title: Adherence to stimulants in adult ADHD.
abstract: Although stimulant medication can reduce symptoms and lessen the degree of functional impairment associated with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), the adherence rate in adults diagnosed with ADHD is reportedly <12 %. The article explores the contexts that influence stimulant medication adherence in adults diagnosed with ADHD. Using a mixed-method design, data on ADHD-related quality of life and stimulant adherence were collected from 67 adults with ADHD. Next, 18 of those adults, based on adherence/quality of life, completed semi-structured interviews. Qualitative data were analyzed using thematic narrative inquiry, based on the Health Belief Model. Findings revealed no direct relation between stimulant adherence and quality of life. Instead, the doctor/patient relationship was a strong predictor of a person's quality of life. Physicians treating adults with ADHD must be aware of individual variation in stimulant response, seek to understand the functional limitations of their patients and strive to communicate effectively.
authors.affiliation: University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA, paocalla@utmb.edu.
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: O'Callaghan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology*; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D020377:Self Efficacy; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants