Attention deficit disorders in adults

Abstract

Among the disorders that are most extensively investigated in medicine, especially in pediatrics, ADHD is considered a neuro-psychiatric disorder with multifactorial development, based on genetic predisposition and neurobiological disruptions. Epidemiological data indicate a global prevalence of 5.29% among individuals under 18 years of age, and recent analysis documents a prevalence of 2.5% in adults.1 Although previously it was considered that it remits in childhood or during adolescence, long-term studies on the term of children and prospective studies on adults with ADHD have shown that the disorder persists even into adulthood.2 In general, problems related to ADHD include, for children, a higher risk of poor school performance, lower academic achievements, lower grades, school suspensions, and extracurricular difficulties. In the case of adolescents, they may experience strained relationships with family, school dropout, aggression, conduct problems, and substance experimentation and abuse. In the case of adults, there may be accidents related to driving and violations of traffic rules, social difficulties in relationships, marriage, and employment.2 ADHD and comorbid depression are frequently reported, with prevalence rates in individuals with ADHD ranging from 18.6% to 53.3%.3 Similarly, studies have documented comorbidity between ADHD and depressive disorders with rates ranging from 9% to 16%, with a median rate of 7.8%.4