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HIDDEN CLUES
The 7 signs your ADHD is actually a little-known ‘cousin’ disorder that plagues 1 in 20 people
Recent studies suggest that a condition known as CDS could affect between five to seven per cent of children
THINK you might have ADHD?
Do you often catch yourself zoning out during conversations, or lost in your own world?
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While occasional lapses in concentration are perfectly normal, regularly disengaging could be a sign of an attention disorder called cognitive disengagement syndrome (CDS).
The little-known - but very widespread - condition is often mistaken for traits like laziness, lack of motivation, and slowness.
It's also regularly confused with its better-known "cousin", attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as a lot of the symptoms overlap.
However, CDS is a neurological condition in its own right that has started receiving increasing attention from scientists.
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It was first described in the 1960s under the somewhat insulting term "sluggish cognitive tempo," referring to people who are slower to process information and complete tasks.
"People with CDS tend to experience mental confusion, excessive daydreaming, fogginess, and drowsiness,” says Dr Sofia Bouças, a psychology and education academic at Brunel University London, all of which contribute to the sense of "sluggishness."
However, she emphasised that despite being slower to process information, CDS does not impact the quality of their work.
“CDS is completely unrelated to intelligence,” she explained.
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“People with the condition can - and will - reach the end goal, their slower pace might mean it takes them a bit longer to get there.”
Before the 1960s, the condition was often mistaken for ADHD, specifically the inattentive type, which makes it hard to focus, pay attention, and stay organised.
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In 2022, it was rebranded to better seperate it from ADHD and reflect its main feature - being cognitively disengaged.
"The main difference between the two is that people with CDS get distracted from things internally, like their own thoughts," adds.
"Whereas people with AHDH tend to get distracted from things happening around them, external stimuli, like another person."
CDS could affect 1 in every 20 people
Although CDS is gaining recognition, it is not yet officially classified as a disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), which healthcare professionals use to diagnose mental conditions.
But the lack of official recognition doesn’t mean it's not worth paying attention to.
Recent that CDS could affect between five to seven per cent of children – which equates to around one in every 20 people - to ADHD.
The 7 signs of CDS and how it is diagnosed
WHILE Cognitive Disengagement Syndrome and ADHD both involve attention difficulties, CDS has been linked to the following symptoms:
- Inattention
- Mental fogginess
- Daydreaming
- Sleepiness
- Confusion
- Slow reaction time
Diagnosis is tricky because there are no official criteria.
Some psychologists use a mix of questionnaires and observations to spot symptoms like frequent daydreaming, mental fog, and slow processing speed.
Parents and teachers often notice these behaviors in children who seem “distant” or take longer to respond to questions and complete tasks.
Slow processing speed means it takes someone a bit longer to take in information, understand it, and react.
For example, in school, a student with slow processing speed might need more time to answer a question or finish an assignment because they need to fully process the material and think through their response.
It’s important to note that this isn’t about a lack of intelligence or effort – their brain simply works at a slower pace.
Support and treatment for CDS are still developing.
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is often used to help people cope better and improve focus.
Some researchers are also looking into using stimulant drugs, like those for ADHD, but the evidence isn’t clear yet.
In the meantime, lifestyle changes, like sticking to a consistent sleep routine and getting regular exercise, can help manage symptoms.
"This means it's very likely there are lots of people out there living and struggling with CDS unknowingly, " Dr Sofia says.
People with CDS have to work a lot harder
Those with undiagnosed CDS are more prone to other mental health conditions.
Dr Sofia explains that the ongoing struggle with focus and performance can lead to feelings of frustration, self-doubt, and anxiety.
"When individuals consistently face challenges in their learning or work life, it takes an emotional toll, often leading to disengagement from school or work," she said.
"Working with people in fast-paced environments, like in a classroom or work meeting can leave people feeling overwhelmed.
"People with CDS have to work a lot harder with their brains to keep up with neurotypical people.
"This sustained mental effort can leave people tired, which can make them seem quiet or withdrawn.
"Over time, they may internalise these difficulties, seeing themselves as failures, which can negatively impact their attitude towards learning and erode their sense of self-worth."
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Cases of ADHD reach record high
The growing interest in CDS comes as people getting an ADHD diagnosis and taking ADHD medications has reached a record high.
Since 2015, the number of patients in England prescribed drugs to treat ADHD has nearly trebled, and BBC research suggested that it would take eight years to assess all the adults on waiting lists.
Last year, ADHD was the second-most viewed condition on the NHS website.
Concern about this rising demand has prompted the NHS in England to set up a taskforce.
Some of these people who received ADHD diagnosis "could easily" have CDS, Dr Sofia explained.
“Some doctors may not yet be fully up to speed with recent advancements in CDS research, but I’d like to think most psychiatrists are aware,” she said.
“Clinicians often jump to ADHD first because it has a more established diagnostic framework and is more widely recognised.”
“This makes it easier to get an ADHD diagnosis than a CDS one,” she added.
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“It’s very unlikely that you’ve been misdiagnosed,” she clarified, “but if you do suspect it, it’s always a good idea to check with your GP.”
However, if someone with CDS were prescribed ADHD medication, a clear sign of misdiagnosis would be that the medication wouldn’t work, Dr Sofia explained.
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