Are Formal Guidelines Absent for Diagnosing Adult ADHD?
ADHD is one of the most widespread mental health issues among young people today, but it also affects a significant adult population. More than 8 million adults (up to 5% of Americans) may have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Many of them are completely unaware of it. Multiple studies have found that only about 20% of adults with ADHD are actually aware that they have the disorder. According to NIMH, many adults have never been diagnosed, and it goes untreated, causing problems in their lives. “These adults may feel it is impossible to get organized, stick to a job, or remember to keep appointments. Daily tasks such as getting up in the morning, preparing to leave the house for work, arriving at work on time, and being productive on the job can be especially challenging for adults with undiagnosed ADHD.”
An estimated 2.5% of adult individuals are thought to suffer from ADHD. Could the number be higher or lower? One of the problems is that there is inconsistency in how diagnoses are made and reported, leading to confusion regarding the total pool of adults with ADHD. Studies indicate that between 50 and 66 percent of adults with ADHD also present with comorbid mental illnesses, which can lead to severe psychological stress in these individuals. Is the psychiatric disorder diagnosed and not ADHD?
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