Driving in young adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: Knowledge, performance, adverse outcomes, and the role of executive functioning

AbstractPast studies find that attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) creates a higher risk for adverse driving outcomes. This study comprehensively evaluated driving in adults with ADHD by comparing 105 young adults with the disorder (age 17–28) to 64 community control (CC) adults on five domains of driving ability and a battery of executive function tasks. The ADHD group self-reported significantly more traffic citations, particularly for speeding, vehicular crashes, and license suspensions than the CC group, with most of these differences corroborated in the official DMV records. Cognitively, the ADHD group was less attentive and made more errors during a visual reaction task under rule-reversed conditions than the CC group. The ADHD group also obtained lower scores on a test of driving rules and decision-making but not on a simple driving simulator. Both self- and other-ratings showed the CC group employed safer routine driving habits than the ADHD group. Relationships between the cognitive and driving measures and the adverse outcomes were limited or absent, calling into question their use in screening ADHD adults for driving risks. Several executive functions also were significantly yet modestly related to accident frequency and total traffic violations after controlling for severity of ADHD. These results are consistent with earlier studies showing significant driving problems are associated with ADHD. This study found that these driving difficulties were not a function of comorbid oppositional defiant disorder, depression, anxiety, or frequency of alcohol or illegal drug use. Findings to date argue for the development of interventions to reduce driving risks among adults with ADHD.

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Driving-Related Risks and Outcomes of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in Adolescents and Young Adults: A 3- to 5-Year Follow-up Survey

PEDIATRICS ◽

10.1542/peds.92.2.212 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 92 (2) ◽

pp. 212-218

Author(s):

Russell A. Barkley ◽

David C. Guevremont ◽

Arthur D. Anastopoulos ◽

George J. DuPaul ◽

Tern L. Shelton

Keyword(s):

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ◽

Young Adults ◽

Conduct Disorder ◽

Oppositional Defiant Disorder ◽

Attention Deficit ◽

Rating Scale ◽

Hyperactivity Disorder ◽

Control Subjects ◽

Oppositional Defiant ◽

Teenagers And Young Adults

Objective. To determine whether teenagers and young adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have more motor vehicle citations and crashes and are more careless drivers than their normal peers. Design. A comparison of two groups of teenagers and young adults (ADHD and normal) followed up 3 to 5 years after original diagnosis. Setting. A university medical center clinic for ADHD patients. Patients. Thirty-five subjects with ADHD and 36 control subjects between 16 and 22 years of age, all of whom were licensed drivers. Main outcome measures. Parent ratings of current symptoms of ADHD, oppositional defiant disorder, and conduct disorder, a survey of various negative driving outcomes, and a rating scale of driving behavior. Results. Subjects with ADHD used less sound driving habits. This deficiency was associated with greater driving-related negative outcomes in all categories surveyed. Subjects with ADHD were more likely than control subjects to have had auto crashes, to have had more such crashes, to have more bodily injuries associated with such crashes, and to be at fault for more crashes than control subjects. They were also more likely to have received traffic citations and received more such citations than control subjects, particularly for speeding. The subgroup of teenagers with ADHD having greater comorbid oppositional defiant disorder and conduct disorder symptoms were at highest risk for such deficient driving skills/habits and negative driving-related outcomes. Conclusions. ADHD, and especially its association with oppositional defiant disorder/conduct disorder, is associated with substantially increased risks for driving among teenagers and young adults and worthy of attention when clinicians counsel such patients and their parents.

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Effect of Impairment on the Prevalence and Comorbidities of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in a National Survey: Nation-Wide Prevalence and Comorbidities of ADHD

Journal of Attention Disorders ◽

10.1177/10870547211017985 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 108705472110179

Author(s):

Eyup Sabri Ercan ◽

Gul Unsel-Bolat ◽

Ali Evren Tufan ◽

Sevcan Karakoc Demirkaya ◽

Oznur Bilac ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ◽

Attention Deficit ◽

Large Scale ◽

Psychiatric Comorbidity ◽

Diagnostic Interview ◽

Adhd Group ◽

Hyperactivity Disorder ◽

Oppositional Defiant ◽

Dsm Iv ◽

Screening Scale

Objective: This study aimed to determine the prevalence and comorbidities of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) by evaluating a large-scale nation-wide sample of children. Method: The inclusion criterion was being enrolled as a 2nd, 3rd, or 4th-grade student. A semi-structured diagnostic interview (K-SADS-PL), DSM-IV-Based Screening Scale for Disruptive Behavior Disorders, and assessment of impairment (by both parents and teachers) were applied to 5,842 participants. Results: The prevalence of ADHD was 19.5% without impairment and 12.4% with impairment. Both ADHD with and without impairment groups had similar psychiatric comorbidity rates except for oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) and conduct disorder (CD) diagnoses. Impairment in the ADHD group resulted in significantly higher ODD and CD diagnoses. Conclusion: Even when impairment is not described, other psychiatric disorders accompany the diagnosis of ADHD and may cause impairment in the future. Impairment in the diagnosis of ADHD significantly increases the likelihood of ODD and CD.

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Interpersonal Problems of Young Adults With and Without Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Journal of Attention Disorders ◽

10.1177/1087054718821728 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 25 (4) ◽

pp. 562-571 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Sandro M. Sodano ◽

Jessica P. Tamulonis ◽

Gregory A. Fabiano ◽

Abigail M. Caserta ◽

Kevin F. Hulme ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ◽

Young Adults ◽

Item Response ◽

Attention Deficit ◽

Family Relationship ◽

Interpersonal Problems ◽

Adhd Group ◽

Hyperactivity Disorder ◽

Interpersonal Behaviors ◽

Inventory Of Interpersonal Problems

Objective:Interpersonal functioning is a core area of impairment for young adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), yet the assessment of their interpersonal problems has not been approached using a comprehensive model of interpersonal behaviors. Method: Interpersonal problems of young adults with ADHD ( n = 24) were compared to non-ADHD peers ( n = 26) by self- and collateral-report using the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems-Circumplex-Item Response Theory (IIP-C-IRT). Results: Both self- and collateral-reports yielded significantly higher scores across interpersonal problem domains, except for self-reported Hostile-Dominant (HD) interpersonal problems. Discrepancy scores between self- and collateral-report supported larger differences in the ADHD versus non-ADHD groups for HD problems. Large correlations between collateral-reported family relationship impairments and HD problems were found only for the ADHD group. Conclusion: Young adults with ADHD have higher levels of interpersonal problems relative to their non-ADHD peers, but also appear to underreport HD interpersonal problems relative to non-ADHD peers, suggesting the presence of a bias. (J. of Att. Dis. XXXX; XX[ X] XX-XX)

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Serum Galectin-3 Levels in Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Psychiatry Investigation ◽

10.30773/pi.2019.0247 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (3) ◽

pp. 256-261

Author(s):

Ümit Is¸ ık ◽

Faruk Kılıç ◽

Arif Demirdas¸ ◽

Evrim Aktepe ◽

Pınar Aydog˘ an Avs¸ ar

Keyword(s):

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ◽

Attention Deficit ◽

Analysis Of Covariance ◽

Control Group ◽

Depression Symptoms ◽

Adhd Group ◽

Children With Adhd ◽

Hyperactivity Disorder ◽

Oppositional Defiant ◽

Galectin 3

Objective Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder with underlying pathogenesis and etiological factors not fully understood. We assumed that galectin-3, which is also linked with inflammatory responses, may play an important role in the ethiopathogenesis of ADHD. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether serum galectin-3 levels are related to ADHD in childhood.Methods The current study consisted of 35 treatment-naive children with ADHD and 35 control subjects. The severities of ADHD and conduct disorder symptoms were assessed via parent- and teacher-rated questionnaires. The severity of anxiety and depression symptoms of the children were determined by the self-report scale. Venous blood samples were collected and serum galectin-3 levels were measured.Results The ADHD group had significantly higher serum Galectin-3 levels than the control group. To control confounding factors, including age, sex, and BMI percentile, one-way analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) test was also performed. Analyses revealed a significantly higher serum log- Galectin-3 levels in children with ADHD compared to controls. No association was found between the mean serum galectin-3 levels and sociodemographic characteristics and clinical test scores, except the oppositional defiant behavior scores.Conclusion Our research supports the hypothesis that serum levels of galectin-3 might be related to ADHD.

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Stress and Mental Health among Children/Adolescents, Their Parents, and Young Adults during the First COVID-19 Lockdown in Switzerland

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18094668 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (9) ◽

pp. 4668

Author(s):

Meichun Mohler-Kuo ◽

Shota Dzemaili ◽

Simon Foster ◽

Laura Werlen ◽

Susanne Walitza

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ◽

Young Adults ◽

Perceived Stress ◽

Attention Deficit ◽

Internet Use ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Health Problems ◽

Hyperactivity Disorder ◽

Oppositional Defiant

The present study aimed to assess various stressful situations and the psychological impact of the first COVID-19 pandemic lockdown among youths in Switzerland. We included samples of 1627 young adults aged 19–24 from the Swiss Youth Epidemiological Study on Mental Health and 1146 children and adolescents aged 12–17 years and their parents. We assessed symptoms of various mental health problems, internet use, and perceived stress during the first COVID-19 lockdown. In the analyses, data were weighted to be representative of the Swiss population. During the first lockdown in Switzerland, the most common sources of perceived stress were the disruption of social life and important activities, uncertainty about how long the state of affairs would last, and the pandemic itself. In addition, around one-fifth of the young adults met the criteria for at least one of the mental health problems (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, depression, generalized anxiety disorder), while one-third of children/adolescents screened positive for at least one of the mental health problems (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, depression, anxiety). Moreover, 30.1% of children and 21.3% of young adults met the criteria for problematic internet use. The study showed considerable stress perceived by young adults and symptoms of mental health problems, especially among females, during the first COVID-19 lockdown in Switzerland.

