Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in elderly individuals: Prevalence and clinical features (tur)

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)'s clinical appearance of the older adults is different from that of children and young adults. The diagnosis is generally missed in older ages or patients are exposed to polypharmacy due to misdiagnoses. This situation causes deterioration in functionality and financial burden. Our study aims to determine the frequency and clinical features of ADHD in the elderly. METHODS: We included 70 individuals aged 65 and over, who admission in our outpatient clinic as the clinical sample, and 70 healthy volunteers as the control group who had similar sociodemographic characteristics with the clinical sample. We diagnosed ADHD with Wender Utah Rating Scale (WURS) and Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS) scores, family interviews, and psychiatric interviews. We used DSM-5 Structured Clinical Interview-Clinical Version (SCID-5-CV) to identify additional diagnoses and Barratt Impulsivity Scale (BDI-11) to evaluate impulsivity. RESULTS: The prevalence of childhood ADHD (C-ADHD) was 26%, and adult ADHD (A-ADHD) was 11% among the clinical sample. The prevalence of C-ADHD was %4.2, and there was no A-ADHD in the control group. The BIS-11-motor subscale score was significantly higher in those with A-ADHD than those without in the clinical sample (p=0.04). The BIS-11-total and all subscale scores were significantly higher with C-ADHD than those without C-ADHD in the clinical sample (p<0.05 for each). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: This study suggests that individuals with a previous psychiatric diagnosis have a higher rate of ADHD diagnosis compared to the healthy population, and ADHD often accompanies mood disorders and anxiety disorders. There may be a cause-effect relationship between ADHD and other mental disorders or similarities in the etiopathogenesis. Questioning ADHD symptoms in clinical samples over 65 years of age will contribute to determining the correct diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

Keywords

• attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
• geriatrics
• impulsivity
• prevalence