Differences in Primary Care Management of Patients With Adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Based on Race and Ethnicity.

OBJECTIVE: Examine differences in care patterns around adult ADHD between race (White/Non-White) and ethnic (Hispanic/Non-Hispanic) groups utilizing existing quality measures (QMs), concerning diagnosis, treatment, and medication prescribing. METHODS: The AAFP National Research Network in partnership with SUNY Upstate Medical used an EHR dataset to evaluate achievement of 10 ADHD QMs. The dataset was obtained from DARTNet Institute and includes 4 million patients of 873 behavioral and primary care practices with at least 100 patients from 2010 to 2020. Patients 18-years or older with adult ADHD were included in this analysis. RESULTS: White patients and Non-Hispanic/Latinx patients were more likely to achieve these QMs than Non-White patients and Hispanic/Latinx patients, respectively. Differences between groups concerning medication and monitoring demonstrate a disparity for Non-White and Hispanic/Latinx populations. CONCLUSIONS: Using QMs in EHR data can help identify gaps in ADHD research. There is a need to continue investigating disparities of quality adult ADHD care.

The Role of Age in Adult ADHD Quality Care: A Longitudinal Analysis of Electronic Health Record Data.

OBJECTIVE: Several studies have shown that Adult ADHD presents differently in younger and older adults. We sought to assess the difference in care between these two groups using previously identified quality measures (QMs). METHODS: Using electronic health record data, we matched a younger group of ADHD patients to an older group. We then assessed the achievement of the QMs using probit models with and without interaction terms. RESULTS: The majority of QMs shown an increase in achievement for both groups over time. However, significant differences in quality of care between younger and older adult ADHD patients persisted. By the end of the study period, with the exception of three QMs, younger patients achieved the QMs more. CONCLUSION: While, in general, the quality of care for adult ADHD increased from 2010 to 2020, there were still differences in care between younger and older adult ADHD patients.

Measuring Quality Care for Adult ADHD Patients: How Much Does Gender and Gender Identity Matter?

OBJECTIVE: Studies show adult ADHD presents differently in men and women, however few studies contrast ADHD in cisgender and gender diverse adults. We assessed care differences between these groups using previously identified quality measures (QMs). METHODS: Using EHR data, we matched a group of male ADHD patients to a female group. We followed the same procedure with a cisgender group and one identified as gender diverse through a gender dysphoria diagnosis. QM achievement was measured using logistic regression models. RESULTS: Most QMs exhibited increasing achievement over time for all groups. Variations in care quality between males and females persisted, with female patients achieving QMs more often. There were no appreciable differences between the cisgender and gender diverse groups. CONCLUSION: Though quality care for adult ADHD improved from 2010 to 2020, differences between male and female patients lingered. This effect was not observed in cisgender and gender diverse patients.

The Burden of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Adults: A Real-World Linked Data Study.

Objective: To assess the humanistic and economic burden of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) among adult patients treated with immediate-release (IR) only or extended-release (ER) only stimulants and those unmedicated versus treated with ER + IR stimulants.Methods: This study analyzed linked data from National Health and Wellness Survey and claims to assess the differences in patient characteristics and outcomes, including health-related quality of life (HRQoL), work productivity and activity impairment, and health care resource utilization (HRU) and associated costs by comparing ADHD patients treated with either IR or ER and those unmedicated for ADHD versus ER + IR.Results: The burden of ADHD was compared among adults on stimulant medications with different duration of effect (DoE) (ER + IR: n = 34, ER: n = 184, IR: n = 149) and the unmedicated group (n = 114). Bivariate analysis showed the IR (P = .047) and unmedicated groups (P = .01) had significantly lower Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short Form physical component summary scores versus ER + IR. The unmedicated group had higher HRU and associated costs versus other groups. Multivariable analysis revealed that the unmedicated group had twice as many outpatient visits (P = .001) and higher total annual direct costs than those on ER + IR (risk ratio = 2.20, P = .016). Patients with mental health comorbidities had significantly poorer HRQoL mental component summary scores and higher activity impairment versus those without mental health comorbidities (P = .001 and P < .001, respectively).Conclusions: Patients with ADHD treated with longer DoE formulations had substantially better economic outcomes versus shorter DoE formulation or unmedicated groups, offering potential cost savings to the health care system and the patient. Furthermore, it is important to consider the effect of mental health comorbidities in the overall management of ADHD.

Progress and Pitfalls in the Provision of Quality Care for Adults With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in Primary Care.

OBJECTIVE: Quality care for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adults has lagged behind other psychiatric disorders. We sought to assess how the achievement of quality measures (QMs) for diagnosing and treating ADHD in adults has changed over time. METHOD: We assessed 10 QMs in electronic health records (EHRs) from primary care and behavioral health clinics from 2010 to 2020 for 71,310 patients diagnosed with ADHD. RESULTS: The achievement of QMs increased over time (p < .001). Some showed increases to high levels; others remained low throughout the observation period. No patients achieved more than six of 10 QMs in any year. Small but significant effects for sex, race, ethnicity, practice ownership, practice type, and age. CONCLUSION: Increase in quality care from 2010 to 2020 along with clear evidence that more efforts are needed to improve quality of care for adults with ADHD seen in primary care.

The Adult ADHD Quality Measures Initiative.

Objective: Quality measures (QMs; also known as Quality Indicators) quantify health care processes, outcomes, patient perceptions, and organizational structure and/or systems that are relevant to the provision of high-quality health care. We describe the first phase of a project that has as its ultimate goal the creation and validation of QMs for tracking the screening, diagnosis, treatment, and clinical follow-up of adults with ADHD. This will fill an important gap in the field of Adult ADHD because QMs for adult ADHD do not exist. Method: We followed the guidelines of the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) for the development of QMs. These guidelines call for two phases: (1) Identify Candidate QMs and (2) Assess Candidate QMs. This article describes the results of our Phase 1 activities. To generate QMs for adult ADHD, we took the following steps: (a) searched the clinical/research literature for adult ADHD QMs; (b) convened a multidisciplinary panel comprising clinical and research experts and had them brainstorm potential QMs in the areas of screening, diagnosis, treatment, follow-up, care coordination, and patient experience; (c) compared these QMs with existing guidelines for adult ADHD to see if any potential QMs had been missed, this led to a draft list of 46 QMs; (d) had 28 ADHD experts rate the importance, reliability, validity, feasibility, and usability of the QMs. Results: The literature review found several QMs for ADHD in youth but none for ADHD in adults. The brainstorming session generated 52 QMs. The survey showed that all of these QMs were highly rated but that there was sufficient variability in ratings to prioritize some QMs over others. Conclusion: Based on these results, we prioritized QMs to carry forward into the next phase of the project. This work fills an important gap for the clinical care of adult patients with ADHD and helps to set a precedent for mental health, which has lagged behind other areas of medicine in developing QMs.

Is ADHD a valid diagnosis in older adults?

ADHD is a neurodevelopmental syndrome that often persists into adulthood. It is possible that different criteria are necessary for older adults than younger adults: the manifestations of ADHD could change with age; other conditions with onset in later life share presenting symptoms with ADHD; different contextual challenges and patterns of compensatory support may exist. For these reasons, we reviewed evidence for the validity of DSM ADHD criteria in adulthood for individuals over the age of 50. Specifically, we evaluated evidence that the DSM criteria for ADHD identify a valid syndrome in older adults based on clinical presentation, laboratory or testing findings, absence of alternate diagnosis to explain symptoms, course of the syndrome, or familial presence of the condition. We found evidence that various ADHD criteria identify subjects with clinical presentations similar to that seen in younger adults, but only 92 well-described cases have been reported in the literature. ADHD traits also may be less common in the general population of older adults than in younger adults, suggesting that the threshold for an atypical burden of ADHD traits may be lower in older populations. Future research can establish a richer basis for validity of diagnostic criteria for ADHD in older adults.

