Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adults: social-demographic profile from a university hospital ADHD outpatient unit in São Paulo, Brazil.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the social-demographic variables, including interpersonal, academic, and professional performance in adult individuals with the diagnoses of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). There are no reports of this kind in the Brazilian population with ADHD. The ADHD is a common disorder, which can reach up to 3% of the general population.


METHODS
Descriptive study of adults with ADHD, according to the DSM-IV criteria (American Psychiatric Association). The sample was selected from a specialized outpatient service in São Paulo city. The social-demographic data was obtained by personal interviews.


RESULTS
There was a predominance of males in the sample (61.2%) and a high education level (90.2% had at least a high school degree) and 52% of the 102 patients had repeated their class at a least once during their school lives. In addition, 22.5% of the population sample were unemployed at the time of the interview.


CONCLUSIONS
The distribution of the socio-demographic variables in adult ADHD is similar to other ADHD samples reported in other countries, despite the high education level met in our sample. Similarities between child and adult ADHD could also be traced.
da Silva
Maria Aparecida
MA
Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Louzã
Mário R
MR
Vallada
Homero P
HP
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001938:Brazil; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors