Abstract
The increasing number of university students seeking diagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and findings of an increased stimulant misuse among university students, has raised concerns regarding the credibility of the symptoms of those students. However, most of our current knowledge refers to university students in North America and less is known about this issue on European campuses. The present survey aimed to collect opinions on feigning ADHD and to estimate the prevalence of stimulant misuse among 1071 university students in the Netherlands. The majority of students expressed liberal attitudes towards feigning ADHD. Also, a substantial number of respondents considered feigning ADHD themselves or know someone who feigns ADHD. Furthermore, 68% of students assumed benefits of taking stimulants without prescription and 16% have indeed already taken stimulants without prescription. Feigning ADHD and misuse of prescription medication are prevalent issues among Dutch students. The results underline the need for a careful diagnostic evaluation of individuals for ADHD. Furthermore, efforts are required in order to prevent stimulant drug trafficking and misuse among university students.
Highlights
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neuropsychiatric developmental disorder which affects about 1.2–7.3% of adults worldwide (Fayyad et al 2007)
The present study aimed to address this topic on a large sample of Dutch university students
The present study highlights that about half of the Dutch university students of the present sample assume benefits regarding the feigning of ADHD (52%) and express their confidence in the ease to feign ADHD (57%)
Summary
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neuropsychiatric developmental disorder which affects about 1.2–7.3% of adults worldwide (Fayyad et al 2007). Research in the last decades revealed high base rates of invalid symptom reports and performances among college students that are clinically evaluated for ADHD. Studies on university students in the United States and Canada demonstrated that about 15–48% of all college. Despite the clear evidence on the occurrence of feigned ADHD and misuse of prescription stimulants among. The present study aimed to address this topic on a large sample of Dutch university students. A survey was performed asking about opinions on and experiences with feigned ADHD and stimulant misuse, including motives for taking prescription stimulants. Conclusions can be drawn regarding the susceptibility of the validity of psychiatric evaluations of university students for ADHD, and the need for prevention efforts of stimulant drug trafficking and misuse at European universities
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