EPA-1724 – Epidemiology of Attention Deficit Hyperactive Symptoms in the Mental Health Outpatient Clinics Attendants of Sligo/Leitrim HSE

Abstract

Aims & objective

1. 1) To find out the prevalence of ADHD in adults who attend the mental health services in Sligo / Leitrim county.

2. 2) To understand how many cases of ADHD are undiagnosed in the specific adult population

3. 3) To investigate comorbid illness.

Methods

All outpatients, aged 18-65 having a minimum of 5 years education, able to speak, read & write English language are included. patients with severe learning disabilities, patients with severe brain injury &with amnesic disorders were excluded.

Scales /Measurement

1. 1) Two screening scales were used (Adult Self -Report scale, Wender Utah Rating Scale)

2. 2) Demographics (Age, Gender, Occupation)

Results

The study is ongoing & preliminary data analysis shows :

184 people were screened

37 excluded (20%)

147 included (80%)

Mean age

42.1(SD:12.6)

Gender

71 males (48.3%), 76 Females (51.7%) In the included category 60 were Positive at ASRS (41%), 46 were positive at WURS (31.5%), 27 were positive for both scales (17%)

Conclusion

The high percentages of ADHD in this particular population can interpreted in two ways. Many cases were missed during the childhood (unlikely) or that there is an overlap of ADHD symptoms with other psychiatric conditions in the adulthood. A third explanation is that both scales over diagnose ADHD but this is not supported from previous research.