U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.). Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Adults: What You Need to Know. National Institute of Mental Health. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/adhd-what-you-need-to-know/#pub1. 

NIMH ADHD in Adults

Dodson, W. (2022, July 11). New insights into rejection sensitive dysphoria. ADDitude. Retrieved March 12, 2023, from https://www.additudemag.com/rejection-sensitive-dysphoria-adhd-emotional-dysregulation/ 

New insights into rejection sensitivity dysphoria

Ashinoff, B. K., & Abu-Akel, A. (2021). Hyperfocus: the forgotten frontier of attention. Psychological research, 85(1), 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00426-019-01245-8 


Hyperfocus: The Forgotten Frontier of Attention

Ithaca College

Though ADHD begins in childhood, it can change in symptom presentation as one ages, or can be undiagnosed until later on. If diagnosed later in life, they did not "just develop" ADHD. Rather, they would have had it since childhood, and it simply went undiagnosed. If diagnosed as an adult, only 5 symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity each need to be applicable, as found in the DSM-5. Like in children, environmental factors or other mental disorders can cause similar symptoms to ADHD, so it is important to rule these possibilities out. A thorough evaluation by a physician is recommended over self-evaluation. 

Some of the more prominent symptoms of ADHD in adulthood include anxiety, disorganization, poor time management, and poor memory. Multi-tasking may be attempted (unsuccessfully). 

ADHD in Adults

Bhargava, H. (2021, March 9). Adult ADHD: Symptoms, Statistics, Causes, Types and Treatments. WebMD. https://www.webmd.com/add-adhd/adhd-adults. 

Adult ADHD WebMD

Approximately 1/3 of children diagnosed with ADHD retain the diagnosis into adulthood.

The overall estimated prevalence of current adult ADHD is 4.4%.
- The estimated lifetime prevalence of ADHD in U.S. adults aged 18-44 years is 8.1%.
- The estimated worldwide prevalence of adult ADHD is estimated at about 2.8%.
- Prevalence was higher for males (5.4%) vs. females (3.2%).
- Non-Hispanic white people (5.4%) have a higher prevalence than all other race/ethnicity groups.

ADHD: Prevalence in Adults

ADHD References

Associated with ADHD, ASD, and schizophrenia. Definitions vary but the four main features are an intense state of concentration, the task must be fun/interesting in order to induce hyperfocus, task performance improves during hyper focus, and during hyperfocus unrelated external stimuli are not consciously perceived (diminished perception of environment)

Hyperfocus

Updated fundamental features of ADHD:

-inattention and hyperfocus

-impulsivity

-hyperactivity

-emotional dysregulation

-excessive mind wandering

-behavioral self-regulation (includes executive functioning issues)

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