What you need to know about adult ADHD

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is most often thought of as something that only affects children. But in many cases, it persists into adulthood, affecting everyday functioning. 

We all have that friend, colleague or family member who is seldom on time, often forgetful, restless, and tries to do many tasks at once without seeing through any of them. It’s possible that this person may have ADHD. In fact, 60-70% of children with ADHD will continue to have symptoms in adulthood, says Professor Renata Schoeman, a Bellville-based psychiatrist with special interests in ADHD and eating, mood and anxiety disorders.

“ADHD is a lifespan disorder,” she explains. “Roughly five out of 100 children have ADHD. About two of them appear to outgrow it, but often that’s because the symptoms attenuate or because they become better at managing their symptoms. So, three out of five children will still have to deal with the challenges of ADHD in adulthood.”

Symptoms of adult ADHD

Adult ADHD is a common condition, agrees Pieter du Plessis, a clinical psychologist at Mediclinic Denmar Mental Health Services. “It most likely develops in childhood, but is only diagnosed later,” he says, noting that as children, people with the disorder would have struggled to sit still at their desks and been easily distracted. Without an apparent reason for this behaviour, parents and teachers may have dismissed them as “lazy” or “naughty”.

In adulthood, the condition manifests in much the same way: people with this disorder usually struggle with executive functioning skills like planning and time management – the basic skills that help you get through the day and meet your goals. The distractedness leads to missed deadlines, tasks left unattended, items lost, and plans forgotten. Relationships may also be affected, as people around you become frustrated when you aren’t listening to them or interrupt because you’ve become distracted.

Impulsiveness is another symptom of this condition, leading those with the condition to make poorly thought-out decisions. Added to this, they struggle to regulate their emotions, and so may be prone to overreacting in situations, without taking time to consider the consequences. They may have inappropriate outbursts or other behaviours that lead to stress, anxiety or even depression.

It's not all negative, though: Du Plessis notes that people who have adult ADHD are highly adaptable in new situations, like challenges, and are able to think very creatively.

Diagnosis

One difficulty around diagnosing adult ADHD is that it’s easily confused with bipolar mood disorder. Du Plessis explains that the two conditions share many symptoms in common. Added to this, it is possible that both conditions may coexist. “ADHD tends to mimic the manic stage of bipolar, so it is important to work with a psychiatrist to create a tailored approach for your specific condition.

“ADHD is usually diagnosed through a questionnaire, where the individual is asked to go through a checklist of symptoms,” Du Plessis continues. “If enough symptoms are present, they may be considered to have the disorder.”

Treatment

Treatment follows a similar course to treatment for other disorders. Although medications like Ritalin and Concerta are effective, Du Plessis recommends supplementing this with therapy, where the patient can work with the therapist on a strategy to help them with challenging tasks, like time management.

“Practical tools can help you move through your day more efficiently,” Du Plessis says. “For example, get into the habit of breaking work into smaller tasks so it becomes more manageable, especially if you struggle to remain focused; set reminders on your phone so you don’t forget important details; and establish an easy-to-follow routine so you’re always aware of what to do next in your day.”

To find a mental health professional near you, go to www.mediclinic.co.za