Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSignsGender DifferencesUntreated ADHDTreatmentNext in Adult ADHD GuideHow Do You Know If You Have ADHD? 10 Ways to Tell
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Signs
Gender Differences
Untreated ADHD
Treatment
Next in Adult ADHD Guide
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder(ADHD) is commonly assumed to be a childhood disorder. However, in two-thirds of cases, it continues into adulthood.The global prevalence of ADHD in adults is 3.1%—higher than anxiety disorders like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
When ADHD goes untreated in adults, it can lead to functional impairments, particularly in relationships and in the workplace. Untreated ADHD may significantly affect a person’s quality of life.
This article explains the signs ofADHD in adults, the risks of untreated ADHD, and treatment options.
Signs of ADHD in Adults
ADHD is known as a neurodevelopmental disorder because its onset takes place during the prenatal developmental period. During the early stages ofbraindevelopment, the central nervous system and neurological pathways in the brain are formed. Issues with neurodevelopment can create a deficit (deficiency) or delay in development and behavior.
In the case of ADHD,different parts of the brainare affected, including the front of the brain, or prefrontal cortex.This is the area of the brain that handles executive function, a set of mental skills that include:
Inattention
Hyperactivity
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Impulsivity
ADHD and Parenting
Gender Differences in Adult ADHD
Although ADHD is more common in men, the symptoms and risks manifest a little differently in men than in women. Historically, women have been underdiagnosed. They’re more likely to present inattentive symptoms such as distraction and forgetfulness—these are more difficult to notice than hyperactivity and impulsivity that show up more commonly in men.
Additionally, women are more likely to be treated for co-occurring conditions like depression and eating disorders, which can further delay an ADHD diagnosis.
Common symptoms in men include:
In women:
Risks of Untreated ADHD in Adults
Untreated ADHD is connected to impairments in key areas of living, such as at work and school, in relationships, and in overall quality of life.
In general, ADHD is not known to worsen with age. However, with treatment, medications specific to ADHD, and psychotherapy, ADHD may actually improve with age.
ADHD does not typically develop into other mental illnesses. However, many people with ADHD have coexisting conditions. Other conditions that frequently co-occur with ADHD include anxiety, depression, and mood disorders.
Low Self-Esteem
Anxiety
About 50% of adults with ADHDalso suffer from an anxiety disorder. Medications and psychotherapy for ADHD and anxiety can improve both issues.
Relationship Problems
Multiple studies indicate adults with ADHD have elevated levels of emotional dysregulation (poor ability to manage emotions). Self-regulation of emotions, frustration, impatience, and anger are difficult to manage with untreated ADHD. Emotional reactivity negatively impacts relationships. Treating ADHD with medication and therapy to gain communication and relationship skills can help.
Job Instability
Adults with ADHD struggle with a variety of challenges in the workplace, including poor communication skills, distractibility, procrastination, and managing challenging projects. Psychotherapy can be helpful in gaining skills tomanage ADHDin the work environment. It’s also important to find a career path that plays to the strengths of ADHD, such as those in fast-paced environments.
Substance Use
Multiple studies indicate that people with ADHD are three times more likely to be nicotine dependent. Those with ADHD were 50% more likely to develop a drug or alcohol use disorder than those without ADHD. Research shows that treatment with ADHD medications reduces substance misuse.
Higher Mortality Rate
Several studies indicate adults with ADHD have a small increase in premature death, mostly due to accidents andsuicide. However, long-term treatment with ADHD medications significantly reduces those risks.
Treating Adult ADHD
Treating adult ADHD improves symptoms and typically leads to better outcomes and quality of life.
Studies have consistently shown that treatment—both medication andtherapy—geared toward ADHD decreases accidents, brain injuries, criminality, substance misuse, suicide, and self-harm, and improves work functioning and relationships.
Genetics of ADHDIf at least one parent has ADHD, there is a significantly increased risk of ADHD in their children. Heritability is estimated at 77%–88%.
Genetics of ADHD
If at least one parent has ADHD, there is a significantly increased risk of ADHD in their children. Heritability is estimated at 77%–88%.
