“PUDIN”: 5 signs that act as a “natural medication” for ADHD

The brain of a person with ADHD works in a unique way, especially with regard to motivation, attention and emotional regulation.

People with ADHD present differences in the regulation and functioning of the neurotransmitters dopamine and norepinephrine, which impacts focus, motivation and impulse control.

Inspired by the original acronym in English INCUP, created by the American psychiatrist William Dodson, the concept was adapted into Portuguese by psychiatrist Dra. Inês Homem de Melo, giving rise to the nice PUDIN 🍮

This model represents five natural triggers to increase dopamine and norepinephrine, making tasks more engaging, easy to complete and even fun.

Let's explore it!

‍

What is PUDIN?

Calm down, we're not talking about dessert... 🙃

PUDIN is an acronym, which represents:

• Pthat
• URegency
• Desafio
• Iinteresse
• NOvidade

These five factors help to better understand the functioning of the brain in PHDA and offer practical strategies for dealing with everyday challenges.

Let's explore each of them and understand why these stimuli are so effective...

‍

Practical examples of the 5 elements of PUDIN

1. Passion

♥️ When does it work?

If a task is linked to something that the person really likes, the brain goes into a state of hyperfocus, with extreme concentration and high performance.

Passion activates the reward circuit, increasing dopamine levels.

Practical examples:

• Study or work:Relate mandatory topics to areas of interest. For example, if you like sports, learn math through game statistics.
• Hobbies: Recognize yourself with childhood interests, listen to your body and pay attention to moments alone - it is in these moments that you can discover new passions.

💡Extra tip: Create a chart or list of your passions and find ways to integrate them into your daily tasks!

‍

2. Urgency

⏰ When does it work?

Tight deadlines and stressful situations activate the stress response system and momentarily increase the availability of adrenaline and norepinephrine, helping the brain to focus.

Urgency creates a sense of importance, essential for the PHDA brain to engage in the task.

Practical examples:

• Works and studies: Use a Pomodoro techniqueto divide activities into short periods.
• Routines: Set alarms or “false deadlines” to complete small tasks, such as tidying up the house or answering emails.
• Exercise: Turn training into a timed challenge, like running 1 km before the end of a music.

💡 Extra tip:Telling the deadline to another person can increase commitment and motivation!

‍

3. Challenge

🎯 When does it work?

Solving problems or overcoming difficulties activates the dopamine reward system, generating a feeling of satisfaction.

The greater the challenge (within realistic limits), the greater the motivation.

Practical examples:

• Personal projects: Set weekly challenges, such as cooking a new recipe or learning a music.
• Work:Divide large projects into smaller goals and associate small rewards (e.g., after completing a project, watching an episode of your favorite series).
• Gamification:Turn everyday tasks into challenges, such as creating goal lists and marking items as “completed”.

💡 Example table:

‍

4. Interest

👀 When does it work?

People who have PHDA respond well to creativity.

Surrounding activitiesarouse curiosity and keep focus, making tasks less tiring.

Practical examples:

• Study: Replace traditional study with interactive videos, podcasts or online quizzes.
• Routine: Alternate between tasks to avoid monotony (ex: working in different spaces of the house).
• Creativity: Introduce fun elements into simple tasks, such as listening to music while you tidy up the house.

‍

5. Novelty

🆕 When does it work?

The brain with PHDA adapts quickly to repetitive stimuli.

Introducing new things helps to maintain interest and engagement.

Practical examples:

• Change of scenery: If possible, alternate places of study or work, such as cafes or libraries.
• Weekly Routines:Plan new activities, such as trying a different workout in the gym or learning something online.
• Creative exploration: Swap routine tasks for something different, like cooking a new recipe or rearranging a space in the house.

‍

Final Considerations

O PUDDINGis more than a concept — or a dessert 😅 — it's an invitation to explore creative ways to increase focus and motivation at PHDA.

When incorporating Passion, Urgency, Challenge, Interest and Noveltyin the routine, it is possible to transform challenges into opportunities and enhance the unique capabilities of the brain.

Whether for yourself or your child, try applying these strategies on a day-to-day basis and see the difference they can make.

And who knows, maybe later you can tell us what that experience was like! 🍮

‍

References:

Morsink, S., Van der Oord, S., Antrop, I., Danckaerts, M., & Scheres, A. (2022). Studying Motivation in ADHD: The Role of Internal Motives and the Relevance of Self-Determination Theory. Journal of attention disorders, 26 (8), 1139—1158. doi: 10.1177/10870547211050948

Smith, Z. R., & Langberg, J. MR. (2018). Reviewing the Evidence for Motivational Deficits in Youth with ADHD and Their Association with Functional Outcomes. Clinical child and family psychology review, 21 (4), 500—526. doi: 10.1007/s10567-018-0268-3

Morsink, S., Sonuga-Barke, E., Mies, G., Glorie, N., Lemiere, J., Van der Oord, S., & Danckaerts, M. (2017). What motivates individuals with ADHD? A qualitative analysis from the adolescent's point of view. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 26 (8), 923—932. doi: 10.1007/s00787-017-0961-7