About

Lenard A. Adler, MD, is a professor of Psychiatry and Child & Adolescent Psychiatry at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, where he has spent his entire professional career. He is the director of the Adult ADHD Program and specializes in treating adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), as well as managing associated conditions such as major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, and anxiety disorder. Dr. Adler's work involves providing evaluations, diagnoses, medications, and cognitive behavioral therapy, with a focus on finding individualized treatment approaches. His research over the past two decades has concentrated on the assessment and treatment of adult ADHD, including the development of rating scales for screening and diagnosing ADHD, as well as evaluating new treatment modalities such as medications and neurofeedback. He has been actively involved in national efforts to improve ADHD care, including participating in the creation of US guidelines for diagnosis and treatment and serving on relevant committees. Dr. Adler's contributions aim to enhance understanding and management of ADHD, especially in adults, and to improve quality of life for those affected.

Research topics

• Psychiatry
• Medicine
• Demography
• Business
• Economics
• Environmental health
• Economic growth
• Psychology
• Clinical psychology
• Nursing
• Gerontology

Selected publications

• Correction: An Open‑Label Extension Study Assessing the Long‑Term Safety and Efficacy of Viloxazine Extended‑Release Capsules in Adults with Attention‑Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

  CNS Drugs · 2026-03-26

  articleOpen access
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• 96.4 ADHD and Eating Disorders

  Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry · 2025-10-01

  article1st authorCorresponding
  PublisherDOI

• Pilot Trial of SDX/d-MPH Adult ADHD Examining Effects Throughout the Day

  Psychopharmacology Bulletin · 2025-08-12

  article1st authorCorresponding

  Objective: To examine the effects of Serdexmethylphenidate/dexmethylphenidate (SDX/d-MPH) on ADHD symptoms throughout the day in adults with DSM-5 ADHD. Method: This was a 6-week pilot study that included 3 weeks of open label treatment with SDX/d-MPH (39.2/7.8 mg/day to 52.3/10.4 mg/day in clinical titration) after completion of a one-week screening period and a two-week observation period in seventeen adults with ADHD. Two subjects were discontinued from the trial, one for being placebo-responder and another for exhibiting blood pressure lability during the observation period. Of the remaining 15 subjects, one dropped out after one week on 39.2/7.8 mg/day, while all others completed the trial. All fifteen participants were included in the data analyses. Results: There were substantial effects of SDX/d-MPH on all clinical measures, including investigator symptom scores (AISRS); self-report (ASRS) scores, time-sensitive ADHD (TASS) scores throughout the day, impairment (CGI) and executive function scores (BRIEF-A) and measures of medication smoothness (AMSES). SDX/d-MPH was generally well tolerated. Conclusions: This pilot study is the first systematic treatment effect trial data for SDX/d-MPH in adults with DSM-5 ADHD. The data preliminarily supports the clinical efficacy of DSM/d-MPH in adult ADHD and its ability to ameliorate symptoms throughout the day.

  PublisherDOI

• Adult Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Self-Report Scale (ASRS)

  2025-01-01

  book-chapter
  PublisherDOI

• A Post hoc Analysis Evaluating the Baseline Characteristics That Facilitate Early Identification of Those who are Likely to Respond to Centanafadine at Week 6

  2025-01-01

  articleOpen accessSenior author
  PublisherDOI

• How Co-Traveling Accessory Symptoms and Comorbidities Affect Making the Diagnosis of Adult ADHD