Randomized, 6-Week, Placebo-Controlled Study of Treatment for Adult Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: Individualized Dosing of Osmotic-Release Oral System (OROS) Methylphenidate With a Goal of Symptom Remission.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of individualized dosing within the approved dose range for osmotic-release oral system (OROS) methylphenidate hydrochloride in adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). METHODS: A double-blind, 6-week trial was conducted between July 2009 and February 2010 at 35 US sites. Adults with ADHD (DSM-IV diagnostic criteria) and a screening ADHD Investigator Symptom Rating Scale (AISRS) score > 24 were randomly assigned to OROS methylphenidate 18 mg or matching placebo. Treatment dose could be increased at 18 mg increments, up to 72 mg/d, until an optimal dose was achieved. AISRS score changes from baseline to end point (primary outcome) were analyzed using analysis of covariance. RESULTS: At baseline, the intent-to-treat population of 169 OROS methylphenidate and 172 placebo subjects (mean age = 35.8 years) had mean (standard deviation [SD]) AISRS scores of 37.8 (6.94) and 37.0 (7.51), respectively. OROS methylphenidate-treated subjects exhibited a significantly greater mean (SD) AISRS score improvement than placebo subjects (-17.1 [12.44] vs -11.7 [13.30]; P < .001). In general, OROS methylphenidate-treated subjects experienced greater improvements than placebo subjects in secondary measures of symptom frequency, cognitive function, work productivity, and quality-of-life. Little effect of OROS methylphenidate was observed in exploratory sleep assessments. The adverse event pattern was similar to previous reports of stimulants in adults with ADHD. CONCLUSIONS: OROS methylphenidate treatment with individualized doses titrated to achieve symptom remission demonstrated greater ADHD symptom reduction than placebo treatment. These data support the overall efficacy of OROS methylphenidate treatment in the management of adults with ADHD and provide new possibilities for additional intervention. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00937040.

Adult Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Diagnosis, Management, and Treatment in the DSM-5 Era.

OBJECTIVE: To increase awareness of adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in the primary care community and to provide guidance for the management of this condition. Despite its increasing prevalence, adult ADHD largely remains underdiagnosed and inappropriately treated in the United States. The publication of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), has provided more clear diagnostic criteria for adult ADHD, but a solid framework supporting the transition of ADHD management from pediatric to adult primary care is lacking. DATA SOURCES: We searched PubMed and MEDLINE databases (January 1, 1984-June 1, 2016) using combinations of keywords, including ADHD, adult, diagnosis, prevalence, symptoms, treatment, comorbidity, compliance, and guidelines; international treatment guidelines; and the Diagnostic Interview for Adult ADHD websites to identify relevant clinical studies, reviews, meta-analyses, guidelines, and web-based resources describing updates to the DSM. STUDY SELECTION/DATA EXTRACTION: In total, 143 citations were selected based on their relevance to adult ADHD diagnosis, treatment, major issues, and practice guidelines. RESULTS: The update on diagnostic criteria in the DSM-5 may increase the diagnosis of adult ADHD. There are critical differences between childhood and adult ADHD, and specific considerations should be taken with an adult ADHD diagnosis. Adult ADHD is primarily treated with pharmacotherapy assisted by behavior interventions. Caution should be exercised when using stimulants during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Adult ADHD patients often suffer from unemployment, financial difficulties, and an unsuccessful personal life. Adult-specific guidelines may improve adult ADHD treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The successful diagnosis and management of adult ADHD require consideration of many facets including prior medical history and comorbid conditions and use of an individualized, evidence-based treatment approach.

Clinical Presentation, Diagnosis and Treatment of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in Older Adults: A Review of the Evidence and its Implications for Clinical Care.

Although previously considered a disorder of childhood, studies in the last decade have demonstrated that attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) continues to impair function into adulthood and responds to pharmacotherapy. Due to age-specific changes in roles and challenges, it is possible that presentation and response to intervention may differ between older and younger adults. A literature search for papers that identified older adults with ADHD, including papers describing its epidemiology, manifestation, and treatment, was the basis for this paper. There is a paucity of data on ADHD in older adults; however, small observational studies have characterized the presence, impact, and treatment of ADHD in adults over the age of 50 years, and larger epidemiologic studies have demonstrated that ADHD symptoms exist in older adulthood. Optimal criteria for diagnosis of ADHD and methods of treating ADHD in older individuals have not been systematically explored. In light of the limited data, this review discusses considerations for differential diagnosis and safe pharmacotherapy of ADHD in older adults.

