ADHD Linked to Suicide and other Psychological Problems
This morning, Boston Children’s Hospital and the Mayo Clinic released data from a longitudinal study showing that AD/HD often persists into adulthood and can bring with it numerous undesirable effects. The study followed 5,718 children in Rochester, Minnesota, including 232 participants with a diagnosis of ADHD.
According to the study’s longitudinal data, participants with ADHD had a higher likelihood of incarceration and suicide as adults than individuals without ADHD. Study participants diagnosed with ADHD were also more likely than their non-ADHD peers to be diagnosed with one or more other psychiatric illnesses in adulthood. Specifically, 81 percent of the participants whose symptoms persisted into adulthood had at least one other mental health condition. This was compared to 47 percent of participants whose ADHD diagnosis did not persist.
These results clearly suggest a long-term approach to the treatment of ADHD, much like any other chronic illness. There are numerous treatment options available for adults with ADHD, including therapy, coaching, and medications. A combination of these approaches is often the most successful treatment strategy.
For more information about the relevance of this study to the metro Detroit area, contact:
Joel L. Young, M.D.
Medical Director
Rochester Center for Behavioral Medicine
(248) 608-8800 x 231
jyoung@rcbm.net
Joel L. Young, M.D. is the medical director of the Rochester Center for Behavioral Medicine, one of the largest ADHD treatment centers in the area. Dr. Young has written two books on the topic of ADHD, including ADHD Grown Up: A Guide to Adolescent and Adult ADHD (W.W. Norton, 2008) and Contemporary Guide to Adult ADHD (Handbooks in Healthcare, 2009).