  Psychiatric Annals · 2024-12-01 · 3 citations

  articleSenior author

  Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that has profound personal and societal impacts, yet this condition remains underdiagnosed and under-treated in adults due to challenges in distinguishing its nuanced symptom-atology from overlapping psychiatric comorbidities and co-traveling accessory symptoms. This article reviews how co-traveling accessory symptoms, such as emotional dyscontrol, executive functioning deficits, and cognitive disengagement syndrome, as well as comorbid conditions like depressive disorders, bipolar disorders, anxiety disorders, substance use disorders, and personality disorders, complicate the diagnostic process. Each accessory symptom and psychiatric comorbidity not only shares overlapping features with ADHD but also contributes to greater functional impairment and may exacerbate ADHD symptoms. Limitations in our current diagnostic frameworks can further hinder recognition of broader symptom presentations in adults. Increased awareness of co-traveling accessory symptoms and comorbidities may improve identification and treatment outcomes for this disorder in adults, thus better addressing the consequences of untreated ADHD and enhancing quality of life for those affected. [ Psychiatr Ann . 2024;54(12):e325–e329.]

  PublisherDOI

• Differences in Primary Care Management of Patients With Adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Based on Race and Ethnicity

  Journal of Attention Disorders · 2024-01-12 · 2 citations

  article

  OBJECTIVE: Examine differences in care patterns around adult ADHD between race (White/Non-White) and ethnic (Hispanic/Non-Hispanic) groups utilizing existing quality measures (QMs), concerning diagnosis, treatment, and medication prescribing. METHODS: The AAFP National Research Network in partnership with SUNY Upstate Medical used an EHR dataset to evaluate achievement of 10 ADHD QMs. The dataset was obtained from DARTNet Institute and includes 4 million patients of 873 behavioral and primary care practices with at least 100 patients from 2010 to 2020. Patients 18-years or older with adult ADHD were included in this analysis. RESULTS: White patients and Non-Hispanic/Latinx patients were more likely to achieve these QMs than Non-White patients and Hispanic/Latinx patients, respectively. Differences between groups concerning medication and monitoring demonstrate a disparity for Non-White and Hispanic/Latinx populations. CONCLUSIONS: Using QMs in EHR data can help identify gaps in ADHD research. There is a need to continue investigating disparities of quality adult ADHD care.

  PublisherDOI

• An Open-Label Extension Study Assessing the Long-Term Safety and Efficacy of Viloxazine Extended-Release Capsules in Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

  CNS Drugs · 2024-10-07 · 3 citations

  articleOpen access

  Viloxazine ER (extended-release capsules; Qelbree®) is a nonstimulant medication that has been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children (> 6 years old) and adults. This phase 3 open-label extension to a pivotal phase 3, double-blind trial evaluated the long-term safety and continued efficacy of viloxazine ER in adults with ADHD. This was a multicenter, flexible-dose, open-label extension to a phase III, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (NCT04016779). Viloxazine ER was initiated at 200 mg/day and adjusted (between 200 and 600 mg/day) to achieve optimal efficacy and tolerability. Trial enrollment was halted temporarily (24 March 2020 to 23 July 2020) due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Participants completing double-blind treatment during that time were offered delayed enrollment upon trial requalification. Safety outcomes were the primary objectives. Secondary objectives were efficacy outcomes, including the ADHD Investigator Symptom Rating Scale (AISRS), and were assessed relative to double-blind baseline (or trial re-entry baseline for those whose enrollment was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic). Overall, 159 participants (133 immediate and 26 delayed rollover) received viloxazine ER, with a mean exposure of 265 ± 254.9 days. Adverse events (AEs) included (> 10% incidence) insomnia (13.8%), nausea (13.8%), headache (10.7%), and fatigue (10.1%). AEs led to discontinuation for 17.6% of participants [most commonly insomnia (2.5%), nausea (2.5%), and fatigue (1.9%)]. AISRS total score [baseline mean ± standard deviation (SD): 37.9 ± 6.3] improved by the first follow-up visit (−11.4 ± 9.5; week 2) with continued improvement at subsequent visits (last on-study visit: −18.2 ± 11.54). Similar patterns of improvement were seen for other measures of efficacy, including quality of life and executive function. Following initial dose optimization, most participants (73%) used viloxazine ER doses ≥ 400 mg/day, with 36% using doses of 600 mg/day. Long-term viloxazine ER use was well tolerated, with no new long-term safety findings. Improvements in ADHD symptoms and associated measures were sustained throughout trial participation. In total, 73% percent of adult participants in this long-term study used viloxazine ER doses of 400 mg or more during maintenance treatment. Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT04143217. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is common in children and adults and characterized by inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity that can substantially interfere with everyday life. On the basis of positive efficacy and safety results from clinical studies in children, adolescents, and adults, viloxazine ER (viloxazine extended-release capsules) received US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval as a new treatment for ADHD and is marketed under the brand name Qelbree® (Supernus Pharmaceuticals, Inc). Adults who participated in the short-term (6 weeks) double-blind study that eventually led to the FDA approval of viloxazine ER were invited to enroll in this open-label extension trial to monitor the medication’s long-term safety and continued efficacy. This study also provided a pathway for study participants to continue receiving viloxazine ER until its FDA approval and commercial availability. Participants in the study received viloxazine ER at dosages between 200 and 600 mg/day on the basis of symptom response and side effects (most used at least 400 mg/day). Viloxazine ER was demonstrated to have a good safety and tolerability profile. The most common side effects were insomnia (13.8%), nausea (13.8%), headache (10.7%), and fatigue (10.1%). Long-term treatment led to continued improvement in ADHD symptoms, quality of life, and executive function (executive function includes cognitive skills such as organizing and following through with tasks). The study results further support the continued use of viloxazine ER as a long-term treatment option for adults with ADHD.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Amygdala-derived-EEG-fMRI-pattern neurofeedback for the treatment of chronic post-traumatic stress disorder. A prospective, multicenter, multinational study evaluating clinical efficacy

