ADHD in adult patients with substance use disorders

Abstract

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is acommon comorbidity in adult patients with substance use disorders (SUDs). The diagnostics and treatment of ADHD with SUD are often achallenge, also with respect to the prescription of stimulants. Recently, agroup of international experts developed aconsensus paper on the diagnosis and treatment of comorbid ADHD and SUD. In addition, the German S3 guidelines on ADHD have been published, which also give advice on the treatment of ADHD in comorbid SUD. The German S3 guidelines on alcohol-related disorders and methamphetamine-related disorders also address ADHD as a comorbidity. Summary of consensus and guideline recommendations, supplemented with the most recent literature. In recent years new findings on the comorbidity of ADHD in patients with SUD have emerged. Aseries of screening and diagnostic instruments have meanwhile been evaluated in this patient group. The consensus paper and various guidelines therefore provide clinicians with specific help in detecting ADHD in patients with SUD and in conducting further diagnostics and treatment of both disorders. For example, the importance of stimulants in the treatment of patients with SUD and ADHD has significantly changed and first studies on psychotherapeutic interventions specific to this comorbidity are now available.