Objective: Mind wandering, the unintended shifting of attention from a task, has been previously associated with symptoms of ADHD. To this end, we conducted a literature search to investigate the association between mind wandering and ADHD. Method: We conducted a systematic search of the literature of relevant articles assessing mind wandering and ADHD in PubMed, PsycINFO/OVID, and Medline. Included were original articles in English that had operationalized definitions of ADHD and mind wandering, adequate sample size, and reliance on statistical evaluation of findings. Excluded were reviews, opinions, and case reports. Results: Only nine studies met our a priori inclusion and exclusion criteria ( N = 8 in adults; N = 1 in pediatrics). Findings suggest that ADHD is frequently associated with spontaneous mind wandering and when present heralds more functional impairments. Conclusion: The limited research on mind wandering in ADHD indicates that it is prevalent and morbid supporting further research on the subject.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.