Study: For 1 in 3, ADHD Lasts into Adulthood

Nearly one-third of children with ADHD may also have it as adults, a study suggests. The study focused on 5,718 children. All were born in the area of Rochester, Minn., between 1976 and 1982. Researchers had access to medical records of 367 who were diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as children. Of that group, 232 agreed to be part of a follow-up study in their late 20s. About 29% still had symptoms of ADHD. More than half — 57% — also had another mental health issue. That compares with 35% of adults from the larger study who never had ADHD. Adults who had childhood ADHD also were twice as likely as others to have thought about or attempted suicide. The most common mental health issue in the ADHD group was alcohol abuse. The next two were antisocial personality disorder and other substance abuse.