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The ABC of Adult ADHD: A Beginners’ Guide

Colin Dang

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The ABC of Adult ADHD: A Beginners’ Guide

There’s been an increase in the number of late – sometimes very late – diagnoses of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) in adults. What are the implications for those with the condition, and what help can the GP or pharmacist offer?

For those of a certain age, including many reading this blog, ADHD means overly energetic children, potentially American, taking Ritalin. So, it’s a shock when quirky behaviours they’ve had all their lives are recognised as ADHD, a neurodiverse condition. There are more people in this bracket than you might think.

So, how many?

In the UK, the number of people being treated for ADHD has risen 80 per cent in five years, with a sharp rise in prescriptions of medication to adults, official figures show. In addition, the National Institute for Care and Health Excellence (NICE) estimates the prevalence of ADHD in UK adults at 3% to 4%, with a male to female ratio of 3 to 1.

The same authority notes that around 3-6 in every 100 school-aged children have ADHD and that the condition will follow about 1 in 7 children into adulthood. For context, the UK population is currently around 69 million people, meaning more than 2 million people, give or take, are living with ADHD.

ADHD is not any one thing and will present differently in each patient. NICE classify ADHD as a heterogenous disorder, ie likely to consist of diverse, differing elements, with a number of subtypes.

  • The inattentive subtype accounts for 20% to 30% of cases.
  • The hyperactive-impulsive subtype accounts for around 15% of cases.
  • The combined subtype accounts for 50% to 75% of cases.

What are the symptoms?

The Royal College of Psychiatrists offer a long list. It includes:

  • Getting easily distracted, and struggling to be organised.
  • Being easily bored, not noting details or following instructions.
  • Not listening to other people; interrupting or finishing their sentences for them
  • Starting things without ever finishing them.
  • Fidgeting, feeling restless, edgy, and unable to sit still.
  • Being forgetful, losing or misplacing things.
  • Being easily irritated, frustrated, quick to lose your temper.

What causes it?

The exact cause of ADHD isn’t known but is likely to be either inherited through genes, caused by environmental factors while in the womb, or a combination of both. For example, siblings of those with ADHD are nine times more likely to get a similar diagnosis, and babies born pre-term, or exposed to alcohol or smoking in the womb, may also ultimately present with ADHD.

 

What does it look like?

ADHD will likely manifest itself as several giveaway behaviours and many appear on the NICE list. It helps those with ADHD to recognise their own symptoms, and anyone concerned about a member of their family.

Of course, this is also a workplace issue. While it may seem those with ADHD will struggle in many environments, and to handle most tasks, people with ADHD do not, as the name suggests, struggle to focus on a task if they find it suitably stimulating.

Business leaders Forbes recognise the value of those with ADHD as contributing to the team effort, albeit in a specific way. The shortfall in the neurotransmitters dopamine, norepinephrine and/or serotonin can mean losing concentration, but also means finding it supports hours of hyperfocus, and outstanding results. Sir Richard Branson and Steve Jobs certainly found their ADHD gave them a distinct advantage in business.

Similarly, being neurodiverse hasn’t held down Michael Jordan, Emma Watson, Dave Grohl or any number of other celebrities. Albert Einstein and Leonardo da Vinci used their mental focus to push back the boundaries of our thinking. 

Is ADHD a disability?

In short, no. Being ‘differently wired’ in this way has challenges, but UK charity Mencap are clear that ADHD, along with dyspraxia and dyslexia, are learning difficulties rather learning disabilities. It’s an important distinction in removing stigma that still affects perception of ADHD.

Additional challenges with ADHD

As the NHS point out, the story may not end with an ADHD diagnosis. Adult ADHD can manifest in tandem with related problems or conditions. One of the most common is depression.

Other conditions adults may have alongside ADHD include personality disorders (which affect how people think, perceive, feel or relate to others) and bipolar disorder, when a person’s moods swing from a low of despair and depression to a mania of feeling high and being hyperactive.

Similarly, obsessive compulsive disorder will trigger obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviours.

How is ADHD diagnosed?

Diagnosis is, initially at least, through a GP who will want to know if the patient exhibited ADHD symptoms as a child. They will also need assurance the condition is affecting their lives in an adverse way, perhaps by:

  • underachieving at work or in education
  • driving dangerously
  • having difficulty making or keeping friends
  • showing an ongoing difficulty in relationships with partners.

Many take the online ADHD screening test as a precursor to seeing their GPs.

Treating ADHD

The NHS suggests a mix of therapies and specific, licensed drug groups as key in controlling the symptoms of ADHD in adults. They are:

If you’re concerned about possible side effects, or the potential of a particular drug to react with your different prescription medicine, we’re happy to offer advice. And there are many specialist advice sources below.

Need more?