Education, occupation and risk-taking behaviour among adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
BACKGROUND
No Danish studies examining functional impairments in a naturalistic sample of clinically referred adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are available. Our study aimed to examine educational and occupational outcomes and risk-taking behaviour in a Danish clinical sample of adults with ADHD.


METHODS
Naturalistic, cross-sectional study of 155 ADHD adults consecutively referred to a Danish ADHD clinic from 2010 to 2011.


RESULTS
A total of 51% had primary/lower secondary school only as their highest education, and 65% were not self-supporting at the time of their assessment. Criminal behaviour was found in more than 50%, suspension of driving licence in 16% and risk-taking sexual behaviour in 37-51%. Co-morbidity did not significantly increase the odds for a low educational level or of risk-taking behaviours. Having a personality disorder (PD) increased occupational vulnerability. Male gender and ADHD-C (combined type) were significantly associated with criminality and suspension of driving licence. Patients with substance use disorders and PD had non-significantly increased odds for risk-taking behaviours.


CONCLUSIONS
Functional impairments were evident in this Danish sample of adults with ADHD. Most of our findings could not be accounted for by co-morbidity, underlining the importance of targeting treatment at ADHD itself.


BACKGROUND
This research was funded by The Psychiatric Research Foundation of the Central Denmark Region.


BACKGROUND
not relevant.
Psychiatric Research Unit West, Regional Psychiatric Services West, 7400 Herning, Denmark. hellesnd@rm.dk.
Helle Moeller
HM
Soendergaard
Per Hove
PH
Thomsen
Pernille
P
Pedersen
Erik
E
Pedersen
Agnethe Elkjaer
AE
Poulsen
Jette Moeskjaer
JM
Nielsen
Lars
L
Winther
Anne
A
Henriksen
Berit
B
Rungoe
Hans Joergen
HJ
Soegaard
D000328:Adult; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003718:Denmark; D004522:Educational Status; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012737:Sex Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology