Lifetime Prevalence of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in Young Adults: Examining Variations in the Socioeconomic Gradient

Abstract

Objective: It has only recently been accepted that attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) persists into adulthood. Accordingly, less is known about adult diagnostic and treatment prevalence. We aimed to determine the lifetime prevalence of ADHD diagnosis and psychostimulant prescriptions for young adults in the province of Manitoba and to explore how diagnosis differs according to sociodemographic characteristics and age at diagnosis; and to investigate whether a socioeconomic gradient exists within young adults with a lifetime ADHD diagnosis, as well as the variables that moderate the gradient. Regression analyses tested for differences in rates by sex, region, age, age at diagnosis, and socioeconomic status.Results: Lifetime prevalence for ADHD diagnosis (7.11%) and psychostimulant prescriptions (3.09%) differed according to sex, region, and age. In contrast to previous Manitoban research on childhood ADHD, the socioeconomic gradient for ADHD diagnosis was not found in young adulthood. When region was accounted for, a small negative gradient in the urban population and a positive gradient in the rural population were evident. People from the highest income quintile were significantly less likely to be diagnosed before age 18, compared with other income quintiles. Conclusions:Given the high lifetime prevalence of ADHD in Manitoban young adults and significant socioeconomic correlates for diagnosis, further investigation into the trajectory of this relatively unexplored population is recommended. W W W Prévalence de durée de vie du trouble de déficit de l'attention avec hyperactivité chez les jeunes adultes : examen des variations du gradient socioéconomiqueObjectif : Ce n'est que récemment qu'il a été convenu que le trouble de déficit de l'attention avec hyperactivité (TDAH) persiste à l'âge adulte. Conformément, nous en savons moins sur la prévalence du diagnostic adulte et du traitement. Nous avons cherché à déterminer la prévalence de durée de vie du diagnostic de TDAH et des prescriptions de psychostimulants pour les jeunes adultes de la province du Manitoba, et à explorer comment le diagnostic diffère selon les caractéristiques sociodémographiques et l'âge au moment du diagnostic. Nous voulions aussi rechercher s'il existe un gradient

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