Projects per year
Abstract
Objective. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is associated with a range of adverse outcomes in adult life. However it is unclear whether the risk pathways to adverse adult outcomes are established during childhood or whether associations are driven by concurrent ADHD symptoms that have persisted to adulthood.
Methods. We examined associations between broadly defined child-limited (remitted) and persistent ADHD (assessed using the ADHD subscale of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire) with social outcomes (low emotional and instrumental support, antisocial behaviour, employment, receipt of state benefits as an indicator of socio-economic disadvantage, homelessness) at age 25 years in a UK longitudinal population sample ALPSAC (the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, age 25 data collected between years 2017 and 2018): total N=6439.
Results. Up to 20% of young-people with less favourable social outcomes at age 25 had persistent ADHD. Persistent ADHD was associated with an increased likelihood of being not in education, employment or training (NEET: OR=3.71, 95% CI=2.06 to 6.67, p=1x10-05) and receiving state benefits (OR=2.72, 95% CI=1.62 to 4.57, p=2x10-04) at age 25 years compared to those without ADHD. We did not find strong evidence of associations between child-limited ADHD and social outcomes (NEET OR=1.20, 95% CI=0.54 to 2.69, p=0.65; state benefits OR=1.38, 95% CI=0.76 to 2.51, p=0.29). Persistent ADHD associations with negative social outcomes were observed across family-of-origin income groups, sex and were not explained by comorbidity.
Conclusion. Our findings highlight the importance of continued monitoring and management of ADHD symptoms and related social as well as clinical outcomes across development into adulthood. Future research is needed to identify what factors promote positive social outcomes, including effective treatment of adult ADHD symptoms.
Methods. We examined associations between broadly defined child-limited (remitted) and persistent ADHD (assessed using the ADHD subscale of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire) with social outcomes (low emotional and instrumental support, antisocial behaviour, employment, receipt of state benefits as an indicator of socio-economic disadvantage, homelessness) at age 25 years in a UK longitudinal population sample ALPSAC (the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, age 25 data collected between years 2017 and 2018): total N=6439.
Results. Up to 20% of young-people with less favourable social outcomes at age 25 had persistent ADHD. Persistent ADHD was associated with an increased likelihood of being not in education, employment or training (NEET: OR=3.71, 95% CI=2.06 to 6.67, p=1x10-05) and receiving state benefits (OR=2.72, 95% CI=1.62 to 4.57, p=2x10-04) at age 25 years compared to those without ADHD. We did not find strong evidence of associations between child-limited ADHD and social outcomes (NEET OR=1.20, 95% CI=0.54 to 2.69, p=0.65; state benefits OR=1.38, 95% CI=0.76 to 2.51, p=0.29). Persistent ADHD associations with negative social outcomes were observed across family-of-origin income groups, sex and were not explained by comorbidity.
Conclusion. Our findings highlight the importance of continued monitoring and management of ADHD symptoms and related social as well as clinical outcomes across development into adulthood. Future research is needed to identify what factors promote positive social outcomes, including effective treatment of adult ADHD symptoms.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 22m14379 |
| Journal | Journal of Clinical Psychiatry |
| Volume | 84 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 25 Jan 2023 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:Submitted: January 5, 2022; accepted October 6, 2022. Published online: January 25, 2023. Relevant financial relationships: None. Funding/support: The UK Medical Research Council and Wellcome (Grant ref: 217065/Z/19/Z) and the University of Bristol provide core support for ALSPAC. Drs Blakey, Stergiakouli, Davey Smith, and Tilling work in a unit that receives funding from the University of Bristol and the UK Medical Research Council (MC_UU_00011/1 and MC_UU_00011/3). This publication is the work of the authors, and Drs Riglin and Thapar will serve as guarantors for the contents of this paper. A comprehensive list of grants funding is available on the ALSPAC website (www.bristol.ac.uk/alspac/external/documents/grant-acknowledgements.pdf). This research was funded in whole, or in part, by the Wellcome Trust (204895/Z/16/Z). The primary outcome measures used in the paper were specifically funded by the Wellcome Trust (204895/Z/16/Z) conducted this research while funded by the with ADHD into the workforce: review and adulthood: is this ADHD? J Atten Disord.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 Physicians Postgraduate Press, Inc.
Research Groups and Themes
- Bristol Population Health Science Institute
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- Full-text PDF (accepted author manuscript)
This is the accepted author manuscript (AAM). The final published version (version of record) is available online via Physicians Postgraduate Press at https://doi.org/10.4088/jcp.22m14379. Please refer to any applicable terms of use of the publisher.
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- 2 Finished
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Rework of IEU 2 Tilling Programme
Tilling, K. M. (Principal Investigator)
1/04/18 → 31/03/23
Project: Research
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IEU: MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit Quinquennial renewal
Gaunt, L. F. (Principal Investigator) & Davey Smith, G. (Principal Investigator)
1/04/18 → 31/03/23
Project: Research