Psychiatric comorbidity in adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

Abstract

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a chronic, lifelong disorder with childhood-onset, which seriously impairs the affected adults in a variety of daily living functions like educational and occupational functioning, partnership and parenting. ADHD is associated with a high percentage of comorbid psychiatric disorders in every lifespan. In adulthood between 65-89% of all patients with ADHD suffer from one or more additional psychiatric disorders, above all mood and anxiety disorders, substance use disorders and personality disorders, which complicates the clinical picture in terms of diagnostics, treatment and outcome issues. The present overview provides information of comorbid psychiatric disorders in adults with ADHD, underlying associations and clinical implications.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Social Anxiety in İstanbul Heavy Metal Bar Patrons

“…Similar results have been shown in previous clinical studies. These studies showed that adults with ADHD usually had a comorbid depression diagnosis higher than that of the general population (21,22). So, our findings, while supporting previous studies in general population, could be interpreted as showing that this comorbidity may also be common among heavy metal bar attendees.…”

“…The other speculation about the correlation of self-reported attention deficit and social anxiety symptoms in our sample may be the comorbidity of social anxiety disorder and ADHD/Inattentive type. It is shown that adult ADHD has a high risk of comorbidity with anxiety disorders (21,22) and there is evidence that ADHD/anxiety disorder comorbidity predominantly presents with inattentiveness symptoms (25,26). Notably, a small number of clinical studies have found a link between social anxiety disorder and ADHD (27)(28)(29) and a recent study in children found that inattentive type of ADHD presents with difficulties of social assertiveness (30).…”

Prevalence of ADHD in four general adult outpatient clinics in North East England

“…Recognition of ADHD is important because it is a serious risk factor for comorbid psychiatric disorders such as antisocial personality disorder and substance abuse, 2,3 as well as being significantly associated with lower levels of education and higher levels of unemployment, criminality and car accidents. [4][5][6] There continues to be debate as to whether the criteria used for children are appropriate for the diagnosis of adult ADHD because they might underestimate the true prevalence of the disorder.…”

Effectiveness of Neurofeedback Treatment on Adult ADHD: A Meta-Analysis

“…17 years of age and older) in the recently revised Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder, fifth edition (Rostain, 2008). Although in many cases, the maladaptive symptoms of impulsivity or hyperactivity are reduced in adulthood, it is incorrectly assumed that the main symptoms of ADHD also disappear (Sobanski, 2006). In addition, the issues faced by adults having ADHD in different situations are often regarded as a part of their individual characteristics and not because of their disorder (Goodman & Thase, 2009).…”

“…These patients suffer from impairments in educational, occupational, neuropsychological and social functioning (Rostain, 2008). Psychiatric disorders include mood, anxiety and substance abuse are very common in these patients (Sobanski, 2006). ADHD is now considered a chronic disorder that is not limited to childhood only (Barkley, Murphy, & Fischer, 2010).…”