Folks with ADHD may be living with mental health conditions, say researchers

Adults with high levels of attentiondeficit hyperactivity disorder ADHD symptoms are more likely to experience anxiety and depression than adults with high levels of autistic traits finds the new research led by psychologists at the University of Bath in the UKThis study is the first to show that ADHD is more predictive of poor mental health outcomes in adults than other neurodevelopmental conditions like autismUntil now there has been a dearth of information on the effects of ADHD on poor mental health with far more research focusing on the impact of autism on depression anxiety and quality of life As a result people with ADHD have often struggled to access the clinical care they need to cope with their symptomsThe studys authors hope their findings will trigger new research into ADHD and ultimately improve the mental health outcomes for people with the condition ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition characterised by inattention andor hyperactivity and impulsivity The condition is estimated to affect between 3 per cent and 9 per cent of the populationBlue MondaySpeaking on Blue Monday January 16 the third Monday of January described by some as the gloomiest day of the year lead researcher Luca Hargitai said Scientists have long known that autism is linked to anxiety and depression but ADHD has been somewhat neglectedResearchers have also struggled to statistically separate the importance of ADHD and autism for mental health outcomes because of how frequently they occur together he saidMs Hargitai a PhD Researcher at Bath added Our aim was to precisely measure how strongly ADHD personality traits were linked to poor mental health while statistically accounting for autistic traitsThe new research a collaborative effort between the Universities of Bath Bristol and Cardiff and Kings College London is published this week in the prestigious journal Scientific Reports It comes in the same month that two British TV personalities Johnny Vegas and Sue Perkins have opened up about their recent diagnoses of ADHDThe condition affects many people both children and adults and the fact that more people are willing to talk about it is to be welcomed said Ms Hargitai adding The hope is that with greater awareness will come more research in this area and better resources to support individuals in better managing their mental healthOverly active as though driven by a motorThe study used a large nationally representative sample of adults from the UK population All participants completed gold standard questionnaires one on autistic traits the other on ADHD traits responding to statements such as I frequently get strongly absorbed in one thing and How often do you feel overly active and compelled to do a motor drove things like youThe researchers found that ADHD traits were highly predictive of the severity of anxiety and depression symptoms the higher the levels of ADHD traits the more likely a person is to experience severe mental health symptoms Through innovative analytical techniques the study authors further confirmed that having more of an ADHD personality was more strongly linked to anxiety and depression than autistic traitsThese results were replicated in computerised simulations with a 10037 reproducibility rate This showed with great confidence that ADHD traits are almost certainly linked to more severe anxiety and depression symptoms in adults than autistic traitsShifting the focus of research and clinical practiceMs Hargitai said Our findings suggest that research and clinical practice must shift some of the focus from autism to ADHD This may help to identify those most at risk of anxiety and depression so that preventative measures such as supporting children and adults with the management of their ADHD symptoms can be put in place earlier to have a greater impact on improving peoples wellbeingAccording to Dr Punit Shah senior author and associate professor of Psychology at Bath another important aspect of the new study is that it advances the scientific understanding of neurodevelopmental conditionsBy addressing the shortcomings of previous research our work provides fresh information about the complex links between neurodiversity and mental health in adults an area that is often overlooked he saidFurther research is now needed to delve deeper into understanding exactly why ADHD is linked to poor mental health particularly in terms of the mental processes that might drive people with ADHD traits to engage in anxious and depressive thinking he saidAt the moment funding for ADHD research particularly psychological research is lacking This is especially pronounced when you compare it to the relatively high level of funds directed at autism he elaboratedAs the evidence becomes clear that ADHD isnt just a childhood condition but persists throughout life we must adjust our research agendas to better understand ADHD in adulthood he addedCommenting on the new findings Dr Tony Floyd CEO of ADHD Foundation The Neurodiversity Foundation said This research demonstrates clear evidence of the increased risks of mental health comorbidities associated with adult ADHD This is a step towards recognising the broader impact of unmanaged and untreated ADHD We hope this research will lead to more research being commissioned in this area We also hope it will result in changes to the design and delivery of health servicesThe cost implications to the NHS of leaving ADHD untreated and the need to better train health practitioners in both primary and secondary care are now more apparent And of course there are other costs too that need to be considered to the health of UK citizens with ADHD and to their family life employability and economic wellbeing These costs are often hidden but they are considerable he saidThis research from Bath University will add to the growing national debate and the business case for a national review of health services for ADHD across a persons lifespan he addedRead More Burned out Why Indian employers need to act on employees poor mental healthThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever