Genetic and Environmental Epidemiology of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in Young Australian Adults

Abstract

The inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive behaviours that comprise attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have been documented by physicians over the last two centuries. It is well established that ADHD is associated with mild to severe disadvantage across multiple domains such as peer and family relations, academic achievement, emotional and physical health, driving behaviours and employment opportunities, alcohol abuse and dependence, increased divorce and lost work productivity. There are often comorbid conduct problems that compromise development and increase symptom related disadvantage, around 50% of children affected by ADHD continue to be disadvantaged by this syndrome as adults. However less work has been done to characterise ADHD in adults' and few studies have examined the occurrence of this syndrome in Australian adults. A series of four studies were conducted.