  Psychiatry Research · 2024-01-08 · 25 citations

  articleOpen access

  We conducted a prospective, single arm, multisite, multinational, open label trial assessing the safety and efficacy of a novel amygdala derived neurofeedback treatment, designated Amygdala-Derived-EFP, for chronic PTSD. Participants, including veterans and civilians, underwent screening, training, 15 neurofeedback sessions over 8 weeks and; baseline, termination (8 weeks) and 3 month post treatment assessments with validated measures. The primary endpoint was more than 50 % of the participants demonstrating a Minimally Clinically Important Difference (MCID) defined as a 6-point reduction, on the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS-5) total score at 3 months. Secondary measures included the PCL-5, ERQ, PHQ-9, and CGI. Statistical analyses were performed using SAS®V9.4. The primary endpoint was met, with a CAPS-5 MCID response rate of 66.7 %. The average reduction in CAPS-5 total scores at 3 month follow up was 13.5 points, more than twice the MCID. Changes from baseline in CAPS-5, PCL-5, PHQ-9 scores at 8 weeks and the 3 month follow-up demonstrated statistically significant improvements in response and; demonstrated effect sizes ranging from 0.46 to 1.07. Adverse events were mild and resolved after treatment. This study builds on prior research demonstrating similar outcomes using amygdala-derived neurofeedback. Positive attributes of this therapy include monitoring by non-physician personnel, affordability, accessibility, and tolerability.

  PublisherDOI

• The Times, They Are a-Changing at <i>Psychiatric Annals</i>

  Psychiatric Annals · 2024-01-01

  articleOpen accessSenior author
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

Frequent coauthors

• Thomas Spencer

  King's College London

  91 shared

• Andrew A. Nierenberg

  89 shared

• Benjamin H. Natelson

  Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

  85 shared

• Shelley Wong

  83 shared

• Lawrence Ross

  83 shared

• Kimberly Schneider

  83 shared

• Derek Oscarson

  Hiroshima University

  83 shared

• Lisa Arrington

  Cambridge University Press

  83 shared

Labs

• Adult ADHD Program at NYU LangonePI

Awards & honors

• Past President American Professional Society of ADHD and Rel…