Adult ADHD
Visual Abstract
Cross-national prevalence and correlates of adult attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder
J Fayyad, R De Graaf, R Kessler, J Alonso, M Angermeyer, K Demyttenaere, G De Girolamo, J M Haro, E G Karam, C Lara, J-P Lépine, J Ormel, J Posada-Villa, A M Zaslavsky, R Jin
Summarized by:
April 22, 2023
study source
British Journal of Psychiatry
May 2007
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How common is adult ADHD around the world?
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Adult ADHD was found at similar rates around the world. High-income countries had higher rates of ADHD than low-income countries.
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Adult ADHD was often untreated, even though it seriously impairs everyday life.
Cross-national prevalence and correlates of adult attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder
Background & Aims
Study Quote
Background: Little is known about the epidemiology of adult attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Aims: To estimate the prevalence and correlates of DSM-IV adult ADHD in the World Health Organization World Mental Health Survey Initiative.
Despite its prevalence, adult ADHD has not received as much attention as other more widely recognized conditions, such as major depressive disorder or anxiety disorders.
The authors of this study conducted one of the first international surveys for adult ADHD.
They wanted to see how common adult ADHD is in different countries, including both high and low-income countries. They also wanted to see whether it’s correlated with other mental health factors.
Method
The researchers trained staff members to conduct standardized surveys to estimate how common ADHD and other mental health factors were within a specific population.
They surveyed 11,422 people between 18 and 44 across Europe, the Americas, and the Middle East.
They ensured accuracy by checking the data against re-interviews conducted by clinical psychologists.
Study Quote
An ADHD screen was administered to respondents aged 18-44 years in ten countries in the Americas, Europe and the Middle East (n=11422). Masked clinical reappraisal interviews were administered to 154 US respondents to calibrate the screen. Multiple imputation was used to estimate preval...
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Results
By running this study in different regions, researchers were able to collect insights on how ADHD varied between countries.
One interesting result they found was that richer countries tended to have higher rates of ADHD.
A study of ADHD in different countries found that higher income countries tended to have more ADHD than lower income countries.
They also found that those with ADHD were more likely to have multiple psychiatric disorders than those without ADHD.
For example, a person with ADHD is 7x more likely to develop three psychiatric disorders than someone without ADHD.
One international study of adult ADHD found that adults with ADHD were more likely to suffer from multiple mental health conditions compared to those without ADHD.
These data are consistent with other studies that have found significant links between ADHD and other psychiatric conditions.
Study Quote
Estimates of ADHD prevalence averaged 3.4% (range 1.2-7.3%), with lower prevalence in lower-income countries (1.9%) compared with higher-income countries (4.2%). Adult ADHD often co-occurs with other DSM-IV disorders and is associated with considerable role disability. Few cases are trea...
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ADHD was also found to be substantially under-treated. Most people with adult ADHD were not receiving treatment for it, though some did receive treatment for other psychiatric disorders.
Conclusions
The authors concluded that adult ADHD is common globally and should be more widely recognized and studied.
Their estimates were generally in line with other studies on adult ADHD. For example, the DSM-5 estimates that around 2.5% of adults have ADHD:
Study Quote
Adult ADHD should be considered more seriously in future epidemiological and clinical studies than is currently the case.