E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSSBy Elaine Lies
Reuters
Nearly a third of people diagnosed as children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) still have the condition in adulthood, according to a U.S. study of thousands.
The researchers, whose findings appeared in Pediatrics, also found that these people were more likely to develop other mental disorders, such as anxiety or depression, and commit suicide.
Lead by William Barbaresi from Boston Children's Hospital, they found that about 29 percent of participants in the study who were diagnosed with ADHD as children ended up carrying that diagnosis over into their late twenties.
"They still clearly had symptoms that continued to be consistent with that diagnosis," said Barbaresi. "But that in itself has been an area of difficulty and controversy."
ADHD, the most common neuro-developmental condition, affects between 3 percent and 7 percent of U.S. school children, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It's more common in boys than in girls.
The CDC says children with ADHD tend to have a hard time paying attention, to be forgetful, fidget and be easily distracted, to the point that it creates problems at school, home and with their friends.
For their study - which Barbaresi started while at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota - the researchers followed 5,718 children who were born in that area between 1976 and 1982. Of those, 387 were diagnosed with ADHD as children and gave the researchers access to their medical records.
Barbaresi and his colleagues then invited the participants to be re-evaluated when they were 29. Overall, 232 of the childhood ADHD patients agreed to take part, and the researchers found that 68 still had the disorder - around 29 percent.
But even those whose ADHD diagnosis did not persist into adulthood were still more likely to suffer from at least one psychiatric condition other than ADHD, with at least 57 percent suffering with such things as alcohol or substance abuse, anxiety or depression.
That compared to 35 percent of the people in a comparison group who did not have ADHD while growing up.
People diagnosed with ADHD were also more likely to commit suicide. Researchers found that 3 of the 387 participants with childhood ADHD had committed suicide, compared to just 7 of the 4,946 non-ADHD participants.
"The finding about suicide is new," said Mary Solanto, director of the ADHD Center at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York. "It was suggested in another one of these ... studies, but in this study the sample size was large enough for it to be significant."
Solanto, who was not involved in the new research, said that many of the study's other findings had been seen previously, but that this study was larger and the subjects were drawn from the general population.
The study's authors warned that their findings may not apply to children across the United States because the study participants were from mostly white, middle-class families in one part of Minnesota.
"There are a lot of people who have had it (ADHD) that learned to cope and deal with it," Solanto said. "But in order for that to happen, it's important to diagnose and treat it as soon as possible."
Leave a Comment:
Meth tends to stay as a staple after years of use.
You don't just grow out of having ADHD.. Those diagnosed at an early age that didn't "have it" when they were older is probably because they either a) learned how to cope with it very well, or b) they never had ADHD to begin with.
Agreed. As for the study, duh, parents who refuse to treat the obvious deficiency are setting their kids up to be the tweeky failures we all see in the workplace (but not for very long). They could not learn as much in school because of it (and their parents) and thus end up at an enormous disadvantage as adults. So, go ahead, parents, pretend your kids don't have any issues and that their teachers are all lying.
My parents KNEW I had ADHD as a kid and did nothing about it. Then they had the audacity to yell at me when I brought home bad grades. I didn't know this though, until I was in my early 20s and was working for my dad. I left that day, moved halfway across the country and never talked to my family again because all of their yelling at me when I was a kid was their fault because they KNEW I had a problem. Messed me up something good. I am 33 now and have been diagnosed as still having ADHD, but on top of all that I had developed bipolar, anxiety and for some reason, paranoia. I have been in and out of hospitals and psych wards. Tried killing myself numerous times too. I take adderall for the ADHD because it helps LOADS for me. I can actually focus and pay attention. I have held the current job I am at for almost 7yrs and have an associates degree in network administration. I also have a son(almost 9) who lives with his mother. He has ADHD and we have him on medication. He is a star champ while he is on it. Does great in school and is in his 3rd year of cub scouts now. I refuse to make the same mistakes my parents did with me.
Seems like they were just inventing ADHD 25 years ago or so. I wonder how your parents would know such a thing and know how to deal with the "new disease" of the day. Sorry for you plight but as a total outsider I would wonder if you think your parents knew more than they possibly could have. Of course I didn't have parents yelling at me so I don't know how you felt. I did have a step father beat the hell out of me and my brother's and my real father and mother both abandoned me and I lived without parental guidance most of my adolescence and finished my last two years of high school living with my brother so I'm no stranger to adversity or screwed up parents. I'm just asking a question, not judging you or anyone one else.
Though never officially diagnosed with ADHD, I was the "poster child" for ADHD.
Instead of drugging me up so I could not learn to cope with my problem, my parents, and everyone else who had a hand in my upbringing (teachers, police, neighbors, nannies, etc.) helped me learn to live with the problem the old fashioned way: DISCIPLINE.
If I acted up, I was punished for my bad behavior. Since I didn't like getting punished, I learned to control myself. I still have an attention issue, but it no longer creates a serious problem.
I learned to multi-task so I could keep my concentration on what needed to be done. I "wonder off course" sometimes, but not to the point of being dysfunctional. I do "lose time" still, which is more annoying to me than anyone that may be affected by my loss of time.
I have never taken any medication for it, and will not do that to myself now. I depend on me, not some "magic pill".
I have not developed any other problem because I learned to deal with my problem in the first place. I wasn't treated differently.
I no longer have temper tantrums, maliciously break things, disrupt others or have any other bad behavior associated with ADHD.
Simple discipline is the best cure for ADHD, and it has always been the best cure. Medicating is only a half step better then ignoring it altogether. Putting a child on medicine can be considered acknowledging there is a problem, but it does not teach him/her how to control the problem.
There are extreme cases that medication may be the only answer, but for most ADHD suffers, discipline is the most effective and best answer.
i love all these studies. they are so informative and useful.
since when did a parent of one of these kids not already know all this? there is nothing new here. anyone with half a brain knows these kids are more prone to mental illness, suicide, alcohol, legal trouble.
i have known all of these things and tried my best to deal with them personally as well as help my son's deal with them for more years than i can count.
an no, kid's don't grow out of adhd. as they mature the symptoms change and they handle things differently. never fear, it is still there and can rear it's ugly head at any time.
it's horribly over diagnosed (mainly due to bad parenting) and looking for an excuse for such. but then by those over diagnosis they miss or don't bother with other children(poor, unpopular, slow learners) not worthy of some peoples time. or perhaps it's lack of parenting, or to much bother or god forbid, stigma.
you know god made me one of the luckiest women alive, he made me a mom. he gave me a life long job and entrusted me with the care of 3 wonderful boys. my oldest has autism along with a laundry list of other things including adhd, my youngest has adhd as well. both went undiagnosed for years because after all, what did i know? (we live in a very rural area w/o many services) in other words, no support.
so when these studies appear and it's worded as if it's earth shattering news, i get only slightly irked, irritated, overly sarcastic even.
why don't you study something that will be helpful? why aren't they spending money on things that will actually help these kids? like better treatments, education, support?
total waste of time, effort, energy and resources!!!!!
"Childhood ADHD may lead to troubles in adulthood"
Well, considering the cure to ADHD is the rod, so yes.
Spare the rod, spoil the child... and what do you think the child is going to grow up as?
your absolute, abundant ignorance is hanging out. you are part of the problem, certainly not the solution.
So does that mean the rest of us should be allowed to beat some sense into you as well Jeff? Do you have any idea what it's like to not feel like your in control of your own mind? To forget things easily, to concentrate as hard as you can and still miss small details sometimes. Or not be told the details in the first place but be blamed for forgetting it anyway. To not be able to focus on anything unless you like doing it? Compulsively. Uncontrollably. In some ways it's not so bad because it forces you into a career field you like doing. It only sucks when you're doing a crap job you hate. It doesn't make you stupid, that's a misconception. I don't have to read things a dozen times. I don't have trouble learning new information.
Then their are the social problems. Like not knowing when the right time to interject is. Or adding too much information. Becoming incredibly inpatient waiting for your turn to come around. I don't fidget BTW. I get uncomfortable and I have to shift my body.
Some so-called symptoms of ADHD are a load of crap too. So what if I daydream? Lots of people daydream. If I'm not listening to you it's probably because I'm trying to tune you out for a reason. People don't explain things worth a damn anymore, it's not always somebody else fault they can't follow other people's poorly explained instructions. Some people expect you to be a mind reader.
Jeff...scroll up and read my other post. You are just like my parents....@!$%# YOU!
If beating the crap out of a kid would make him behave, my son would have been straightened out a long time ago (just kidding).
Yelling, hitting, removing privileges, and other punishments DO NOT WORK for an ADHD child. The ADHD child CANNOT HELP HIS BEHAVIOR because his mind moves at lightspeed and can't focus.
