BARCELONA, SPAIN (7 October 2013) – Up to two-thirds of children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) find their disorder persists into adulthood yet only a small proportion of adults ever receive a formal diagnosis and treatment, research suggests.
ADHD, a chronic neurodevelopmental disorder that begins in childhood, continues into adulthood in the majority of children. Prevalence figures show that 3-4% of adults are affected by ADHD and it is associated with a broad range of psychosocial impairments.
Dr Esther Sobanski investigates the pharmacological management of adult ADHD at the Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Central Institute of Mental Health, Mannheim, Germany. "In contrast [to the 3-4% prevalence rate], diagnostic prevalence is below 0.5%, indicating that a majority of cases go undiagnosed and untreated," she said.
Reviewing the impact of ADHD in adults, Dr Sobanski noted that peer-group, relationship and parenting difficulties, poor work and academic performance, as well as a tendency towards dangerous driving habits like speeding and accident proneness in daily living were all associated with the disorder.
"In addition to ADHD core symptoms, patients often experience associated symptoms like emotional dysregulation, sleep disturbances or low self-esteem, as well as suffering from comorbid disorders, particularly depressive episodes, substance use and anxiety disorders," she explained.
Dr Sobanki's research suggests that medication can have an impact beyond ADHD core symptoms, improving psychosocial functioning like managing on-road driving or parenting while treating symptoms such as emotional dysregulation or sleep problems.
Current guidelines recommend a multimodal approach for treatment of adult ADHD, including psycho-education, pharmacotherapy, disorder-oriented psychotherapy and occupational rehabilitation.
However, although pharmacotherapy has been shown to be highly effective, and a growing body of evidence supports disorder-oriented psychotherapy in residual symptoms, many adults remain untreated.
"New pharmacological treatment approaches not only target ADHD core symptoms but also co-morbid psychiatric disorders like alcohol use disorders or social phobia," Dr Sobanksi noted. "However, in the European Union only two medications are approved for de novo use in adult ADHD."
"Available data from a cross national suggest that most adults with ADHD in Europe are untreated," she added.
Contact
Dr Esther Sobanski
Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy
Central Institute of Mental Health, Mannheim
University of Heidelberg
Germany
E-mail: esther.sobanski@zi-mannheim.de
ECNP Press Office
For all enquiries, please contact:
Sonja Mak
Update Europe GmbH
Tigergasse 3/5
1080 Vienna, Austria
T: +43 1 405 5734
F: +43 1 405 5734-16
E-mail: s.mak@update.europe.at
About ECNP
The European College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ECNP) is an independent scientific association dedicated to translating advances in the understanding of brain function and human behaviour into better treatments and enhanced public health. ECNP organises a wide range of scientific and educational activities, programmes and events across Europe, promoting exchange of high-quality experimental and clinical research and fostering young scientists and clinicians in the field. The annual ECNP Congress attracts around 4,000-7,000 scientists and clinicians from across the world to discuss the latest advances in brain research in Europe's largest meeting on brain science.
Disclaimer: Information contained in this press release was provided by the abstracts authors and reflects the content of the studies. It does not necessarily express ECNP's point of view.