Characteristics of adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder consecutively referred to an Australian private psychiatric clinic

ABSTRACT

Objective

Adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is internationally well described but little clinical information has emerged from Australia. We explored the demographic and psychiatric characteristics of adults consecutively referred to an Australian private psychiatric clinic.

Methods

Medical records of 473 adults aged 18–70 with ADHD were reviewed with the Adult Self-Report Scale (ASRS) 1.1, Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) and Behaviour and Symptom Identification Scale (BASIS-32).

Results

The sex ratio was lower in the ADHD adulthood versus childhood diagnosed group (1.4:1 versus 4.9:1). Women were likely to be diagnosed 5 years later than men, had lower socioeconomic status, and experienced more ADHD symptoms and trauma.

Conclusion

Women are at risk of delayed diagnosis despite more ADHD symptoms and related problems. There is a need for increased adult ADHD services and health professional education in Australia to identify and support adult ADHD.

Key points

What is already known about this topic:

• (1) Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) persists into adulthood and affects around 2-3% of adults.

• (2) Adult ADHD is associated with high levels of psychiatric comorbidity.

• (3) There is very little research on the presentation of Australian adults with ADHD.

What this topic adds:

• (1) This research describes the clinical presentation of 473 Australian adults with ADHD who were consecutively referred to a private psychiatric clinic.

• (2) Women were likely to be diagnosed with ADHD later than men.

• (3) There were high rates of comorbidities and minimal differences between those diagnosed with ADHD in adult versus childhood.

KEYWORDS:

• Adult ADHD
• comorbidity
• gender differences
• medical record review

Disclosure statement

Authors Joel Aizenstros and Tamara May work in clinical roles at the clinic where the file audit was conducted.

Additional information

Funding

No funding was received for this work.