The reason for adults having problems may be two-fold:
1. The example given by ChesthianDragon where his parents did nothing to assist C.D. as a child such as putting him on a course of drug therapy. Eventually, an unmedicated ADHD teen or adult will try to self medicate, because they do seek out something to soothe their symptoms. Often times, they turn to drugs and alcohol to cope, and who wouldn't develop other problems like depression when faced with this?
2. Children who are on a course of ADHD medication are removed from it because they are "grown up" and don't "need it" any longer. ADHD is a life-long struggle and I would encourage parents who are considering removing their teen from medication to not do it (see #1 above). The ADHD teen/adult will turn to other drugs to achieve the mind-calming effect they need.
IMHO.
Yes, beating the crap out of a kid does not help and probably makes things worse, but if the behavior warrants a spanking, then it will help.
My dad never beat the crap out of me, but he did spank me when my behavior was bad enough. I was forced to learn how to control my behavior so I wouldn't get spanked.
Corporal punishment works for ADHD, but it must not become beatings. You must explain why the behavior is bad and that spanking is the punishment for acting that way, the child will learn to control his/her behavior so as to not receive a spanking. My dad had "The Logic Stick", and my Principle had "The Board of Education", both of which taught me how to control my behavior so they would not be used on me.
Of the guys my age that I know were diagnosed with ADHD and treated with medication, they either are still on medication (for one thing or another) or they are dysfunctional. Those like me who were either not diagnosed, or were and not medicated, but were properly disciplined are about as "normal" as can be expected.
And contrary to CNJMom, most ADHD suffers can control their behavior if given a reason to control it. If you allow them to believe they can not control themselves, then why would they?
As I posted above, yes there are the extreme cases that can not control themselves, but they are very, very few, and a number of them also suffer from other problems that are beyond their control, such as autism.
Doncorneo,
Every ADHD case is different; in our case spankings, yelling, corporal punishment, removing favorite toys, taking away of electronics or television - nothing worked. Change in diet did not work. Praise for good behavior did not work. Change in behavior modification plan did not work. Rewards for good behavior did not work.
Medication worked.
I am convinced I had ADHD when I was a kit, but the only treatment back then was to get another spanking. I was tested in third grade to see if I was 'retarded' and my folks were shocked to find I had an IQ of 186. They just didn't know what to do about stuff like this back then. I'm OK as an adult, but wish someone had told my dad that another spanking wouldn't help me concentrate or 'behave' like they wanted me to. Too bad they didn't discover ADHD until I was in my 40's.
I was on Ritalin for about 3 years back when they gave every kid who wasn't a zombie ADD drugs. IQ test results were similar to yours. Being bored by doing the same thing daily is apparently a crime. Doing things you want to do downright evil in blue collar society. Voicing the opinion you are wasting your potential pushing paper clips or flipping burgers is completely wrong to most people.
If a kid has high test scores but doesn't do their "busy" work they still get a bad final grade. I think they're is something inherently wrong with that method of teaching to be honest. When I finally got into advanced and AP classes my grades came way up because I wasn't being given the same mind numbing busy work every day.
I'm not sure if you grow out of it or if it is really a disorder to begin with. Most people diagnosed with ADHD excel in different areas than so called "normal" people. Like math and technical fields. Many of us that they doled out Ritalin to also had high IQs. You learn to cope with some aspects of it. Like having to concentrate on everything...all day...every day...for fear of missing any minor detail. Sometimes I still do. Now I pick up on things most people miss or remember details most people ignore. Either way you never get to be "normal" enough for most regular people. However, I'm not longer convinced that is a failing on my part. A lot of times it makes me better than most people at a lot of the things I do. Most people are just ignorant sheep that want to be part of the status quo and will ostracize or find excuses for anybody who is "different". Some times I play along with the them for social reasons. Nod and pretend. Maybe that's what causes the anxiety or depression found in the study.
I know I'm different. I'm not so sure it's a bad thing anymore.
I was on Ritalin for about 3 years back when they gave every kid who wasn't a zombie ADD drugs. IQ test results was very high. Being bored by doing the same thing daily is apparently a crime. Doing things you want to do downright evil in blue collar society. Voicing the opinion you are wasting your potential pushing paper clips or flipping burgers is completely wrong to most people.
If a kid has high test scores but doesn't do their "busy" work they still get a bad final grade. I think they're is something inherently wrong with that method of teaching to be honest. When I finally got into advanced and AP classes my grades came way up because I wasn't being given the same mind numbing busy work every day.