Medications for Adult ADHD
The primary types of medications used to treat ADHD include stimulants, antidepressants, and non-stimulant medications. These are designed to influenceneurotransmitters, such asdopamine, that send signals between nerve cells in the brain.
ADHD Medications and Side Effects
Psychotherapy for Adult ADHD
Two main types of therapy seem to be most effective for ADHD.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT is a type of psychotherapy, or talk therapy, that focuses on how thoughts, feelings, and behaviors impact each other.Thinking differently and exploring and challenging negative or maladaptive thoughts can change feelings and behavior.
CBT helps to improve emotional self-regulation, impulse control, stress management, and everyday executive functions such as managing time, planning, and task completion. It also leads to more positive beliefs and thoughts about oneself.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
DBT is based on CBT but with several differences. DBT was specifically created to improve emotional self-regulation challenges inborderline personality disorderbut has been applied to many conditions with emotional regulation challenges.
There’s a strong focus on self-acceptance and the ability to change through more adaptive, flexible thinking, skill building, and support and validation from the therapist. Skills training focuses on mindfulness, distress tolerance (managing actual or perceived emotional distress), emotion regulation, and interpersonal relationships.
Potential Strengths of Adult ADHDWhile living with ADHD can be challenging, it also comes with strengths:Creativity: People with ADHD are often innovative, inventive, and creative thinkers.Hyperfocus:People with ADHD are oftenable to hyperfocus, which is complete absorption in a task. This can allow for certain kinds of productivity.In the flow:Research on hyperfocus suggests it’s the same as being in a “flow state.” From positive psychology, the flow state is a heightened state of creative focus. This ability suggests that people living with ADHD can actually sustain attention and a higher level of task focus given the right conditions (fun and engaging work).
Potential Strengths of Adult ADHD
While living with ADHD can be challenging, it also comes with strengths:Creativity: People with ADHD are often innovative, inventive, and creative thinkers.Hyperfocus:People with ADHD are oftenable to hyperfocus, which is complete absorption in a task. This can allow for certain kinds of productivity.In the flow:Research on hyperfocus suggests it’s the same as being in a “flow state.” From positive psychology, the flow state is a heightened state of creative focus. This ability suggests that people living with ADHD can actually sustain attention and a higher level of task focus given the right conditions (fun and engaging work).
While living with ADHD can be challenging, it also comes with strengths:
Summary
Though commonly viewed as a childhood disorder, ADHD can continue into adulthood. However, adult ADHD often goes untreated. Untreated ADHD can lead to impairments in functioning. Treatments for adult ADHD, including medication and psychotherapy, are effective at improving quality of life.
17 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Schrevel SJC, Dedding C, van Aken JA, Broerse JEW.‘Do I need to become someone else?’ A qualitative exploratory study into the experiences and needs of adults with ADHD.Health Expect. 2016;19(1):39-48. doi:10.1111/hex.12328Ayano G, Tsegay L, Gizachew Y, et al.Prevalence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in adults: Umbrella review of evidence generated across the globe.Psychiatry Res. 2023;328:115449. doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2023.115449Ginsberg Y, Quintero J, Anand E, Casillas M, Upadhyaya HP.Underdiagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in adult patients: a review of theliterature.Prim Care Companion CNS Disord. 2014;16(3):PCC.13r01600. doi:10.4088/PCC.13r01600Salavert J, Ramos-Quiroga JA, Moreno-Alcázar A, et al.Functional imaging changes in the medial prefrontal cortex in adult adhd.J Atten Disord. 2018;22(7):679-693. doi:10.1177/1087054715611492Morris-Rosendahl DJ, Crocq MA.Neurodevelopmental disorders-the history and future of a diagnostic concept.Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2020;22(1):65-72. doi:10.31887/DCNS.2020.22.1/macrocqNational Institute of Mental Health.Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in adults: what you need to know.Child Mind Institute.When parent and child both have ADHD.Attoe DE, Climie EA.Miss. Diagnosis: A systematic review of ADHD in adult women.J Atten Disord. 2023;27(7):645-657. doi.org/10.1177/10870547231161533Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD).Women and girls.Cook J, Knight E, Hume I, Qureshi A.The self-esteem of adults diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): a systematic review of the literature.Atten Defic Hyperact Disord. 2014;6(4):249-68. doi:10.1007/s12402-014-0133-2Anxiety and Depression Association of America.Adult ADHD (attention deficit hyperactive disorder).Faraone SV, Banaschewski T, Coghill D, et al.The World Federation of ADHD International Consensus Statement: 208 Evidence-based conclusions about the disorder.Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2021;128:789-818. doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.01.022Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD).Workplace issues.Grimm, O., Kranz, T.M. & Reif, A.Genetics of ADHD: What Should the Clinician Know?.Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2020;22(4):18. doi:10.1007/s11920-020-1141-xChildren and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD).Cognitive-behavioral therapy.Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD).Dialectical behavioral therapy gets our attention.Ashinoff BK, Abu-Akel A.Hyperfocus: the forgotten frontier of attention.Psychol Res. 2021;85(1):1-19. doi:10.1007/s00426-019-01245-8
17 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Schrevel SJC, Dedding C, van Aken JA, Broerse JEW.‘Do I need to become someone else?’ A qualitative exploratory study into the experiences and needs of adults with ADHD.Health Expect. 2016;19(1):39-48. doi:10.1111/hex.12328Ayano G, Tsegay L, Gizachew Y, et al.Prevalence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in adults: Umbrella review of evidence generated across the globe.Psychiatry Res. 2023;328:115449. doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2023.115449Ginsberg Y, Quintero J, Anand E, Casillas M, Upadhyaya HP.Underdiagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in adult patients: a review of theliterature.Prim Care Companion CNS Disord. 2014;16(3):PCC.13r01600. doi:10.4088/PCC.13r01600Salavert J, Ramos-Quiroga JA, Moreno-Alcázar A, et al.Functional imaging changes in the medial prefrontal cortex in adult adhd.J Atten Disord. 2018;22(7):679-693. doi:10.1177/1087054715611492Morris-Rosendahl DJ, Crocq MA.Neurodevelopmental disorders-the history and future of a diagnostic concept.Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2020;22(1):65-72. doi:10.31887/DCNS.2020.22.1/macrocqNational Institute of Mental Health.Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in adults: what you need to know.Child Mind Institute.When parent and child both have ADHD.Attoe DE, Climie EA.Miss. Diagnosis: A systematic review of ADHD in adult women.J Atten Disord. 2023;27(7):645-657. doi.org/10.1177/10870547231161533Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD).Women and girls.Cook J, Knight E, Hume I, Qureshi A.The self-esteem of adults diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): a systematic review of the literature.Atten Defic Hyperact Disord. 2014;6(4):249-68. doi:10.1007/s12402-014-0133-2Anxiety and Depression Association of America.Adult ADHD (attention deficit hyperactive disorder).Faraone SV, Banaschewski T, Coghill D, et al.The World Federation of ADHD International Consensus Statement: 208 Evidence-based conclusions about the disorder.Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2021;128:789-818. doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.01.022Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD).Workplace issues.Grimm, O., Kranz, T.M. & Reif, A.Genetics of ADHD: What Should the Clinician Know?.Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2020;22(4):18. doi:10.1007/s11920-020-1141-xChildren and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD).Cognitive-behavioral therapy.Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD).Dialectical behavioral therapy gets our attention.Ashinoff BK, Abu-Akel A.Hyperfocus: the forgotten frontier of attention.Psychol Res. 2021;85(1):1-19. doi:10.1007/s00426-019-01245-8
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Schrevel SJC, Dedding C, van Aken JA, Broerse JEW.‘Do I need to become someone else?’ A qualitative exploratory study into the experiences and needs of adults with ADHD.Health Expect. 2016;19(1):39-48. doi:10.1111/hex.12328Ayano G, Tsegay L, Gizachew Y, et al.Prevalence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in adults: Umbrella review of evidence generated across the globe.Psychiatry Res. 2023;328:115449. doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2023.115449Ginsberg Y, Quintero J, Anand E, Casillas M, Upadhyaya HP.Underdiagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in adult patients: a review of theliterature.Prim Care Companion CNS Disord. 