title: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms and loneliness among adults in the general population.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Research on the association between adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and loneliness is scarce even though factors which have been previously linked to loneliness, such as divorce and poorer mental health may be more prevalent among adults with ADHD. This study investigated the relation between ADHD symptoms/symptom severity and loneliness in the general adult population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from the Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey 2007 (N=7403, aged ≥16years) were analyzed. ADHD symptoms and common mental disorders (CMDs) were assessed with the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS) Screener and the Clinical Interview Schedule Revised, respectively. Loneliness was measured with a question from the Social Functioning Questionnaire. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to examine the associations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the fully adjusted model, an ASRS score ≥14 was strongly associated with loneliness (OR=2.48 95%CI=1.83-3.36). ADHD symptom severity was related to loneliness in a dose-response fashion. Over one-third of the association between ADHD symptoms and loneliness was explained by CMDs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Adults with more ADHD symptoms are at an increased risk of feeling lonely. Future research should determine how ADHD symptoms are linked to loneliness and if loneliness is affecting well-being.
authors.affiliation: Department of Child and Adolescent Mental Health, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry (NCNP), 4-1-1 Ogawahigashi, Kodaira, Tokyo 187-8553, Japan; The Stockholm Center for Health and Social Change (SCOHOST), Södertörn University, Huddinge, 141 89, Sweden; Department of Human Ecology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan. Electronic address: andrew.stickley@sh.se.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stickley
authors.affiliation: Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, Universitat de Barcelona, Fundació Sant Joan de Déu, Dr Antoni Pujadas, 42, Sant Boi de Llobregat, Barcelona 08830, Spain; Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental, CIBERSAM, Monforte de Lemos 3-5 Pabellón 11, Madrid 28029, Spain.
authors.forename: Ai
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Koyanagi
authors.affiliation: Department of Child and Adolescent Mental Health, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry (NCNP), 4-1-1 Ogawahigashi, Kodaira, Tokyo 187-8553, Japan.
authors.forename: Hidetoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.affiliation: Child Study Center, Yale University Medical School, New Haven, CT 06520, USA; Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Division of Neuroscience, Uppsala University, Uppsala, S-751 85, Sweden.
authors.forename: Vladislav
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ruchkin
authors.affiliation: Department of Child and Adolescent Mental Health, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry (NCNP), 4-1-1 Ogawahigashi, Kodaira, Tokyo 187-8553, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kamio
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000523:psychology*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008132:Loneliness / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: ADHD; Common mental disorders; Lonely