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Psychopathology and Symptom Remission at Adolescence Among Children with Attention-Deficit–Hyperactivity Disorder

Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.3109/00048670903487233 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 44 (4) ◽

pp. 323-332 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

Susan Shur-Fen Gau ◽

Yu-Ju Lin ◽

Andrew Tai-Ann Cheng ◽

Yen-Nan Chiu ◽

Wen-Che Tsai ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ◽

Attention Deficit ◽

Parental Education ◽

Childhood And Adolescence ◽

Adhd Group ◽

Adhd Symptoms ◽

Children With Adhd ◽

Hyperactivity Disorder ◽

Oppositional Defiant ◽

Core Symptoms

Objective: The aim of the present study was to examine changes of attention-deficit–hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms and psychiatric comorbidities at adolescence, and mother-child agreement on reports of ADHD symptoms among children with ADHD as compared to unaffected controls. Methods: The participants included 93 patients (male, 82.8%) aged 11–16, who were clinically diagnosed with ADHD at the mean age of 7.3 ± 2.8 years, and 93 age-, sex-, and parental education-matched school controls. The participants and their mothers were frist interviewed separately for baseline psychopathology at childhood, followed by current psychopathology using the Chinese Kiddie Epidemiologic version of the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia. Results: At adolescence, 46 patients (49.5%) met full DSM-IV ADHD criteria, 31 (33.3%) had subthreshold ADHD, and 16 (17.2%) had recovered from ADHD. We found a significant progressive decline in the three ADHD core symptoms for the ADHD group: hyperactivity had the greatest effect size, followed by inattention, and then impulsivity. Children with ADHD tended to report less severe ADHD symptoms at childhood and adolescence than their mothers. They were more likely than the controls to have oppositional defiant disorder (odds ratio (OR)=18.0; 95% confidence interval (CI)=8.3–38.9), conduct disorder (OR=23.1, 95%CI =5.3–100.2), mood disorders (OR=3.8, 95%CI = 1.5–9.4), bipolar disorders (Fisher's exact p < 0.001), and sleep disorders (OR=3.1, 95%CI = 1.6–6.0) at adolescence. Conclusions: The present findings are similar to those of Western studies, regarding the patterns of comorbidity, stability of core symptoms, and mother–child differences on symptom reports.

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Callous-unemotional traits in Chinese preschool children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder

Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health ◽

10.1186/s13034-021-00388-0 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 15 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Jinsong Zhang ◽

Wei Li ◽

Huifeng Zhang ◽

Amanda Wilson ◽

Lan Shuai ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ◽

Preschool Children ◽

Attention Deficit ◽

Incremental Validity ◽

Behavioural Problems ◽

Hyperactivity Disorder ◽

Cu Traits ◽

Callous Unemotional ◽

Oppositional Defiant ◽

Callous Unemotional Traits

Abstract Background Children with early onset of Callous-Unemotional (CU) traits are at a higher risk for long-term, persistent psychosocial problems. The current study aimed to explore the characteristics of CU in preschool children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and the diagnostic significance of CU traits in ADHD. Methods A total of 176 preschool children (89 with ADHD and 87 Typically Developing Children [TDC]) aged 4–5 years old were recruited to the study. The participants were assessed for CU traits, emotional and behavioral problems, and how their executive functioning was associated with ADHD using multiple assessment scales. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to assess the incremental validity of the Inventory of Callous-Unemotional Traits (ICU), adjusting for possible covariates by child’s sex, conduct problems, and oppositional defiant symptoms. Results The results showed that there was a significant difference of ICU scores between the ADHD and TDC groups (F = 30.12, P < 0.001). In terms of callousness, ADHD + Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) group showed a significant high score, and the ADHD only group scored significantly higher than the TDC group (F = 20.42, P < 0.001). The ICU was negatively associated with the prosocial behaviour subscale (γ = − 0.57, P < 0.01) and showed low to moderate positive correlations with emotional and behavioural problems, as well as executive function (γ = 0.24–0.67, P < 0.05). The ICU scores explained 6% of the incremental validity in ADHD symptoms. The diagnostic value of the ICU for ADHD was medium and acceptable. Conclusions The current study indicated that early identification of CU traits may help clinicians better understand symptoms and behavioural problems in children with ADHD. CU traits therefore could be considered as a useful assessment tool for ADHD.

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