills. Despite the clinical significance of temporal processing deficits, no existing self-report measure of temporal processin...

Objective Self-determination theory suggests that the satisfaction and frustration of basic psychological needs—autonomy, competence, relatedness—are uniquely associated with overall well-being. Undergraduates with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) experience more academic-related impairment and are less likely to graduate. Thus, well...

ADHD symptoms in emerging adult college students are associated with multiple impairments. Social support may buffer the relation between ADHD and impairment. Social support can be defined in terms of quantity or quality; more research is needed to better understand this distinction. Thus, the current study examined the moderating effect of social...

Previous work suggests that symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are associated with procrastination in college students, but relatively little is known about markers that account for this relation. In the present study, we examined the relation between ADHD symptoms and procrastination and whether indirect effects through em...

Statement of relevance: Social interaction is one of the most important things that humans do on a day-to-day basis, impacting both mental and physical wellness. College is a particularly important period where social interaction becomes increasingly important as well as complex. While there is no currently agreed upon cognitive basis of social in...

Internet-based interventions (IBIs) to treat psychological disorders are available, but accessibility to these to treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in young adult populations is quite limited. The current study examined the feasibility of a proposed IBI for ADHD and participant perceptions regarding treatment acceptability and c...

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a commonly diagnosed disorder originating in childhood, is associated with hyperactivity–impulsivity (HI), inattention (IA), and related disruptive behaviors that are likely to strain relationships in the family system. The authors believe that a focus on the couple in behavioral parent training (BPT...

The purpose of this study was to evaluate psychiatric diagnosis and symptom comorbidity in veterans diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Study design was retrospective chart review from an ADHD evaluation clinic at a Veterans Affairs hospital. Participants were 227 military veterans who completed a standardized ADHD asses...

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms among college students are associated with high rates of alcohol use and alcohol-related consequences. Use of protective behavioral strategies (PBS) is generally related to lower levels of alcohol use and problems; however, it is unclear how effectively students with ADHD symptoms can impleme...

Objective: The current study examines psychometric properties of the Weiss Functional Impairment Rating Scale (WFIRS), a measure of adult ADHD-related impairment. It is a self-report questionnaire that provides a metric of overall life impairment and domain-specific dysfunction. Method: Using data from a large (N = 2,093), multi-institution sample...

Changes were made in DSM-5 to address the criticism that ADHD symptoms in DSM-IV were not developmentally appropriate for adults. Specifically, parenthetical examples were added to symptoms, and the symptom threshold was lowered. ADHD diagnosis in college students in particular is a growing concern. It was hypothesized that changes to the ADHD symp...

At present, data suggests that attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder may be more prevalent in North Carolina than other states, but whether we are properly identifying and treating cases, in childhood and adulthood, is murky. Much innovative work to this end is being done in North Carolina, but more is needed.

Objective: Approximately 5% of adults have ADHD. Despite recommendations regarding the diagnosis of emerging adults, there is not a strong consensus regarding the ideal method for diagnosing ADHD in both emerging and mature adults. We were interested in determining whether a threshold of four, five, or six ADHD symptoms would be associated with sig...

The purpose of the current study was to test for a relation between emerging adult Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) status, how they reported being reared (i.e., perceived parenting style), and how the maternal parenting they received in childhood was linked with current adjustment. College students completed online surveys regarding...

The developmental transition between adolescence to emerging adulthood (ages 18–25) is a critical juncture—particularly for individuals with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, there are no known published studies on treatments for ADHD that aim to improve the transition from adolescence to emerging adulthood. We sought to fac...

The anxiolytic and antidepressant effects of regular physical exercise have been well documented, though the mechanisms through which exercise alleviates symptoms of emotion disorders require further investigation. Mounting research indicates that exercise reduces anxiety sensitivity, a known vulnerability factor for the development and maintenance...

Although mountaintop removal (MTR) coal extraction techniques have been employed in Appalachia for decades, relatively little research has examined its potential psychological impact on people living in close proximity to MTR activity. The current study taps the State Emergency Department Database (Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project, Kentucky...

College students with ADHD are considered to be “high-functioning” when compared to other ADHD populations, yet tend to experience higher general test anxiety when compared to non-affected students. Research has also shown Math Computation performance of students with ADHD to be impaired. However, no published study has examined the connection betw...

An increasing percentage of college students report being affected by ADHD behaviors, and this population is at increased risk of experiencing negative consequences associated with alcohol consumption. However, specific factors motivating alcohol consumption and contributing to negative outcomes among these individuals are not well understood. Rece...

Although the research is clear that boys with ADHD have higher symptomatology and impairment than girls with ADHD, for adults the research is mixed. Some studies suggest no sex differences, whereas others suggest that women might have higher symptomatology and impairment. The present study examined sex differences in ADHD symptomatology and impairm...

Objective: Given that ADHD has been linked to dysfunction across development and in many life domains, it is likely that individuals experiencing these symptoms are at increased risk for experiencing stress. The current study examines the association between ADHD and other psychiatric symptoms and perceived stress in a community sample of adults. M...

While in the past two decades attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has been recognized as a disorder that persists into adulthood in most cases, the development of empirically supported therapies for affected individuals beyond childhood has lagged considerably. Cognitive-behavioral therapy and related approaches, however, lead the devel...

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is often diagnosed in childhood but persists into adulthood in many cases. This disorder, which is defined by the core symptoms of IA and HI, is also associated with impairment in academic settings, interpersonal relationships, and behavioral risk taking. While ADHD is most often treated with medicati...

The symptoms of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) have been linked to dysfunction in numerous life domains for both children and adults. As such, it is likely that individuals with these and other related symptoms (e.g., sluggish cognitive tempo, SCT) may also experience impaired quality of life. The current study examines the associa...

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has previously been associated with less satisfaction and success in romantic relationships. This study compares conflict resolution and problem-solving behaviors in young adult romantic couples either having one partner with ADHD combined type (C-couples), having one partner identified with ADHD inat...

While stimulant medication is commonly prescribed to treat Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in children and adolescents (Merikangas, He, Rapoport, Vitiello, & Olfson, 2013; Zuvekas & Vitiello, 2012) and is considered an empirically supported intervention for those groups (Barkley, Murphy, & Fischer, 2008; Pelham & Fabiano, 2008; Safren et a...

Objective: ADHD has been linked to various constructs, yet there is a lack of focus on how its symptom clusters differentially associate with personality, which this study addresses. Method: The current study examines the relationship between impulsive and inattentive ADHD traits and personality, indexed by the Revised NEO Personality Inventory (NE...

The purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of quercetin supplementation on neurocognitive functioning. A large community sample (n = 941) completed a 12-week supplementation protocol, and participants were randomly assigned to receive 500 mg/day or 1000 mg/day quercetin, or placebo. Results failed to indicate significant effects of...

Research has suggested that in-service teachers learn relatively little about attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) during their education, but that on-the-job learning helps mitigate this deficiency. Current teacher trainees may receive more ADHD education than past cohorts, though it is unclear whether their ADHD knowledge is superior t...

Objective: Given the mixed literature in the area, the aim of the current study was to determine whether sex differences exist in inattention, hyperactivity, and impairment in college adults with ADHD. Method: Individuals from three universities were recruited for the study. Participants with (n = 164) and without ADHD (n = 710) completed on-line m...

In this study, we measured neurocognitive function, perceived stress, quality of life (QOL), and psychopathology in community-dwelling adults, with data contrasted across tertiles of exercise frequency. A group of 998 adults (age 18-85 yr) was measured for neurocognitive function using a computerized neuropsychological test from CNS Vital Signs (Mo...

The current study tested whether an abbreviated version of Defiant Children (Barkley, 1987), an efficacious parent training program to address the behavioral noncompliance often associated with disruptive behavior disorders, could be implemented successfully within a community mental health clinic setting by master's-level therapists. Ethnically an...

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) has been characterized as a comorbidity to pathological gambling (PG). However, contradictory evidence has emerged, and it has not been established whether nonimpulsive features of ADHD (e.g., inattention, hyperactivity) contribute to PG risk, or how robust this relationship is in college samples. Usi...

To identify potential diagnostic criteria for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in emerging adults using a combination of DSM-IV and Barkley, Murphy, and Fischer’s (2007) executive functioning (EF) items. Participants in ADHD and control groups self-report on: (1) the 18 DSM-IV criteria, (2) 87 Barkley et al. (2007) EF items, and (3)...

Objective: This study investigates social stigma associated with a diagnosis of ADHD in adulthood and whether Big Five personality traits predict appraisals of affected individuals. Method: A sample of 257 undergraduates rate the desirability of targets with ADHD, minor medical problems, and with no appreciable weakness, across several social engag...

This article describes an activity for an undergraduate abnormal psychology course that used student-generated data to illustrate normal versus clinically significant anxiety responses related to specific phobias. Students (N = 37) viewed 14 images of low-or high-anxiety valence and rated their subjective response to each. Discussion in a subsequen...

For college students with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which is associated with increased accidental injury, mindfulness regarding safety issues in vocational choice may be indicated. In this study, a group of male college students with ADHD-predominantly inattentive type (ADHD-IA) reported placing less emphasis on job safety th...

Objective: Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) has been consistently linked to social maladjustment. This study investigated whether elevated rejection sensitivity (RS) could contribute to the relational problems that adults with ADHD encounter. Method: Undergraduate men in ADHD-Combined Type (ADHD-C; n = 31), ADHD-Primarily Inattentive...

While the symptomatic expression of ADHD, as defined by current diagnostic standards (APA, 1994), has been shown to generally decline in adolescence and adulthood (Biederman, Faraone, & Mick, 2000), there seems to be a developing consensus that a portion of this population will continue to exhibit above—threshold clinical symptoms and adaptive impa...

The purpose of this study was to explore heterosocial relational outcomes in a college-aged sample showing symptoms of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Using questionnaires and a behavioral observation task, dating, sexual, and social outcomes were examined in three groups: 24 non-ADHD controls, 27 ADHD-combined (ADHD/C) Type, and 1...

The motivational styles of 25 children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, combined type (ADHD/C), 13 children with ADHD, inattentive type (ADHD/IA), and 25 nondiagnosed controls (NC) were compared using parent, teacher, and self-ratings. Both ADHD subtypes demonstrated motivational impairment characterized by a preference for easy work,...

Acute nicotine treatment has been found to reduce symptoms of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder in adults (E. D. Levin, C. K. Conners, et al., 1996). In this study, chronic nicotine effects were compared with placebo and methylphenidate. Acute and chronic nicotine treatment significantly attenuated the rise in hit reaction time standard erro...

The motivational styles of 25 children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, combined type (ADHD/C), 13 children with ADHD, inattentive type (ADHD/IA), and 25 nondiagnosed controls (NC) were compared using parent, teacher, and self-ratings. Both ADHD subtypes demonstrated motivational impairment characterized by a preference for easy work,...

Not available Psychology