Table 2.
Clinical Characteristics and Disorder History (N = 233).
| Characteristic | |
|---|---|
| Age at perceived symptom onset, years, n (%) | |
| 0-7 | 148 (63.5) |
| 8-12 | 56 (24.0) |
| 13-17a | 21 (9.0) |
| 18 and overa | 8 (3.4) |
| Age at first ADHD diagnosis, years, mean (SD) | 22.98 (13.1) |
| Diagnosis by medical professional service type, n (%) | |
| Pediatric service | 14 (6.0) |
| Child psychiatrist service | 59 (25.3) |
| Adult psychiatrist service | 101 (43.3) |
| Primary care clinic | 25 (10.7) |
| Psychology service | 17 (7.3) |
| Other | 17 (7.3) |
| Age at second ADHD diagnosis, years, mean (SD) (n = 53)b | 27.17 (9.4) |
| Currently receiving medication for ADHD, n (%) | |
| No | 113 (48.5) |
| Yes | 120 (51.5) |
| Currently receiving nonpharmacological ADHD treatment (n = 44), n (%)c | |
| Behavioral therapy (including CBT [n = 19] and neurofeedback [n = 1]) | 20 (8.6) |
| Individual counseling (n = 18) or coaching (n = 7) | 25 (10.7) |
| Exercise program | 4 (1.7) |
| Meditation/mindfulness | 10 (4.3) |
| Dietary/nutritional changes | 6 (2.6) |
| Other | 11 (4.7) |
| Number of chronic medical comorbidities, n (%) | |
| 0 | 139 (59.7) |
| 1 | 79 (33.9) |
| 2 | 12 (5.2) |
| 3 | 3 (1.3) |
| Chronic medical comorbidities, n (%)c | |
| Asthma | 48 (20.6) |
| Angina | 3 (1.3) |
| Chronic heart disease | 1 (0.4) |
| Chronic renal disease | 0 |
| COPD | 0 |
| Cancer | 0 |
| Diabetes | 4 (1.7) |
| Rheumatoid arthritis | 7 (3.0) |
| Other | 49 (21.0) |
| No other health problems | 134 (57.5) |
| Prefer not to answer | 5 (2.1) |
Note. Percentages may not total 100% owing to rounding. CBT = cognitive behavioral therapy; COPD = chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
a
All participants stated during screening that symptoms of adult ADHD had started before secondary school but some subsequently reported an older age in response to the survey question: “At what age do you think your ADHD symptoms first started?”
b
Participants who responded positively to the survey question: “Have you had another more recent diagnosis of ADHD since your first diagnosis?”
c
Not mutually exclusive.