Analysis of individual items on the attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptom rating scale in children and adults: the effects of age and sex in pivotal trials of lisdexamfetamine dimesylate.

BACKGROUND: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptom presentation across age and sex has not been fully elucidated. The present post hoc analyses qualitatively explored the baseline levels of ADHD symptomatology across subgroups in two clinical trials of children and adults with ADHD to elucidate differences in participant presentation. The response to treatment was examined to determine patterns of response among items of the ADHD Rating Scale IV. METHODS: Exploratory post hoc analyses of ADHD Rating Scale IV item scores were conducted on data from two 4-week placebo-controlled trials in children (6-12 years) and in adults (18-55 years) with ADHD. Baseline and endpoint mean item scores were determined for subgroups defined by age (6-9, 10-12, 18-39, and 40-55 years) and sex. RESULTS: The baseline mean item scores were generally numerically similar for all age-by-sex subgroups. The inattention (IA) items were numerically higher than hyperactivity/impulsivity (H/I) items among older children and adults. The endpoint mean item scores were numerically lower after lisdexamfetamine dimesylate treatment for IA and H/I items in all subgroups. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that regardless of age or sex, baseline IA and H/I symptom profiles were comparable; however, IA vs H/I symptoms were more severe in older participants. In all age-by-sex subgroups, IA and H/I symptoms appeared to decrease after active treatment.

Sustained treatment effect in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: focus on long-term placebo-controlled randomized maintenance withdrawal and open-label studies.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that often persists throughout life. Approximately two-thirds of patients with a childhood diagnosis of ADHD continue to experience clinically significant symptoms into adulthood. Nevertheless, most of these individuals consider themselves "well," and a vast majority discontinue medication treatment during adolescence. As evidence concerning the adult presentation of ADHD becomes more widely accepted, increasing numbers of physicians and patients will face decisions about the benefits and risks of continuing ADHD treatment. The risks associated with psychostimulant pharmacotherapy, including abuse, dependence, and cardiovascular events, are well understood. Multiple clinical trials demonstrate the efficacy of psychostimulants in controlling ADHD symptoms in the short term. Recent investigations using randomized withdrawal designs now provide evidence of a clinically significant benefit with continued long-term ADHD pharmacotherapy and provide insight into the negative consequences associated with discontinuation. Because many patients lack insight regarding their ADHD symptoms and impairments, they may place a low value on maintaining treatment. Nevertheless, for patients who choose to discontinue treatment, physicians can remain a source of support and schedule follow-up appointments to reassess patient status. Medication discontinuation can be used as an opportunity to help patients recognize their most impairing symptoms, learn and implement behavioral strategies to cope with ADHD symptoms, and understand when additional supportive resources and the resumption of medication management may be necessary.

Clinical response and symptomatic remission in short- and long-term trials of lisdexamfetamine dimesylate in adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

BACKGROUND: Despite the overall high degree of response to pharmacotherapy, consensus is lacking on how to judge clinical response or define optimal treatment/remission when treating adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This study examined clinical response and symptomatic remission in analyses of 2 studies of lisdexamfetamine dimesylate (LDX) in adults with ADHD. METHODS: In a 4-week, double-blind, forced-dose trial, adults with ADHD were randomized to LDX 30, 50, and 70 mg/day (mg/d) or placebo. In a second, open-label, follow-up trial, adults entering from the 4-week study were titrated to an "optimal" LDX dose (30 mg/d [n=44], 50 mg/d [n=112], and 70 mg/d [n=171]) over 4 weeks, and maintained for 11 additional months. The ADHD Rating Scale IV (ADHD-RS-IV) with adult prompts and the Clinical Global Impressions-Improvement (CGI-I) scale assessed efficacy. Clinical response was defined, post hoc, as ≥30% reduction from baseline in ADHD-RS-IV and CGI-I rating of 1 or 2; symptomatic remission was defined as ADHD-RS-IV total score ≤18. Log rank analysis examined overall significance among the treatment groups in time to response or remission. RESULTS: Four hundred and fourteen participants in the 4-week study and 345 in the open-label, extension study were included in the efficacy populations. All LDX groups improved by ADHD-RS-IV and CGI-I scores in both studies. In the 4-week study (n=414), 69.3% responded and 45.5% achieved remission with LDX (all doses); 37.1% responded and 16.1% achieved remission with placebo; time (95% CI) to median clinical response (all LDX doses) was 15.0 (15.0, 17.0) days and to remission was 31.0 (28.0, 37.0) days (P<.0001 overall). In the open-label study, with LDX (all doses), 313 (95.7%) and 278 (85.0%) of 327 participants with evaluable maintenance-phase data met criteria for response and remission, respectively. Of participants who completed dose optimization, 75.2% remained responders and 65.7% remained in remission in the 12-month study. Overall, 285 (82.6%) and 227 (65.8%) of 345 participants were responders and remitters, respectively, at their final visits. CONCLUSION: In the long-term study, with open-label, dose-optimized LDX treatment, most adults with ADHD achieved clinical response and/or symptomatic remission; almost two-thirds maintained symptomatic remission over the remaining 11 months. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinical Trial Numbers: NCT00334880 and NCT01070394CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRY: clinicaltrials.gov.

