The descriptive epidemiology of DSM-IV Adult ADHD in the World Health Organization World Mental Health Surveys

ADHD in acute care psychiatric inpatients

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurocognitive disorder characterized by symptoms of inattention, impulsivity and motor hyperactivity. The worldwide prevalence of ADHD, in the general adult population, has been estimated to be 2.8%. Patients with ADHD have a high incidence of comorbidity with other psychiatric disorders. Those with a psychiatric disorder as well as ADHD have more psychosocial difficulties than those without ADHD. Despite knowing that ADHD is often comorbid with other psychiatric diagnoses, there are currently no studies elucidating the prevalence of ADHD in the inpatient psychiatric population, nor is there significant information about its impact. The lack of research into this topic suggests more needs to be done in the field of adult ADHD, especially in the inpatient psychiatric population and with respect to impairment in patient function. Knowing the prevalence of ADHD and its impact on quality of life in adult inpatients will help lay the groundwork for effective screening and management. The purpose of this study was to understand the prevalence rates of ADHD among psychiatric acute care inpatients. Other objectives included comparing the quality of life and functioning between patients with a primary psychiatric diagnosis and ADHD (treated or untreated) versus those with a primary psychiatric diagnosis and no ADHD. Thirty-three (N = 31) psychiatric inpatients were screened using the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale. Those that screened positive for ADHD received a full diagnostic assessment for ADHD. All patients completed the Weiss Functional Impairment Rating Scale (WFIRS) to assess level of functioning and a Clinical Global Impression of Severity/Improvement Scale (on admission and discharge). Demographic information was also obtained. Of the 31 patients analyzed, 12 had a diagnosis of ADHD (36.4%). The participants diagnosed with ADHD scored significantly higher on the WFIRS, suggesting decreased functioning compared to patients without comorbid ADHD. Patients with ADHD also scored significantly higher in the individual domains of this rating scale, suggesting impairment in family, work and social functioning as well as decreased life-skills, poor self-concept and increased risk-taking behavior. In this sample, the prevalence of ADHD is significantly higher among acute care psychiatric inpatients than in the general population. Patients with concomitant ADHD suffer more functional impairment than those without. These findings merit further investigation into the value of routine screening and patient-specific treatment of ADHD in this patient population.

A survey of adult referrals to specialist attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder clinics in Canada

Background

Canadian guidelines encourage family physicians to diagnose/manage adults with uncomplicated attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD); specialist referral is recommended only for complex cases. This retrospective case review investigated adults referred to Canadian ADHD clinics.

Methods

Adult ADHD specialists reviewed referral letters/charts of patients (aged ≥18 years and no family history/known/expressed childhood ADHD) from family physicians/psychiatrists over 2 years.

Results

Data on 515 referrals (mean age 33 years, 60% males) were collected (December 2014 to September 2015); 472/515 (92%) were made by family physicians. No psychiatric comorbid symptoms were noted in 344/515 (67%) referrals. ADHD was confirmed by a specialist in 483/515 (94%) cases, whether comorbid symptoms were noted at referral (155/171 [91%]) or not (328/344 [95%]). ADHD was reported to impact “work” (251/317 [79%]), “school” (121/166 [73%]), “social/friends” (260/483 [54%]), and “spouse/family” (231/483 [48%]). Overall, 335/483 (69%) patients had more than or equal to one comorbid symptom (diagnosed by referring physician or specialist). Stimulant monotherapy was recommended for 383/483 (79%) patients, non-stimulant monotherapy for 41/483 (8%) patients, and stimulant plus non-stimulant monotherapy for 39/483 (8%) patients. Almost half of patients were returned for referring physician’s follow-up, either before treatment initiation (102/483 [21%]) or after treatment stabilization (99/483 [20%]). Follow-up was by a specialist for 282/483 (58%) patients.

Conclusion

ADHD diagnosis was specialist confirmed in most cases. Although most referrals (67%) noted no psychiatric comorbid symptoms, 69% of patients had ≥1 such symptom (diagnosed by a referring physician or specialist), so comorbid symptoms although not always noted at referral, may have contributed to the decision to refer. ADHD has a wide-ranging impact on patients’ daily lives. It is possible that greater confidence of family physicians to diagnose and treat adult ADHD could help to meet patients’ needs.

