Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in Adults: From Research to Clinical Practice

Abstract

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder that persists into adulthood. We provide an overview of prevalence, diagnosis, and treatment. Future directions highlight key areas of progress. ADHD is not always an early childhood onset disorder; it may emerge as an impairing condition during the adolescent years. Transition from child to adult services is poor and greater efforts are needed to ensure effective treatment during this critical stage. There are sex differences in the expression of ADHD. Related to this, the diagnosis of ADHD is often missed in girls but is increasingly recognized in adult life. The impact of emotional instability as a core feature of ADHD on mental health is widely recognized. It is still the case that ADHD is often misdiagnosed for other common mental health conditions, and greater awareness of ADHD is needed among health care professionals. Prominent comorbidities include substance use and sleep problems. Finally, we consider the cognitive and neural processes that explain persistence of ADHD. The balance of default mode to task positive network activity may lead to core symptoms such as spontaneous mind wandering, and the role of saliency on task performance. © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2024. All rights are reserved.