A new estimate of the prevalence of ADHD in adults suggests that the condition may be more common than previously thought. This finding could possibly explain the discussed increase in recent diagnostic cases in adults. After reviewing 57 studies with a total of 21 million participants, an international team of researchers concluded that probably 180 million adults in the world They suffer from attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder.
“The focus on adult ADHD is a critical public health concern,” says Rosa Alati, an epidemiologist at Curtin University who was diagnosed with ADHD earlier this year at the age of 38. Because not treating it can lead to long-term social, physical and psychological challenges.”
Unfortunately, people with ADHD are three times more likely to die than other people. According to Alati, he was first diagnosed with anxiety and depression; Because her attempts to seek professional help didn’t seem like anything more than a temporary solution. The most problematic characteristic of Rosa in recent years was insomnia, which nearly half of adults with ADHD face, and according to Alati’s statements, as soon as sleep is lost, other symptoms intensify.
Gettin’ Ayano, psychiatrist and epidemiologist from Curtin University, says the fact that most adults do not receive appropriate treatment for ADHD has several main factors; including limited attention, limited access to specialized care, diagnostic challenges, and diversity in treatment options.”
According to Roza Alati, even in a country like Australia, which is proud of having one of the best medical systems in the world, she has been waiting for a specialist’s visit for a year. He says that after all the considerable effort that has gone into getting a medical diagnosis, a part of him still doesn’t believe the diagnosis; Probably because many of us are adults and have grown up believing that ADHD is just a manifestation of childhood hyperactivity and the institutionalized stigma of the symptoms.
Ayano says hyperactivity is commonly associated with children; But it can affect all age groups. Actually, there are several different ways that this disorder can manifest itself. According to the diagnosis of Ayano and his team, Roza suffers from a type of neglect. After inattention, there is a type of hyperactivity that shows itself not only with one symptom, but with a set of symptoms.
The official diagnostic tool for ADHD in children is based on hyperactivity; For this reason, many people have not benefited from the diagnosis of this disorder in childhood. According to the authors of the study, this issue is not a small issue and not receiving proper treatment for ADHD in childhood is one of the important factors that contribute to the continuation of this disorder in adulthood. According to research, current treatments are unlikely to alleviate all symptoms; But they improve long-term outcomes in people with ADHD.
Rosa’s hyperactivity appears more as an inner anxiety than any other physical manifestation. According to him, having ADHD does not mean that he cannot pay attention to anything; Rather, it is the opposite of focusing too much on things that are interesting to him and can make him not notice the passage of time and forget that he has some human needs such as eating and drinking.
According to Rosa, chemical drugs, which still lack long-term efficacy and safety data, have worked for her, as has psychotherapy that shows the differences in the brain, helping her experience restful sleep after years.
Ayano and his team emphasize that ADHD prevalence rates do not match existing health data. However, they warn that their results are only an estimate; Because all the articles they used in their review were not clear in their methods. However, there is hope that their research will increase society’s understanding of ADHD so that more people can get the help they need.
“This recent review has highlighted not only the significant prevalence of ADHD among adults, but also the dire need for greater awareness, diagnosis, and management of this condition in adulthood,” says Ayano.
Research results in the journal Psychiatry Research It has been published.
