title: ADHD in adults: current treatment trends with consideration of abuse potential of medications.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To review the literature describing impairments in educational, occupational, and social functioning in adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), current treatment trends, and factors that may influence the abuse potential of long-acting medications used to treat ADHD in adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  A MEDLINE search was conducted to identify articles relating to functional impairments and treatment options for adults with ADHD, as well as the abuse potential of ADHD medications.
  
  
  RESULTS
  ADHD is one of the most common psychiatric behavioral disorders in children, and its symptoms have been shown to persist into adulthood. Symptoms of ADHD may occur at home, school, work, or in social situations, and symptom occurrence in these different settings can have a profound negative impact for adults with ADHD. Impairments in educational, occupational, and social functioning in adults with ADHD have been described and are summarized in this review article. Although long-acting medications are more frequently prescribed for children with ADHD than short-acting medications, adults with ADHD are equally likely to be treated with short- and long-acting medications. While all medications used to treat ADHD in adults have potential for abuse, there are a number of factors that may contribute to a lower potential for abuse for long-acting agents compared with immediate-release medications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Impairments from ADHD can be chronic and persistent and they can affect daily educational, occupational, and personal functioning. Adults, in particular, have responsibilities that can extend into the late evening hours so that clinicians need to consider medication duration of action when selecting a pharmacotherapy intervention for adults with ADHD.
authors.affiliation: Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, 500 Westcott Drive, Houston, TX 77007, USA. amao@bcm.edu
authors.forename: Alice R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Babcock
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brams
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology*; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002648:Child; D004522:Educational Status; D006801:Humans; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants