Self-reported adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms among college students.
OBJECTIVE
Report the distribution of scores from the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS) and estimate the prevalence of self-reported attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms as compared to clinical diagnoses.


METHODS
Participants were 1,080 college students, divided into 3 groups: (1) no ADHD diagnosis (n = 972), (2) diagnosed with ADHD but no current pharmacologic treatment (n = 54), and (3) diagnosed with ADHD with current pharmacologic treatment (n = 54).


METHODS
The ASRS was administered during the fourth annual interview of an ongoing longitudinal cohort study.


RESULTS
As expected, individuals who were never clinically diagnosed with ADHD had lower ASRS scores (M = 4.0, SD = 3.3) than individuals diagnosed with ADHD who were either under current pharmacologic treatment (M = 7.9, SD = 4.0) or not under treatment (M = 6.3, SD = 3.7). Overall, 10.3%wt of individuals without an existing clinical diagnosis of ADHD had high levels of ADHD symptoms.


CONCLUSIONS
A substantial minority of undiagnosed individuals may benefit from a clinical assessment for ADHD.
Garnier-Dykstra
Laura M
LM
Center on Young Adult Health and Development, Department of Family Science, University of Maryland School of Public Health, College Park, Maryland 20740, USA.
Pinchevsky
Gillian M
GM
Caldeira
Kimberly M
KM
Vincent
Kathryn B
KB
Arria
Amelia M
AM
D000328:Adult; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D015331:Cohort Studies; D059026:Diagnostic Self Evaluation; D006801:Humans; D015995:Prevalence; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult