ADHD in Children
Visual Abstract
Adult Psychiatric Status of Hyperactive Boys Grown Up
ADHD: Hyperactive boys as adults
S Mannuzza, R G Klein, A Bessler, P Malloy, M LaPadula
Summarized by:
April 23, 2023
study source
Am J Psychiatry
April 1998
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What they studied
Researchers followed a group of boys with hyperactivity into adulthood to see the long-term effects of ADHD.
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What they found
Boys with ADHD were much more likely to develop antisocial personality disorder and drug addiction.
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What this means
This research highlights the importance of getting screened and treated for ADHD. It also shows potential long-term effects to be aware of.
Adult Psychiatric Status of Hyperactive Boys Grown Up
Objective
There have been quite a few studies on the effects of ADHD in children, particularly at school. But what happens when a child with ADHD grows up? How do they adapt to the challenges of young adulthood?
This was one of the first studies examining the long-term consequences of ADHD.
Study Quote
Numerous studies have examined the adolescent and young adult fate of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In marked contrast, relatively little is known about the adult outcome of these children. There have been only two controlled, prospective studies of psych...
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Method
Researchers followed a group of boys, who were originally diagnosed with ADHD at an average age of 7.
They followed up with the participants when they reached an average age of 24, along with a group of matched participants who did not have ADHD.
This way, researchers could get a better idea of what effect ADHD can have on the life of a young adult.
Study Quote
This was a prospective follow-up of clinically diagnosed, white boys of average intelligence who were referred by teachers to a child psychiatric research clinic at an average age of 7.3 years. At a mean age of 24.1 years, 85 probands (82% of the childhood cohort) and 73 comparison subje...
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Results
Researchers found the most significant effects were in the risks of Antisocial Personality Disorder and non-alcohol substance use disorder.
Antisocial Personality Disorder is a disorder marked by a lack of respect for the rights and feelings of others.
Those with ADHD were significantly more likely to develop antisocial personality disorder as adults. In this particular study, they were around four times as likely.
A study following hyperactive boys found that they have a significantly higher risk of antisocial, personality disorder, and non-alcohol substance. Use disorder as adults.
Those with ADHD were also found to be more likely to have a non-alcohol substance use disorder, more commonly known as drug addiction.
In this particular group, drug addiction was also around four times as likely among those with ADHD.
Study Quote
Evaluations of the probands and comparison subjects indicated significantly higher prevalences of antisocial personality disorder (12% versus 3%) and nonalcohol substance abuse (12% versus 4%) in the probands, whereas mood disorders (4% versus 4%) and anxiety disorders (2% versus 7%) wer...
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Conclusions
The significant findings on antisocial personality disorder and substance use disorder are consistent with other studies on ADHD in adults. Those with ADHD can often struggle with other psychiatric conditions. Substance use can be common.
While this particular study did not find a link between ADHD, mood disorders, and anxiety disorders, this link has been found in other studies.
The links they found may have been stronger because the study was limited to young men. Psychiatric conditions can occur at different rates depending on gender.
Study Quote
The results of the present study are consistent with the authors' previously reported major findings. They strongly suggest that children with ADHD are at significantly higher risk for a specific negative course marked by antisocial and substance-related disorders.