Can Regulation of Boredom Become a Therapy Focus? 

Boredom might sound harmless, but for people with ADHD it can be one of the most challenging states to manage. Many describe boredom as physically uncomfortable, sparking restlessness or impulsive behaviour. While it is not officially listed as a clinical feature in ADHD guidelines, researchers are beginning to see boredom regulation as an important therapeutic focus. 

What Clinical Guidance Says 

According to NICE NG87 and NHS ADHD guidance, boredom dysregulation is not recognised as a core ADHD symptom. The diagnostic criteria remain centred on inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity (NICE, 2023; NHS, 2025). However, growing research points to clear neurological links between ADHD, underarousal, and dopamine imbalance, the same systems that regulate motivation and reward. Studies show that people with ADHD often have lower baseline brain arousal and find it harder to sustain engagement in low-stimulation settings. 

What Research Now Shows 

New evidence is shifting clinical thinking. A 2023 study in the Journal of Attention Disorders found that boredom proneness is significantly higher in ADHD and closely predicts impulsive decision-making (Ishii et al., 2023). Neuroimaging research also shows that during boredom, ADHD brains display reduced activation in dopamine and reward pathways (Eastwood et al., 2022). This supports the idea that ADHD may involve a kind of underarousal, where the brain seeks stimulation to stay alert, a finding that could have real implications for therapy. 

How Therapy Is Evolving 

Traditional ADHD therapies such as CBT and DBT help with emotional regulation and executive skills. But emerging approaches are now exploring how to help patients manage boredom safely and intentionally. Therapists and ADHD coaches are teaching practical self-stimulation strategies, including task variety, reward scheduling, and mindfulness-based focus resets. Neurofeedback and motivation-based interventions also show promise for targeting boredom-related attention difficulties (Rubia et al., 2019). 

If you are exploring professional support, ADHD-focused therapy or coaching can help you understand and work with your unique stimulation needs. For those considering formal assessment, ADHD Certify offers affordable, CQC-rated online ADHD assessments for adults and children with experienced UK clinicians. 

Takeaway 

Boredom regulation is not yet a formal ADHD therapy focus, but growing research suggests it should be. By addressing how the ADHD brain responds to underarousal, future therapies could help people build healthier and more sustainable ways to stay engaged, motivated, and balanced day to day.