Assessment of physician practices in adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

OBJECTIVE: Adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neuropsychiatric disorder, yet only 1 in 10 affected adults receives treatment. The study objective was to assess gaps in knowledge and describe current practice patterns of primary care physicians and psychiatrists in the United States in the management of adult patients with ADHD. METHOD: Primary care physicians and psychiatrists completed an Internet survey as a needs assessment of customary care related to management of adults with ADHD. Adult clinical case vignettes were followed by practice, confidence, and barrier questions. Survey data were collected from April 15, 2010, to August 22, 2010, and were deidentified and analyzed in aggregate to maintain confidentiality. χ(2) and t tests were used to compare responses of primary care physicians with those of psychiatrists. RESULTS: The survey was completed by 1,924 physicians: 1,216 primary care physicians and 708 psychiatrists. Fewer primary care physicians than psychiatrists were "extremely confident" in diagnosis (8% vs 28%, respectively, P < .001) and treatment (8% vs 27%, respectively, P < .001). Limited experience with ADHD diagnosis was more of a barrier in primary care than in psychiatry (44% vs 19%, respectively, P < .001). Mean scores on 12 evidence-based questions were lower for primary care physicians than for psychiatrists (6.1 vs 6.8 correct, respectively, P < .001). Awareness of adult ADHD prevalence was lower among primary care physicians than among psychiatrists (32% vs 47% correct, respectively, P < .001). Fewer primary care physicians than psychiatrists recognized comorbid substance use disorder (76% vs 82%, respectively, P = .002), but more primary care physicians than psychiatrists recognized eating disorders (35% vs 21%, respectively, P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: The self-assessment survey results indicate physician practices in primary care and psychiatry differ and show areas in which further education will be useful to improve care for adults with ADHD.

Lifespan persistence of ADHD: the life transition model and its application.

BACKGROUND: The understanding that attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) often persists throughout life has heightened interest of patients, families, advocates, and professionals in a longitudinal approach to management. Such an approach must recognize and address known patient- and systems-based challenges of long-term mental health treatment, shifting of clinical presentations of ADHD, and commonality of psychiatric comorbidity with ADHD. OBJECTIVE: The ADHD Life Transition Model is a step toward developing criteria to optimize recognition and clinical management of ADHD (eg, response, remission) across an individual's lifespan and across diverse medical subspecialties. To support therapeutic efficiency and adaptability, our proposed model highlights periods when external resources for managing ADHD are reduced, cognitive and behavioral stressors are increased, and individuals may be reevaluating how they perceive, accept, and adhere to ADHD treatment. Such a model aims to support the clinical community by placing in context new findings, which suggest that the prevention of adult psychopathology in individuals with pediatric ADHD may be possible. CONCLUSIONS: The ADHD Life Transition Model seeks to improve care for individuals with ADHD by (1) underscoring that ADHD persists beyond childhood in at least two-thirds of patients, (2) raising awareness of the need to approach ADHD from a chronic illness standpoint, and (3) increasing mental health professionals' diligence in symptom recognition and management of ADHD across developmental phases from childhood through adulthood.

