title: The estimated prevalence and correlates of adult ADHD in a German community sample.
abstract: Little research on the prevalence and correlates of adult ADHD has been conducted outside the United States. The aim of the present study was to estimate the prevalence and correlates of adult ADHD in a large representative sample of the German population aged 18-64 years (n = 1,655). Two self-rating screening instruments to assess childhood and adult ADHD symptomatology were used to estimate the prevalence of ADHD. A 4-item screening tool was used to assess probable cases of current depression and anxiety (Patient Health Questionnaire). The estimated crude prevalence rate of current ADHD was 4.7%. Adult ADHD was significantly associated with lower age, low educational level, unemployment, marital status (never married and divorced), and rural residency. No association was found with gender. Adult ADHD was strongly associated with positive screening results for depression and anxiety. ADHD is a common disorder of adulthood, is associated with significant social impairment and psychiatric co-morbidity, and should receive further research attention.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany.
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de Zwaan
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gruss
authors.forename: Astrid
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: Holmer
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Graap
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Heide
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Glaesmer
authors.forename: Anja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hilbert
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Philipsen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001007:Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D055815:Young Adult