The clinical relevance of asking young psychiatric patients about childhood ADHD symptoms

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to explore the relevance of asking young psychiatric patients about childhood symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Method: A total of 180 young adults (18–25 years of age) from a general psychiatric out-patient clinic in Uppsala filled in the Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Screening Inventory-Retrospect (CAPSI-R) as part of the diagnostic procedure. The study population was divided into groups based on number and subtype of reported ADHD symptoms, inattention (IN) or hyperactivity/impulsivity (HI). The clinical characteristics associated with different symptoms of ADHD were explored.

Results: The groups with five or more self-reported ADHD childhood symptoms, of either IN or HI, had more psychiatric comorbid conditions, a significantly higher co-occurrence of substance use disorders and personality disorders, and experienced more psychosocial and environmental problems.

Conclusion: High level of self-reported ADHD childhood symptoms in young psychiatric patients identified a group more burdened with psychiatric comorbid conditions and more psychosocial problems. This group should be offered a thorough diagnostic assessment of ADHD.

Keywords:

• Childhood symptoms
• Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Screening Inventory-Retrospect
• CAPSI-R
• attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
• ADHD

Acknowledgements

We thank Mr Hans Arinell for his contribution to the statistical analysis.

Disclosure statement

On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Fredrik och Ingrid Thurings Stiftelse, Märta and Nicke Nasvell Foundation, the Anna-Britta Gustafsson Foundation andThe Research Council of the Swedish Systembolaget (Dnr: 02-14:1).

Notes on contributors

M. Richter

Miriam Richter, MD, currently doing an internship at Skåne University Hospital in Malmö

H. Spangenberg

Hanna Spangenberg, MD, specialist in psychiatry, PhD student.

M. Ramklint

Mia Ramklint, PhD, MD, specialist in psychiatry and child and adolescent psychiatry.

A. Ramirez

Adriana Ramirez, PhD, MD, specialist in psychiatry.