title: Cross-national prevalence and correlates of adult attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Little is known about the epidemiology of adult attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the prevalence and correlates of DSM-IV adult ADHD in the World Health Organization World Mental Health Survey Initiative.
  
  
  METHODS
  An ADHD screen was administered to respondents aged 18-44 years in ten countries in the Americas, Europe and the Middle East (n=11422). Masked clinical reappraisal interviews were administered to 154 US respondents to calibrate the screen. Multiple imputation was used to estimate prevalence and correlates based on the assumption of cross-national calibration comparability.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Estimates of ADHD prevalence averaged 3.4% (range 1.2-7.3%), with lower prevalence in lower-income countries (1.9%) compared with higher-income countries (4.2%). Adult ADHD often co-occurs with other DSM-IV disorders and is associated with considerable role disability. Few cases are treated for ADHD, but in many cases treatment is given for comorbid disorders.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Adult ADHD should be considered more seriously in future epidemiological and clinical studies than is currently the case.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology, St George Hospital University Medical Centre, PO Box 166378, Beirut-Achrafieh 1100-2807, Lebanon. jfayyad@idraac.org
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fayyad
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: De Graaf
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kessler
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Alonso
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Angermeyer
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Demyttenaere
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: De Girolamo
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Haro
authors.forename: E G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Karam
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lara
authors.forename: J-P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Lépine
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ormel
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Posada-Villa
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Zaslavsky
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D017831:Diagnosis, Dual (Psychiatry); D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D014943:Global Health; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014944:World Health Organization