Current issues and trends in the diagnosis and treatment of adults with ADHD

Abstract

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has been commonly thought of as a childhood disorder that diminished over time. It is one of the most common developmental disorders and it is estimated that ADHD affects 5–10% of children. Two-thirds of children with ADHD will continue to have symptoms of ADHD that persist throughout adolescence. Longitudinal studies have demonstrated that symptoms of ADHD can also remain in adulthood, affecting 4.4% of the adult population. However, diagnosing adults with ADHD can prove difficult because they often find that their symptoms are egosyntonic. In addition, the development of comorbid conditions, such as anxiety, depression, personality disorders or substance abuse, can often overshadow underlying ADHD symptoms. Nonetheless, treatments such as stimulant and nonstimulant medication (e.g., atomoxetine), and cognitive–behavior therapy have been effective in treating adults with ADHD. This article reviews the prevalence of adults with ADHD, followed by a discussion of the neurobiological and genetic underpinnings of the disorder. Issues regarding the diagnosis and treatment of ADHD are also addressed.

Keywords::

• adults
• attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder
• cognitive–behavior therapy
• diagnosis
• medication
• nonstimulant
• pharmacotherapy
• stimulant medication
• treatment

Financial & competing interests disclosure

L Hechtman has received honoraria for consultation and presentations as well as research grant support from: Eli Lilly and Company, Janssen-Ortho Inc., Shire plc, Purdue Pharma L.P. and GlaxoSmithKline Beecham. D Kolar’s postdoctoral fellowship and A Keller’s graduate student stipend is supported by the Montreal Children’s Hospital Foundation via the Shire Endowment Fund. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Notes

Data from [54].

ADHD: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.