2014;16(3):PCC.13r01600. doi:10.4088/PCC.13r01600Salavert J, Ramos-Quiroga JA, Moreno-Alcázar A, et al.Functional imaging changes in the medial prefrontal cortex in adult adhd.J Atten Disord. 2018;22(7):679-693. doi:10.1177/1087054715611492Morris-Rosendahl DJ, Crocq MA.Neurodevelopmental disorders-the history and future of a diagnostic concept.Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2020;22(1):65-72. doi:10.31887/DCNS.2020.22.1/macrocqNational Institute of Mental Health.Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in adults: what you need to know.Child Mind Institute.When parent and child both have ADHD.Attoe DE, Climie EA.Miss. Diagnosis: A systematic review of ADHD in adult women.J Atten Disord. 2023;27(7):645-657. doi.org/10.1177/10870547231161533Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD).Women and girls.Cook J, Knight E, Hume I, Qureshi A.The self-esteem of adults diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): a systematic review of the literature.Atten Defic Hyperact Disord. 2014;6(4):249-68. doi:10.1007/s12402-014-0133-2Anxiety and Depression Association of America.Adult ADHD (attention deficit hyperactive disorder).Faraone SV, Banaschewski T, Coghill D, et al.The World Federation of ADHD International Consensus Statement: 208 Evidence-based conclusions about the disorder.Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2021;128:789-818. doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.01.022Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD).Workplace issues.Grimm, O., Kranz, T.M. & Reif, A.Genetics of ADHD: What Should the Clinician Know?.Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2020;22(4):18. doi:10.1007/s11920-020-1141-xChildren and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD).Cognitive-behavioral therapy.Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD).Dialectical behavioral therapy gets our attention.Ashinoff BK, Abu-Akel A.Hyperfocus: the forgotten frontier of attention.Psychol Res. 2021;85(1):1-19. doi:10.1007/s00426-019-01245-8
Schrevel SJC, Dedding C, van Aken JA, Broerse JEW.‘Do I need to become someone else?’ A qualitative exploratory study into the experiences and needs of adults with ADHD.Health Expect. 2016;19(1):39-48. doi:10.1111/hex.12328
Ayano G, Tsegay L, Gizachew Y, et al.Prevalence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in adults: Umbrella review of evidence generated across the globe.Psychiatry Res. 2023;328:115449. doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2023.115449
Ginsberg Y, Quintero J, Anand E, Casillas M, Upadhyaya HP.Underdiagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in adult patients: a review of theliterature.Prim Care Companion CNS Disord. 2014;16(3):PCC.13r01600. doi:10.4088/PCC.13r01600
Salavert J, Ramos-Quiroga JA, Moreno-Alcázar A, et al.Functional imaging changes in the medial prefrontal cortex in adult adhd.J Atten Disord. 2018;22(7):679-693. doi:10.1177/1087054715611492
Morris-Rosendahl DJ, Crocq MA.Neurodevelopmental disorders-the history and future of a diagnostic concept.Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2020;22(1):65-72. doi:10.31887/DCNS.2020.22.1/macrocq
National Institute of Mental Health.Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in adults: what you need to know.
Child Mind Institute.When parent and child both have ADHD.
Attoe DE, Climie EA.Miss. Diagnosis: A systematic review of ADHD in adult women.J Atten Disord. 2023;27(7):645-657. doi.org/10.1177/10870547231161533
Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD).Women and girls.
Cook J, Knight E, Hume I, Qureshi A.The self-esteem of adults diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): a systematic review of the literature.Atten Defic Hyperact Disord. 2014;6(4):249-68. doi:10.1007/s12402-014-0133-2
Anxiety and Depression Association of America.Adult ADHD (attention deficit hyperactive disorder).
Faraone SV, Banaschewski T, Coghill D, et al.The World Federation of ADHD International Consensus Statement: 208 Evidence-based conclusions about the disorder.Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2021;128:789-818. doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.01.022
Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD).Workplace issues.
Grimm, O., Kranz, T.M. & Reif, A.Genetics of ADHD: What Should the Clinician Know?.Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2020;22(4):18. doi:10.1007/s11920-020-1141-x
Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD).Cognitive-behavioral therapy.
Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD).Dialectical behavioral therapy gets our attention.
Ashinoff BK, Abu-Akel A.Hyperfocus: the forgotten frontier of attention.Psychol Res. 2021;85(1):1-19. doi:10.1007/s00426-019-01245-8
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