Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, is a neurobehavioral disorder characterized by the co-existence of impulsive behavior, inattentiveness and hyperactivity. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, roughly 3 to 7 percent of school-aged children have ADHD, and approximately half of them still have ADHD symptoms as adults. In many cases, ADHD is neither diagnosed nor treated. ADHD affects all aspects of the person's life.
Low Self-esteem
A person suffering from ADHD may go through all of his life being harshly criticized for being lazy, dumb or unmotivated. Since many ADHD patients are not aware that they have this condition, they often see themselves in the same light. A study published in the second volume of the "Journal of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders" in 1994 showed that school-aged children with ADHD saw themselves as having lower social skills than their healthy classmates. A study published in the "Journal of Attention Disorders" in February 2005 showed that college students with ADHD reported having low self-esteem and less confidence in their ability to finish their studies.
Poor Education, Low-paying Jobs
HealthyPlace.com states that approximately 90 percent of children with ADHD report problems at school. This seems to continue at college age, since students with ADHD have difficulties with college adjustment. Thus, it is no wonder that many ADHD patients have poor education and lower-paying jobs, as stated in a study published in the "Primary Psychiatry" journal in 2008. ADHD patient are also less satisfied with their jobs as adults. They take more time off from work, and perform at a lower rate than their healthy colleagues, says Ron de Graaf, Ph.D. and colleagues in a study published in the "Occupational and Environmental Medicine" journal in December 2008.
Substance Abuse
Thirty-five percent of adult ADHD patients are addicted to alcohol, according to a study published in the "Alcohol and Alcoholism" journal in August 2007. Nicotine addiction is even more common--76 percent of adult ADHD patients smoke cigarettes. Addictions to drugs are also common, likely due to the frequent risk-taking behaviors, impulsivity and distractibility seen in ADHD patients. Due to these findings, it is not clear if ADHD medication such as Ritalin might be addictive and related to later substance abuse. Such medication works by raising levels of a neurotransmitter called dopamine. Many drugs also increase the amount of dopamine, that is considered a reward, or "feel good" neurotransmitter. However, when taken as prescribed, it is not addictive. For example, Salvatore Mannuzza, Ph.D. and colleagues followed 176 methylphenidate-treated males with ADHD from age 6 to 12 until they were approximately 18 years old. They observed that the boys who started taking medicine at a younger age were at lower risk for developing a substance abuse.
References
- "American Journal Psychiatry": Age of Methylphenidate Treatment Initiation in Children With ADHD and Later Substance Abuse
- "Alcohol and Alcoholism":Nicotine and Alcohol Dependence in Patients with Comorbid ADHD
- "Journal of Attention Disorder": Adjustment, Social Skills, and Self-Esteem in College Students with Symptoms of ADHD
- "Primary Psychiatry": Assessment and Diagnosis of Adult ADHD
- Healthy Place: Impact of ADHD on School Performance
