One in ten patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) have ADHD, and one in five patients with bipolar disorder have ADHD.
Only 34% of primary care physicians report being "very knowledgeable" or "extremely knowledgeable" about ADHD.
60% of children with ADHD continue to have impairment into adulthood. Children with ADHD have symptoms of aggressiveness, hyperactivity and impulsiveness which progress to inattentiveness and restlessness in adults. It is not essential to have hyperactivity to have adult ADHD. Oftentimes, adults object to the diagnosis because they do not have hyperactivity; rather, they report low energy or hypoactivity. Interestingly, individuals with and without hyperactivity symptoms respond to similar medications.
Treatment guidelines have been published by the AACAP and AAP for ADHD in children and adolescents; however, no consensus guidelines have been established for adults with ADHD.
Many adults with ADHD don’t present to clinicians complaining of cognitive difficulties. They complain about anxiety or depression often resulting from the functional, social and occupational impairments of ADHD symptoms.