Managing ADHD across the lifespan in the primary care setting.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a chronic neurobehavioral condition that affects most patients throughout their lives and is associated with occupational underachievement, psychiatric comorbidity, and substance abuse. Primary care physicians (PCPs) are at the forefront of helping patients with ADHD manage symptoms and overcome functional impairments. In this article, the problems of recognizing and effectively managing ADHD are explored through the presentation of 2 composite patient cases based on real patients in the authors' practices. Both cases highlight maturational changes in ADHD-related problems as patients develop through childhood, adolescence, and into adulthood. The striking differences between the cases serve to illustrate the highly varied clinical presentation and developmental trajectories of ADHD, moderated by family environment, patient characteristics, and life events. Emphasis is placed on understanding the crucial developmental turning points from early childhood through adulthood at which patients with ADHD are most likely to need increased support and specialized behavioral interventions. Diagnosis of adult ADHD is also reviewed, including an overview of potentially clinically relevant patient characteristics that should alert PCPs to the possible presence of ADHD and use of the World Health Organization's rapid 6-item adult ADHD Self-Report Scale as a screening device. The present discussion challenges PCPs to recognize the varied presentations of what ADHD "looks like," and describes the need for PCPs to establish and maintain working partnerships with families, patients, and mental health care professionals in their local communities to successfully treat ADHD across the lifespan.

Moderators and mediators of symptoms and quality of life outcomes in an open-label study of adults treated for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

OBJECTIVE: The Quality of Life, Effectiveness, Safety, and Tolerability (QU.E.S.T.) study was designed to evaluate effectiveness of long-acting amphetamines in adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in community practice settings. This article reports moderators and mediators of symptoms and quality of life outcomes. METHOD: This was an open-label study of 725 adults with DSM-IV-diagnosed ADHD, treated with mixed amphetamine salts extended release and followed for up to 8 months. Multiple regressions were used to determine if patient moderators impact response in ADHD symptoms and how ADHD symptoms and medication satisfaction mediate quality of life. The study was conducted from December 2003 to December 2004. RESULTS: Amphetamine treatment of ADHD resulted in a robust and enduring symptom response. Patient characteristics such as age, female gender, severity of illness, and treatment-naive status moderate improved symptom outcome. Symptom change and satisfaction with medication independently mediate change in mental but not physical quality of life outcomes. There is no time lag between changes in symptoms and improved quality of life. Attention is a stronger mediator of ADHD-specific quality of life outcomes than disruptive behavior. CONCLUSIONS: If symptoms and quality of life improve simultaneously, improvement in quality of life can be understood as more than just a downstream, secondary effect of symptom remission. Satisfaction with medication is a direct measure of the complex interplay of symptom change, tolerability, and patient perception of treatment that predicts self-report of quality of life benefits. Although the disruptive symptoms of ADHD are more obvious, adults self-report that attention has greater impact.

ADHD-hyperactive/impulsive subtype in adults.

This is the first study to evaluate ADHD-hyperactive/impulsive subtype in a large clinical sample of adults with ADHD. The Quality of Life, Effectiveness, Safety and Tolerability (QuEST) study included 725 adults who received clinician diagnoses of any ADHD subtype. Cross-sectional baseline data from 691 patients diagnosed with the hyperactive/impulsive (HI), inattentive (IA) and combined subtypes were used to compare the groups on the clinician administered ADHD-RS, clinical features and health-related quality of life. A consistent pattern of differences was found between the ADHD-I and combined subtypes, with the combined subtype being more likely to be diagnosed in childhood, more severe symptom severity and lower HRQL. Twenty-three patients out of the total sample of 691 patients (3%) received a clinician diagnosis of ADHD-hyperactive/impulsive subtype. Review of the ratings on the ADHD-RS-IV demonstrated, however, that this group had ratings of inattention comparable to the inattentive group. There were no significant differences found between the ADHD-HI and the other subtypes in symptom severity, functioning or quality of life. The hyperactive/impulsive subtype group identified by clinicians in this study was not significantly different from the rest of the sample. By contrast, significant differences were found between the inattentive and combined types. This suggests that in adults, hyperactivity declines and inattention remains significant, making the hyperactive/impulsive subtype as defined by childhood criteria a very rare condition and raising questions as to the validity of the HI subtype in adults.