Persistence and Adherence to Psychostimulants, and Psychological Well-Being Up to 3 Years After Specialized Treatment of Adult Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Naturalistic Follow-Up Study

BACKGROUND

Little is known about the long-term persistence and adherence of psychostimulant use in adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and its relationship to their psychological well-being.

METHODS

The persistence and adherence to psychostimulants and psychological well-being were examined in adults with ADHD in a naturalistic follow-up, starting directly after discharge from their specialized treatment of ADHD at an outpatient ADHD clinic. Ninety-six patients were included at the time of discharge, who were interviewed by telephone at 6 months, 1 year, and 3 years after discharge.

RESULTS

At the time of discharge, 78% used a psychostimulant prescribed by a psychiatrist. Of those on psychostimulants at the time of discharge, approximately half still used any of these psychostimulants 3 years after discharge. However, adherence rates were good for those who persisted to use psychostimulants. The female sex and middle educational level (relative to a higher educational level) were near-significantly related to nonpersistence, and having a higher educational level and the combined ADHD subtype were related to nonadherence. In turn, nonadherence was related to worse general functioning, lower mood, and poorer sleep quality.

CONCLUSIONS

The importance of adherence should be discussed at the time of discharge, especially with female ADHD patients, those with a higher educational level, and those with a combined ADHD subtype, because nonadherence is associated with poorer outcomes.

Additive effect of congenital heart disease and early developmental disorders on attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and autism spectrum disorder: a nationwide population-based longitudinal study

In this retrospective nationwide population-based case-control study, we investigated the impact of congenital heart disease (CHD) on the development of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD), which remains unclear. Children aged <18 years that were diagnosed with CHD (n = 3552) between January 1, 1997 and December 31, 2009 were identified from the National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan. Non-CHD controls (n = 14,208) matched for age and sex (1:4) were selected from the same dataset. All subjects were observed until December 31, 2011 or their death. Comorbid perinatal conditions and early developmental disorders (EDD) that were diagnosed before ADHD and ASD diagnosis were also analyzed. The incidence rates of perinatal comorbidities, EDD, ADHD, and ASD were higher in the CHD group than in the control group. Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that the CHD group had an increased risk of developing ADHD (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 2.52, 95% confidence interval CI 1.96-3.25) and ASD (aHR 1.97, 95% CI 1.11-3.52) after adjusting for confounding comorbidities. EDD, but not perinatal comorbidities were also independent risk factors for ADHD and ASD after adjustment. Subgroup analysis indicated that the risk for ADHD (HR 16.59, 95% CI 12.17-22.60) and ASD (HR 80.68, 95% CI 39.96-176.12) was greatly increased in CHD subjects with EDD than in non-CHD subjects without EDD. These findings suggested that CHD at birth and EDD during early childhood were two independent risk factors for ADHD and ASD and that concurrent CHD and EDD might additively increase these risks.

Adult Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Insomnia: an Update of the Literature

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Insomnia is diagnosed when there is dissatisfaction with sleep quantity or quality. It has a prevalence in the general population ranging from 31 to 56%. Insomnia has previously been associated with adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In this review, we address three topics: (1) the cross-sectional relationship between ADHD and insomnia in adulthood, (2) the longitudinal relationship between ADHD and insomnia, and (3) insomnia as a side effect of pharmacological treatments for adult ADHD.

RECENT FINDINGS

Three cross-sectional, clinical, and population studies report a prevalence of insomnia in ADHD adults ranging from 43 to 80%. Longitudinal evidence for a link between childhood-onset ADHD and insomnia at later age is mixed, with one study confirming and another study not supporting such a longitudinal association. In randomized, placebo-controlled trials, insomnia is reported significantly more often in the treatment arm than in the placebo arm. In varying percentages of trial participants, insomnia is a treatment-emergent adverse effect in triple-bead mixed amphetamine salts (40-45%), dasotraline (35-45%), lisdexamfetamine (10-19%), and extended-release methylphenidate (11%). Ten to seventeen percent of subjects in placebo-controlled trials of atomoxetine report insomnia, possibly related to poor metabolizer status. The mechanisms explaining the relationship between ADHD and sleep problems are incompletely understood, but both genetic and non-shared environmental influences may be involved. Adults with ADHD should be assessed for insomnia, which is frequently comorbid, and both conditions should be treated.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder symptom severity and sleep problems in adult participants of the Netherlands sleep registry

BACKGROUND

We examined whether current overall attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), inattention, or hyperactivity symptom severities are associated with the current presence and persistent history of sleep problems.

