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Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in adults

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Brian Toone,
Maria Clarke and
Susan Young
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Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and hyperkinetic disorder are well-established diagnoses in children, with estimates of prevalence in pre-adolescent children from 3 to 5%. Until recently ADHD was not thought to persist beyond adolescence, but results from long-term prospective outcome studies indicate that 30–70% of children with ADHD exhibit some symptoms as adults. Recognition of this disorder is important as the persistence of ADHD symptoms has been shown to be associated with academic and occupational failure and high rates of psychiatric comorbidity. With the establishment of a UK support group (LADDER) and increasing media attention highlighting this problem it is likely that there will be an increased demand for psychiatric assessment of adult ADHD in the next few years.

Information

Type
Research Article
Information
Advances in Psychiatric Treatment , Volume 5 , Issue 2 , March 1999, pp. 112 - 119
Copyright
Copyright © The Royal College of Psychiatrists 1999 

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