I'm not sure if you grow out of it or if it is really a disorder to begin with. Most people diagnosed with ADHD excel in different areas than so called "normal" people. Like math and technical fields. Many of us that they doled out Ritalin to also had high IQs. You learn to cope with some aspects of it. Like having to concentrate on everything...all day...every day...for fear of missing any minor detail. Sometimes I still do. Now I pick up on things most people miss or remember details most people ignore. Either way you never get to be "normal" enough for most regular people. However, I'm no longer convinced that is a failing on my part. A lot of times it makes me better than most people at a lot of the things I do. Most people are just ignorant sheep that want to be part of the status quo and will ostracize or find excuses for anybody who is "different". Some times I play along with the them for social reasons. Nod and pretend. Maybe that's what causes the anxiety or depression found in the study.
I know I'm different. I'm not so sure it's a bad thing anymore.
Another "disorder" invented by big pharma in order to make more money... I read a study a couple years back about symptoms of ADD appearing in gifted students when students were pulled from accelerated classes and put in the slow, boring, regular-kid class.
The problem isn't the kids, it's the pathetic education system in the US and the way we teach to the slowest kid in the class.. it's all by design though. If we gave the kids a proper education, we'd have a population of critical thinkers... and that would lead to revolution.
So in conclusion, keep Murikkka uneducated and drugged. It's better for the masters.
While I agree with some of the things you say. Such as the US schooling system is one giant cluster @!$%#, but the ADHD is real. Read my post near the top. I am 33 and the Adderall I am taking has mad a tremendous change. Before I turned 27 I was broke, had crap jobs and couldn't hold said jobs or a relationship. While I am still not in a relationship, I do have a 2yr degree and a great job making great money. I also have and extremely high IQ, but I wasn't able to use it because I was all over he place and couldn't stay focus on one thing or sit still long enough to absorb anything. When I was 27 and re-diagnosed with ADHD. I went on the med and my life turned around. While I do believe that ADHD is misdiagnosed in a lot of kids, there are several out there that do have this real disorder.
Like you I could go on a big tangent about the pharmaceutical companies, their direct to consumer marketing and all these new 'disorders' ,I am convinced that ADHD is one of the real ones.
most addicts are convinced that their reasons for needing their drug of choice are valid.... and it's far easier to rationalize these beliefs if the drug-dealers can commission studies to manufacture a necessity for their product.
Hey William Barbaresi, 1999 called, they want their research back! Seriously, this isn't new or entirely accurate information as many of the posters above me have pointed out. You don't grow out of ADHD, you learn to cope and your symptoms change, but you will have it your entire life because an ADHD person's brain is physically & chemically different, unless you of course never had it in the first place... This is common knowledge in the ADHD community and has been for quite awhile. What a waste of research funds...
I have suffered from ADHD my whole life (I am in my 50s). As an adult, I was on Strattera for years. It did nothing but make me a zombie. I should really write a book, but I have developed ways to make my life easier. I have about 100 routines that keep me from losing my keys, wallet, ATM card, lottery tickets, get the laundry done, maintenance the car, keep my job, etc. I have to have systems and checks for everything, but I have a decent home, a good spouse, and keep the bills paid. I think that a lot of adults with ADHD could use some really good counseling...not about their feelings, but real stuff that helps their lives like...what to do with your car keys.
Greg, you have a common-sense approach that doesn't generate profits for the corporate lords. This will never fly.
I have a few "routines" myself.
I have a habit of locking my keys in my truck since I forget to take them out of ignition if I have other stuff to remove from the truck. So now I carry two sets on me at all times. If I need to use the "back up" set to unlock the door, I immediately put them back in my pocket so I don't forget them somewhere. (I have two remotes also).
I forget to get gas sometimes, so I carry at least two gallons with me, and if I have to use it, I immediately go to the gas station and fill it back up before I can forget about it.
One of my worst things is forgetting why I went into the bathroom, but I won't go into details there. Let's just say I've been close to embarrassing myself a few times.
I use the scheduler in my phone for all appointments and any other thing I need to remember. The only problem there is when I forget my phone somewhere. I use "sticky" notes a lot, but I have to immediately put them up so I don't forget to do it later.
Yes we can learn to adapt to our situation, but without some help, we won't think about doing it.
I for one never used any medication, and won't do so now. With discipline, I have learned how to control my behavior, and for the rest, I figure out ways to compensate.
I went from being adjudicated as "incorrigible" to one of the first people others call when they need help.