METHODS

N = 942 participants of the Netherlands Sleep Registry filled out online several validated questionnaires. Regression analyses were performed to assess the association between (1) current overall ADHD symptom severity and the current presence of sleep problems, (2) current ADHD symptom-severity groups and the persistent history of sleep problems, and (3) current inattention or hyperactivity symptom severities and the current presence of sleep problems.

RESULTS

(1) Current overall ADHD symptom severity was associated with the odds of suffering from probable obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), restless legs syndrome (RLS), periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD), insomnia disorder (ID) with predominant difficulties initiating sleep (DIS) and maintaining sleep (DMS), but not with the odds of suffering from narcolepsy or ID with predominant early-morning awakening (EMA). Current overall ADHD symptom severity was also associated with an extreme evening chronotype but not with short sleep. (2) The group with the most severe current ADHD symptoms was more likely to have a history of persistent OSAS, RLS, and ID. (3) The severity of symptoms of hyperactivity, but not of inattention, was specifically associated with probable RLS, PLMD, ID with DIS or DMS, and short sleep. Inattention symptom severity was only related to the probability of being an extreme evening chronotype.

CONCLUSION

ADHD severity, especially the severity of hyperactivity, is associated with the current presence and persistent history of sleep problems.

Psychotropic medication use in Australia, 2007 to 2015: Changes in annual incidence, prevalence and treatment exposure

OBJECTIVE

To examine changes in annual patterns of psychotropic medication use in Australia from 2007 to 2015.

METHODS

We used a 10% sample of individual-level nationwide dispensing claims for concessional beneficiaries dispensed psychotropic medications (stratified by class, subclass) to investigate annual trends and changes in the incidence and prevalence of use, median annual duration of exposure, proportion of people with single psychotropic dispensing and median defined daily doses per person dispensed each medicine per year.

RESULTS

Over the study period, there was a 26.1% decrease in the incidence and a 2.6% increase in the prevalence of all psychotropic medicine use. We observed a decrease in the annual incidence and prevalence of antidepressants (11.6% and 16.8%, respectively) but increases in the median annual duration of exposure (7.4%). Amitriptyline had the highest proportion of single dispensings of all antidepressants throughout the study period (26.5% in 2015) and defined daily doses per person dispensed each medicine per year increased by 20% for antidepressants overall. Benzodiazepine use decreased across all measures over the study period apart from long-term use (exposure for >240 days of the year), which in 2015 was 23.6% of those dispensed a benzodiazepine. We observed a relative increase in the incidence and prevalence of antipsychotic use (14.2% and 26.8%, respectively), and haloperidol had the highest proportion of single dispensings of any antipsychotic throughout the study period (47.5% in 2015). We observed a relative increase in the incidence and prevalence of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder medication use of 114.0% and 101.8%, respectively, over the study period.

CONCLUSION

Increasing doses and treatment durations of antidepressants warrants further investigation due to concerns about overuse. Single dispensings of amitriptyline and haloperidol may indicate off-label use and long-term use of benzodiazepines remains problematic. Despite increases in attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder medication use, prevalence of use is still much lower than the estimated prevalence of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in the adult population.

Association Between Medication Use and Performance on Higher Education Entrance Tests in Individuals With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

IMPORTANCE

Individuals with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are at greater risk for academic problems. Pharmacologic treatment is effective in reducing the core symptoms of ADHD, but it is unclear whether it helps to improve academic outcomes.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the association between the use of ADHD medication and performance on higher education entrance tests in individuals with ADHD.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

This cohort study observed 61 640 individuals with a diagnosis of ADHD from January 1, 2006, to December 31, 2013. Records of their pharmacologic treatment were extracted from Swedish national registers along with data from the Swedish Scholastic Aptitude Test. Using a within-patient design, test scores when patients were taking medication for ADHD were compared with scores when they were not taking such medication. Data analysis was performed from November 24, 2015, to November 4, 2016.

EXPOSURES

Periods with and without ADHD medication use.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

Scores from the higher education entrance examination (score range, 1-200 points).

RESULTS

Among 930 individuals (493 males and 437 females; mean [SD] age, 22.2 [3.2] years) who had taken multiple entrance tests (n = 2524) and used ADHD medications intermittently, the test scores were a mean of 4.80 points higher (95% CI, 2.26-7.34; P < .001) during periods they were taking medication vs nonmedicated periods, after adjusting for age and practice effects. Similar associations between ADHD medication use and test scores were detected in sensitivity analyses.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Individuals with ADHD had higher scores on the higher education entrance tests during periods they were taking ADHD medication vs nonmedicated periods. These findings suggest that ADHD medications may help ameliorate educationally relevant outcomes in individuals with ADHD.

[Diagnosis and treatment of cognitive impairment in adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder]

AIM

To qualify cognitive impairment in adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and evaluate the efficacy of memoplant in the treatment of this pathology.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The authors present the results of the clinical, psychological and electroencephalographic examination of 40 patients with ADHD, aged from 18 to 45 years. All patients received memoplant in dose of 240 mg a day for 8 weeks.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION

Adult patients with ADHD were characterized by both subjective and objective disorders of memory and attention. The results of the electroencephalographic study suggested the dysfunction of the frontal-thalamic regulatory system and the lack of non-specific activation of the reticular formation. After treatment, clinical improvement was observed in 24 patients (60.0%). Repeated psychological and neuropsychological examinations showed a reduction of inattention and improvement of memory performance.

The World Health Organization Adult Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Self-Report Screening Scale for DSM-5

Importance

Recognition that adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is common, seriously impairing, and usually undiagnosed has led to the development of adult ADHD screening scales for use in community, workplace, and primary care settings. However, these scales are all calibrated to DSM-IV criteria, which are narrower than the recently developed DSM-5 criteria.

Objectives

To update for DSM-5 criteria and improve the operating characteristics of the widely used World Health Organization Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS) for screening.

Design, Setting, and Participants

Probability subsamples of participants in 2 general population surveys (2001-2003 household survey [n = 119] and 2004-2005 managed care subscriber survey [n = 218]) who completed the full 29-question self-report ASRS, with both subsamples over-sampling ASRS-screened positives, were blindly administered a semistructured research diagnostic interview for DSM-5 adult ADHD. In 2016, the Risk-Calibrated Supersparse Linear Integer Model, a novel machine-learning algorithm designed to create screening scales with optimal integer weights and limited numbers of screening questions, was applied to the pooled data to create a DSM-5 version of the ASRS screening scale. The accuracy of the new scale was then confirmed in an independent 2011-2012 clinical sample of patients seeking evaluation at the New York University Langone Medical Center Adult ADHD Program (NYU Langone) and 2015-2016 primary care controls (n = 300). Data analysis was conducted from April 4, 2016, to September 22, 2016.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The sensitivity, specificity, area under the curve (AUC), and positive predictive value (PPV) of the revised ASRS.

Results

Of the total 637 participants, 44 (37.0%) household survey respondents, 51 (23.4%) managed care respondents, and 173 (57.7%) NYU Langone respondents met DSM-5 criteria for adult ADHD in the semistructured diagnostic interview. Of the respondents who met DSM-5 criteria for adult ADHD, 123 were male (45.9%); mean (SD) age was 33.1 (11.4) years. A 6-question screening scale was found to be optimal in distinguishing cases from noncases in the first 2 samples. Operating characteristics were excellent at the diagnostic threshold in the weighted (to the 8.2% DSM-5/Adult ADHD Clinical Diagnostic Scale population prevalence) data (sensitivity, 91.4%; specificity, 96.0%; AUC, 0.94; PPV, 67.3%). Operating characteristics were similar despite a much higher prevalence (57.7%) when the scale was applied to the NYU Langone clinical sample (sensitivity, 91.9%; specificity, 74.0%; AUC, 0.83; PPV, 82.8%).

Conclusions and Relevance

The new ADHD screening scale is short, easily scored, detects the vast majority of general population cases at a threshold that also has high specificity and PPV, and could be used as a screening tool in specialty treatment settings.