A Comparative Study of Phenomenology, Psychiatric Co-Morbidities and Global Functioning of People with ADHD from Childhood to Adulthood.

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Although previously thought to remit largely in adolescence, a growing literature supports the persistence of the disorder and/or associated impairment into adulthood. Studies in India are lacking on ADMD. Aims and Objectives: To compare the phenomenology of ADHD in childhood, adolescence and adulthood, to compare the psychiatric co-morbidities with ADHD in childhood, adolescence and adulthood, to compare the global functioning of subjects with ADHD in childhood, adolescence and adulthood. Methods: A statistical comparison was made between studies done in dept. of psychiatry, CSMMU UP, Lucknow on childhood, adolescent and adult ADHD for its various aspects. Conclusions: Hyperactivity-impulsivity decreases as subjects with ADHD grow up and inattention symptoms become more impairing, ADHD is highly co-morbid across all age groups but the nature of co-morbidities change, functioning of subjects with ADHD improve as they grow older.