title: Rates of undiagnosed attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in London drug and alcohol detoxification units.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  ADHD is a common childhood onset mental health disorder that persists into adulthood in two-thirds of cases. One of the most prevalent and impairing comorbidities of ADHD in adults are substance use disorders. We estimate rates of ADHD in patients with substance abuse disorders and delineate impairment in the co-morbid group.
  
  
  METHODS
  Screening for ADHD followed by a research diagnostic interview in people attending in-patient drug and alcohol detoxification units.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We estimated prevalence of undiagnosed ADHD within substance use disorder in-patients in South London around 12%. Those individuals with substance use disorders and ADHD had significantly higher self-rated impairments across several domains of daily life; and higher rates of substance abuse and alcohol consumption, suicide attempts, and depression recorded in their case records.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrates the high rates of untreated ADHD within substance use disorder populations and the association of ADHD in such patients with greater levels of impairment. These are likely to be a source of additional impairment to patients and represent an increased burden on clinical services.
authors.affiliation: MRC Social Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, Kings College London, London, SE 58AF, UK.
authors.forename: Zoe
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Huntley
authors.forename: Stefanos
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maltezos
authors.forename: Charlotte
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Alun
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Morinan
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hammon
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ball
authors.forename: E Jane
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Marshall
authors.forename: Francis
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Keaney
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: Patrik
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bolton
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Glaser
authors.forename: Raoul
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Howe-Forbes
authors.forename: Jonna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kuntsi
authors.forename: Kiriakos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Xenitidis
authors.forename: Declan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: Philip J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Asherson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008658:Inactivation, Metabolic; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008131:London / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013406:Suicide, Attempted