Adult ADHD: What It Is and How to Assess and Treat It

4.4% of the adult population, and is also prevalent in 10% of those with depressive or anxiety disorders and in 20% of those with chronic low mood. Among patients referred for treatment-resistant depression, one in three may have undiagnosed ADHD. Overall, ADHD is poorly understood, significantly undertreated, and a common reason for poor response to treatment in mood and anxiety disorders. ADHD is not a consequence of poor parenting, indulged laziness, or excessive consumption of sugar or food dyes. It is a neurodevelopmental disorder, a “hardwiring” problem, marked by delayed maturation of the Prefrontal Cortex and allied subcortical regions that constitute the “adult” brain. When we are young, we have limited self-control: we take what we want, say what we think, get excited, cry, and live in the moment. As our brains mature, we learn to control our behaviours, manage our emotional reactions, prioritize tasks, plan, and follow through on those plans. In individuals with ADHD, this maturation is delayed and too often remains incomplete.