Adolescent clinical outcomes for young people with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.
BACKGROUND
Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is recognised as a common, disabling condition. Little information is available regarding the long-term outcomes for individuals with ADHD in the UK.


OBJECTIVE
To examine the 5-year outcome for a UK cohort of children with diagnosed, treated ADHD and identify whether maternal and social factors predict key outcomes.


METHODS
One hundred and twenty-six school-aged children (mean age 9.4 years, s.d. = 1.7) diagnosed with ADHD were reassessed 5 years later during adolescence (mean age 14.5 years, s.d. = 1.7) for ADHD, conduct disorder and other antisocial behaviours.


RESULTS
Most adolescents (69.8%) continued to meet full criteria for ADHD, were known to specialist services and exhibited high levels of antisocial behaviour, criminal activity and substance use problems. Maternal childhood conduct disorder predicted offspring ADHD continuity; maternal childhood conduct disorder, lower child IQ and social class predicted offspring conduct disorder symptoms.


CONCLUSIONS
The treatment and monitoring of ADHD need to be intensified as outcomes are poor especially in offspring of mothers with childhood conduct disorder symptoms.
Langley
Kate
K
Department of Psychological Medicine and Neurology, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff, UK. langleyk@cardiff.ac.uk
Fowler
Tom
T
Ford
Tamsin
T
Thapar
Ajay K
AK
van den Bree
Marianne
M
Harold
Gordon
G
Owen
Michael J
MJ
O'Donovan
Michael C
MC
Thapar
Anita
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D001724:Birth Weight; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D057237:Criminals / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D006113:United Kingdom