[Military service with adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: adaptability of affected soldiers on active service in the German Armed Forces]

Abstract

Background: Due to various stressors, soldiers need a high level of social functioning. In those with ADHS, psychological problems and thus a disability for duty can result.

Material and methods: Thirty-six German Armed Forces members with ADHS who presented themselves as outpatients or inpatients in the Army Hospitals of Hamburg and Berlin between 2005 and 2007 were evaluated retrospectively and compared with a control group. The adaptability during duty was defined based on five criteria and statistical correlations with psychological status and psychosocial risk factors of the soldiers were evaluated.

Results: Of the soldiers with ADHS, 55.6% were able to continue their duty. Cumulative adaptability problems in the Army were significantly correlated with aggressive and dissocial symptoms and with partnership problems. The control group showed no correlations.

Conclusions: The results show that adult ADHS does not automatically prevent a soldier from military duty and thus indicate that a differentiated judgement should be preferred.