Skip to main content
. 2012 May-Jun;9(5-6):10–21.

TABLE 2.

Studies of the impact of ADHD on QoL

REFERENCE AIM MEASURE STUDY N MAIN OUTCOMES/CONCLUSIONS
Chao et al (2008)16 Examined the relationship between ADHD, depression/anxiety, and quality of life WHOQoL-BREF, BDI, BAI Draftees in Taiwanese army 929 adult subjects (328 met criteria for ADHD)

  • 35.3% identified as having adult ADHD. ADHD adults had more severe depression, anxiety, and daytime sleepiness and had poorer QOL than controls (all p<0.05).

  • ADHD should be included in the differential diagnosis for decreased QoL.
Gudjonsson et al (2009)17 Ascertain whether ADHD symptoms are negatively related to subjective well-being. SWLS University students in Iceland 369

  • ADHD negatively correlated with the ADHD symptom scale. ADHD also correlated negatively with the anxiety scale scores.

  • ADHD is associated with poor QoL.
Grenwald-Mayes (2002)38 Examine the relationship between current QOL, family of origin dynamics, and ADHD in college students Schalock and Keith QOL questionnaire Undergrad college students, both ADHD and non-ADHD 37 ADHD and 59 non-ADHD subjects

  • ADHD students had lower QOL compared to controls.

  • Family of origin dynamics effected ADHD subjects more significantly than their non-ADHD counterparts.
Sentissi et al (2008)5 Study the impact of ADHD and substance abuse on QOL within a population of patients diagnosed with bipolar disorder SF-36 (for well-being), SAS-SR (for social adaptation), and Brief Psychiatric Rating scale. BPD-I and BPD-II within the outpatient population 73

  • 30% met ADHD criteria and 22% had substance abuse.

  • Comorbidity of ADHD with BPD reduced the level of social functioning, adaptation, and quality of life.

  • Substance abuse lacked an apparent effect.
Rimmerman et al (2007)19 Study the QOL of ADHD subjects with borderline IQ Schalock and Keith QOL questionnaire Young Israeli adults with ADHD 127

  • Two main predictors of overall QOL are ADHD symptomatology and monthly income. For young adults, inclusive education and high monthly income were main predictors while for older adults, low level of medical disability and low ADHD symptom scores were predictive.
Rimmerman et al (2005)18 Study the QOL of men and women with ADHD and borderline IQ Schalock and Keith QOL questionnaire ADHD adults 127

  • In a regular education environment, main QOL predictors for men are monthly income, while for women, its ADHD symptom level. For those in special education, there are no predictors for women while for men, QOL is affected by the quality of contact with their mothers.

  • Actigraphic sleep estimates showed that ADHD subjects took longer to fall asleep, suffered lower sleep efficiency, displayed shorter within-night periods of uninterrupted sleep, and exhibited continuously elevated daytime activity levels. MPH reduced total sleep time but improved sleep quality by consolidating sleep.
Boonstra et al (2007)30 To investigate parameters of sleep, activity, and circadian rhythm and the effects of MPH on these variables in adults with ADHD Actigraphy Placebo-controlled trial; adults with ADHD compared to those without ADHD 39 normal controls and 33 adults with ADHD for baseline comparisons; 31 adults with ADHD in medication trial

  • Sleep problems are inherent in adults with ADHD and treatment with MPH improves the quality of sleep.
Kooij et al (2001)31 Monitor the effect of stimulants on nocturnal motor activity and sleep quality in ADHD adults Actigraphy Open-label trial; adults with ADHD and normal adults 8 ADHD diagnosed adults and 8 matched normal controls ADHD patients had poorer sleep quality and showed significantly higher nocturnal motor activity at baseline compared with controls. Three weeks of treatment with MPH improved sleep quality and reduced activity level and movements.
Adler et al (2009)32 To evaluate the impact of LDX on sleep quality in adults with ADHD Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) Placebo-controlled trial; adults with ADHD 420 ADHD adults; 62 received placebo, 119 received LDX 30mg, 117 received LDX 50mg, 122 received LDX 70mg (all dosed daily) PSQI demonstrated poor sleep quality within this entire ADHD sample. For most subjects, LDX was not associated with overall worsening of sleep quality. LDX significantly improved daytime functioning in adults with ADHD.

ADHD: attention deficity hyperactivity disorder; QOL: quality of life; WHOQoL-BREF: World Health Organization Quality of Life Brief Version; BDI: Beck Depression Inventory; BAI: Beck Anxiety Inventory; SWLF: Satisfaction with Life Scale; SF-36: 36-Item Short Form Health Survey; SAS-SR: Social Adjustment Scale Self Report; BPD: bipolar disorder; LDX: lisdexamfetamine dimesylate; MPH: methylphenidate