Recognizing and Treating Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in College Students

Abstract

Traditionally diagnosed in children, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is now regarded as a life span condition. The academic difficulties experienced by children and adolescents with ADHD have been observed to continue into young adulthood. Treatment outcome studies demonstrate that behavioral and pharmacotherapeutic interventions can be beneficial in improving ADHD symptoms such as inattention, and so facilitate academic performance in young adults with ADHD. This review discusses how ADHD leads to academic underperformance, the warning signs of undiagnosed ADHD, and the potential impact interventions can have on adult academic impairment.

KEYWORDS:

• attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
• college students

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS AND FUNDING

Support for writing and editing portions of this manuscript was provided by Shire Development LLC (Wayne, PA) to Complete Healthcare Communications, Inc. (CHC, Chadds Ford, PA). Under the direction of the authors, writing assistance for some sections of the manuscript was provided by Brett D. Mahon, PhD, and Craig Slawecki, PhD, employees of CHC. Editorial assistance in the form of proofreading and copyediting was also provided by CHC. The authors exercised full editorial control and had final approval of the manuscript for submission.