INTRODUCTION: No Danish studies examining functional impairments in a naturalistic sample of clinically referred adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are available. Our study aimed to examine educational and occupational outcomes and risk-taking behaviour in a Danish clinical sample of adults with ADHD. METHODS: Naturalistic, cross-sectional study of 155 ADHD adults consecutively referred to a Danish ADHD clinic from 2010 to 2011. RESULTS: A total of 51% had primary/lower secondary school only as their highest education, and 65% were not self-supporting at the time of their assessment. Criminal behaviour was found in more than 50%, suspension of driving licence in 16% and risk-taking sexual behaviour in 37-51%. Co-morbidity did not significantly increase the odds for a low educational level or of risk-taking behaviours. Having a personality disorder (PD) increased occupational vulnerability. Male gender and ADHD-C (combined type) were significantly associated with criminality and suspension of driving licence. Patients with substance use disorders and PD had non-significantly increased odds for risk-taking behaviours. CONCLUSION: Functional impairments were evident in this Danish sample of adults with ADHD. Most of our findings could not be accounted for by co-morbidity, underlining the importance of targeting treatment at ADHD itself. FUNDING: This research was funded by The Psychiatric Research Foundation of the Central Denmark Region. TRIAL REGISTRATION: not relevant.
INTRODUCTION: No Danish studies examining functional impairments in a naturalistic sample of clinically referred adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are available. Our study aimed to examine educational and occupational outcomes and risk-taking behaviour in a Danish clinical sample of adults with ADHD. METHODS: Naturalistic, cross-sectional study of 155 ADHD adults consecutively referred to a Danish ADHD clinic from 2010 to 2011. RESULTS: A total of 51% had primary/lower secondary school only as their highest education, and 65% were not self-supporting at the time of their assessment. Criminal behaviour was found in more than 50%, suspension of driving licence in 16% and risk-taking sexual behaviour in 37-51%. Co-morbidity did not significantly increase the odds for a low educational level or of risk-taking behaviours. Having a personality disorder (PD) increased occupational vulnerability. Male gender and ADHD-C (combined type) were significantly associated with criminality and suspension of driving licence. Patients with substance use disorders and PD had non-significantly increased odds for risk-taking behaviours. CONCLUSION: Functional impairments were evident in this Danish sample of adults with ADHD. Most of our findings could not be accounted for by co-morbidity, underlining the importance of targeting treatment at ADHD itself. FUNDING: This research was funded by The Psychiatric Research Foundation of the Central Denmark Region. TRIAL REGISTRATION: not relevant.
Authors: Lauren V Moran; Grace A Masters; Samira Pingali; Bruce M Cohen; Elizabeth Liebson; R P Rajarethinam; Dost Ongur Journal: J Psychiatr Res Date: 2015-09-21 Impact factor: 4.791
Authors: Pauline J den Haan; Marlou L A de Kroon; Nienke H van Dokkum; Jorien M Kerstjens; Sijmen A Reijneveld; Arend F Bos Journal: PLoS One Date: 2019-05-02 Impact factor: 3.240
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