Adult ADHD and substances

In recent literature there has been an increasing interest in discussing the diagnosis, evolution, therapeutic approach in ADHD patients, because of the innovation regarding this pathology. ADHD symptoms are rather chronic over the life of the individual, the disorder persisting in the adult life. Frequently the symptoms are complicated by the development of comorbidities, some of them being the substance-use disorders. Several topics have been discussed. Some of them explain the way these disorders appear, how they are temporally connected. Other mechanisms involved refer to the necessity of autocorrecting ADHD symptoms by the use of different substances (automedication). Another important issue is the possible influence of the stimulant medication in generating addictive problems, an important element that has been debated.