Clinical features of ADHD: An assessment of suicide risk and substance abuse

Abstract

IntroductionSeveral studies show that attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may persist into adulthood, increasing the risk of antisocial behaviour, drug abuse, psychiatric comorbidities, aggressive behaviour, social impairment and suicide risk.ObjectivesAnalyze correlations among ADHD, substances abuse, alcoholism and suicide risk.AimThe aim of our study is to better understand the clinical features of ADHD during adulthood.MethodsWe analyzed the presence of ADHD symptoms, suicide risk and levels of hopelessness, alcoholism and substance abuse in a sample of 50 (40% males) in/outpatients of S. Andrea Hospital in Rome, between February and May 2016. We administered the following scales: Adult-Self Report Scale (ASRS), Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS), Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS), Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (MAST), Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST).ResultsIn our sample of 50 adult patients, 20% had ADHD symptoms (10 subjects). We found that those with ADHD showed more frequently death desires (85.7%; χ2 = 1.31; P = 0.25) and higher levels of hopelessness (66.7%; χ2 = 0.83; P = =0.36) if compared to subjects without ADHD symptoms (respectively 63% and 45.8%). In the overall group of ADHD patients, 10% showed severe alcoholism, 20% (χ2 = 1.39; P = 0.49) had a borderline behavior, whereas 40% presented a substance abuse (χ2 = 1.75; P = 0.18).ConclusionsADHD may represent a psychiatric disorder with an increased suicide risk. It would be important to screen for suicidality and comorbid symptoms routinely in ADHD in order to improve the treatment of the patients.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.