Skip to main content Accessibility help

We use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Close this message to accept cookies or find out how to manage your cookie settings.

Close cookie message
×
Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-g7gxr Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-02T18:50:39.043Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Chapter 15 - Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 June 2019

By
Helen Linnington  and
Helen Crimlisk
Edited by
Rob Butler  and
Cornelius Katona
Rob Butler
Affiliation:
Waitemata DHB and North Shore Hospital, Auckland
Cornelius Katona
Affiliation:
Helen Bamber Foundation
Get access

Summary

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a rarely encountered condition in most services that look after older adults (over 65). Gaining a new diagnosis of ADHD in this age group would be very unusual. However, it is now nearly 50 years since the inclusion of ‘hyperkinetic reaction of childhood’ in DSM-II in 1968, and 20 years since the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines recommended treatment in adults [1], so it is possible that older adults’ services may start to see a few patients, who are presenting for other reasons, with this historical diagnosis. In years to come, old age psychiatrists may be asked to advise on, or be responsible for continuation or cessation of medications for ADHD that have been started years before. As the condition becomes more prominent in the consciousness of the general public, older people, previously undiagnosed may seek a professional opinion to whether ADHD is an explanation for their lifelong difficulties and what should be done about it at this stage.

Type
Chapter
Information
Seminars in Old Age Psychiatry , pp. 165 - 177
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2019

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health (2008) ‘Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: Diagnosis and management of ADHD in children, young people and adults (NICE Clinical Guidance CG72)’. London: National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence.Google Scholar
Ward, M. F., Wender, P. H., Reimherr, F. W. (1993) ‘The Wender Utah rating scale: An aid in the retrospective diagnosis of childhood attention deficit’. Am J Psychiatry 150: 885–90.Google ScholarPubMed
American Psychiatric Association (2013) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 5th ed. Washington, DC: APA.Google Scholar
Surman, B. H., Goodman, D. W. (2017) ‘Is ADHD a valid diagnosis in older adults?’ Atten Def Hyp Disorder 9: 161–8.Google Scholar
World Health Organisation (1992) The International Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision (ICD-10). Geneva: WHO.Google Scholar
Kooij, J. J., Buitelaar, J. K., Vanden Oord, E. J., et al. (2005) ‘Internal and external validity of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in a population-based sample of adults’. Psychol Med 35(6): 817–27.Google Scholar
Kessler, R. C., Adler, L. A., Gruber, M. J., et al. (2007) ‘Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS) symptom checklist’. Int J Psychiatr Res 16(2): 52–65.Google Scholar
Bolea-Alamañac, B., Nutt, D. J., Adamou, M., et al. (2014) ‘Evidence-based guidelines for the pharmacological management of attention/deficit hyperactivity disorder: Update on recommendations from the British Association for Psychopharmacology’. J Psychopharmacology 28(3): 179–203.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Asherton, P. (2016) ‘ADHD across the lifespan’. Medicine 44(11): 683–6.Google Scholar
Faraone, S. V., Diederman, J., Mick, E. (2006) ‘The age dependent decline of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: A meta-analysis of follow up studies’. Psychological Medicine 36: 159–65.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Akutagava-Martins, G. C., Salatino-Oliveira, A., Kieling, C. C., et al. (2013) ‘Genetic of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: Current findings and future directions’. Expert Rev Neurother 13(4): 435–45.Google Scholar
Kessler, R. C., Adler, L. A., Gruber, M. J., et al. (2007) ‘Adults ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS) symptom checklist’. Int J Psychiatr Res 16(2): 52–65.Google Scholar
Asherson, P., Buitelaar, J., Faraone, S. V., Rohole, L. A. (2016) ‘Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: Key conceptual issues’. Lancet Psychiatry 3: 568–78.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Simon, V., Czobor, P., Balint, S., Meszaros, A., Bitter, I. (2009) ‘Prevalence and correlates of adult ADHD: Meta-analysis’. Br J Psychiatry 194(3): 204–11.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Goodman, D. W., Mitchell, S., Rhodewalt, L., Surman, C. B. H. (2016) ‘Clinical presentation, diagnosis and treatment of ADHD in older adults: A review of the evidence and its implications for clinical care’. Drugs Aging 33(1): 27–36.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Goodman, D. W. (2007) ‘The consequences of ADHD in adults’. J Psychiatric Practice 13(5): 318–27.Google Scholar
Manor, I., Rozen, S., Zemishlani, Z., et al. (2011) ‘When does it end? Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in the middle aged and older populations’. Clin Neuropharmacol 34(4): 148–54.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Michielsen, M., Comijs, H. C., Aartsen, M. J., et al. (2015) ‘The relationship between ADHD and social functioning and participation of older adults in a population based study [Research Support, Non-US Gov’t]’. J Atten Disord 19(15): 368–79.Google Scholar
Brod, M., Schmitt, E., Goodwin, M., et al. (2012) ‘ADHD burden of illness in older adults: A life course perspective’. Qual Life Res 21(5): 795–9.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Philipp-Wiegmann, F., Retz-Junginger, P., Retz, W., Rösler, M. (2016) ‘The individual impact of ADHD on the transition of adulthood to old age’. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 266(4): 367–71.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Guldberg-Kjar, T., Sehlin, S., Johansson, B. (2013) ‘ADHD symptoms across the lifespan in a population-based Swedish sample age 65–80’. Int Psychogeriatr 25(4): 667–75.Google Scholar
Lensing, M. B., Zeiner, P., Sandvik, L., Opjordsmoen, S. (2015) ‘Quality of life in adults aged 50+ with ADHD [Research Support, Non-US Gov’t]’. J Atten Disord 19(5): 405–13.Google Scholar
Semeijin, E. J., Kooij, J. J.. Comijs, H. C., et al. (2013) ‘Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, physical health, and lifespan in older adults [comparative study]’. J Am Geriatric Soc 61(6): 882–7.Google Scholar
Seidman, L. J. (2006) ‘Neuropsychological functioning in people with ADHD across the lifespan’. Clin Psychol Rev 26(4): 466–85.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Fischer, B. L., Gunter-Hunt, G., Steinhafel, C. H., Howell, T. (2012) ‘The identification and assessment of late-life ADHD in memory clinics’. J Atten Disorder 16(4): 333–8.Google ScholarPubMed
McAllister, T. W., Arciniegas, D. (2002) ‘Evaluation and treatment of post concussive symptoms’. Neurorehabilitation 17(4): 265–83.Google Scholar
Bucks, R. S., Olaithe, M., Eastwood, P. (2013) ‘Neurocognitive function in obstructive sleep apnoea: A meta-review’. Respirology 18(1): 61–70.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Surman, C. B., Thomas, R. J., Aleardi, M., et al. (2006) ‘Adults with ADHD and sleep complaints: A pilot study identifying sleep-disordered breathing using polysomnography and sleep quality assessment’. J Atten Disorder 9(3): 550–5.Google Scholar
Shpirer, I., Elizur, A., Shorer, R., et al. (2012) ‘Hypoxia correlates with attentional dysfunction in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea’. Sleep Breath 16(3): 821–7.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Aksu, H., Günel, C., Özgür, B. G., et al. (2015) ‘Effects of adenoidectomy/adenotonsillectomy on ADHD symptoms and behavioural problems in children’. Int J Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology 79(7): 1030–3.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kessler, R. C., Adler, L., Barkley, R., et al. (2006) ‘The prevalence and correlates of adult ADHD in the United States: Results from the National Co-morbidity Survey Replication’. Am J Psychiatry 163(4): 716–23.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Surman, C., Biederman, J., Spencer, T., et al. (2013) ‘Understanding deficient emotional self-regulation in adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: A controlled study’. Atten Defic Hyperact Disord 5(3): 273–81.Google Scholar
Henry, E., Jones, S. H. (2011) ‘Experiences of older adult women diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder [review]’. J Women Aging 23(3): 246–62.Google Scholar
Ito, W., Komada, Y., Okajima, I., Inoue, Y. (2017) ‘Excessive daytime sleepiness in adults with possible attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): A web-based cross-sectional study’. Sleep Med 32: 4–9.Google Scholar
Michielsen, M., Comijs, H. C., Semeijn, E., et al. (2013) ‘The comorbidity of anxiety and depressive symptoms in older adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: A longitudinal study’. J Affect Disord 148: 220–7.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Simon, V., Czobor, P., Bitter, I. (2013) ‘Is ADHD severity in adults associated with the lifetime prevalence of comorbid depressive episodes and anxiety disorders?’ Eur Psychiatry 28: 308–14.Google Scholar
British Medical Association/Royal Pharmaceutical Society (2017) British National Formulary (BNF) 73. London: BMJ Group/Pharmaceutical Press.Google Scholar
Brod, M., Pohlman, B., Lasser, R., Hodgkins, P. (2012) ‘Comparison of the burden of illness for adults with ADHD across seven countries: A qualitative study’. Health Qual Life Outcomes 10: 47.Google Scholar
Lensing, M. B., Zeiner, P., Sandvik, L., Opjordsmoens, S. (2015) ‘Psychopharmacological treatment of ADHD in adults aged 50+: An empirical study’. J Atten Disord 19(5): 380–9.Google Scholar
Turner, D. C., Robbins, T. W., Clark, L., et al. (2003) ‘Relative lack of cognitive effects of methylphenidate in elderly male volunteers’. Psychopharmacology 168(4): 455–64.Google ScholarPubMed
Ermer, J., Haffey, M. B., Richards, C., et al. (2013) ‘Double blind, placebo controlled, two-period, crossover trial to examine the pharmacokinetics of lisdexamfetamine dimesylate in healthy older adults’. Neuropsychiatry Dis Treat 9: 219–29.Google ScholarPubMed
Kraemer, T., Maurer, H. H. (2002) ‘Toxicokinetics of amphetamines: Metabolism and toxicokinetic data of designer drugs, amphetamine, methamphetamine and their N-alkyl derivatives’. Drug Monit 24(2): 277–81.Google Scholar
Rösler, M., Retz, W., Yaqooi, K., et al. (2009) ‘Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in female offenders: Prevalence, psychiatric co-morbidity and psychosocial implications’. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 259: 98–105.Google Scholar
Young, S., Wells, J., Gudjonsson, G. (2011) ‘Predictors of offending among prisoners: The role of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and substance misuse’. J Psychopharmacoly 25(11): 1524–32.Google Scholar
Young, S. J., Adamou, M., Bolea, B., et al. (2011a) ‘The identification and management of ADHD offenders within the criminal justice system: A consensus statement from the UK Adult ADHD Network and criminal justice agencies’. BMC Psychiatry 11: 32.Google Scholar
Young, S., Thorne, J. (2011b) ‘ADHD and offenders’. World J Biol Psychiatry 12(Supp1): 124–8.Google Scholar
MTA Co-operative Group (1999) ‘A 14-month randomized clinical trial of treatment strategies for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: The MTA Co-operative group multimodal treatment study of children with ADHD’. Arch Gen Psychiatry 56(12): 1073–86.Google Scholar
Knouse, L. E., Safren, S. A. (2010) ‘Current status of cognitive behavioural therapy for adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder’. Psychiatr Clin North Am 33(3): 497–509.Google Scholar
Young, S., Khondoker, M., Emilsson, B., et al. (2015) ‘Cognitive-behavioural therapy in medication-treated adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and co-morbid psychopathology: A randomised controlled trial using multi-level analysis’. Psychol Med 45(13): 2793–804.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Royal College of Psychiatrists in Scotland (2017) ADHD in Adults: Good Practice Guidelines. London: Royal College of Psychiatrists in Scotland.Google Scholar
Crimlisk, H. (2011) ‘Developing integrated mental health services for adults with ADHD’. Adv Psychiatr Treat 17: 461–9.Google Scholar

Save book to Kindle

To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure [email protected] is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.

Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.

Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.

Available formats
×

Save book to Dropbox

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.

Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

Available formats
×