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. 2021 Mar;25(5):724-735.
doi: 10.1177/1087054719837743. Epub 2019 Apr 1.

A Qualitative Analysis of Contextual Factors Relevant to Suspected Late-Onset ADHD

John T Mitchell  1 , Margaret H Sibley  2 , Stephen P Hinshaw  3   4 , Traci M Kennedy  5 , Andrea Chronis-Tuscano  6 , L Eugene Arnold  7 , James M Swanson  8 , Lily T Hechtman  9 , Brooke S G Molina  5 , Arthur Caye  10 , Leanne Tamm  11 , Elizabeth B Owens  3 , Arunima Roy  12 , Thomas S Weisner  13 , Desiree W Murray  14 , Peter S Jensen  15
Affiliations

A Qualitative Analysis of Contextual Factors Relevant to Suspected Late-Onset ADHD

John T Mitchell et al. J Atten Disord. 2021 Mar.

Erratum in

Abstract

Objective: Recent studies suggest attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may emerge post-childhood. We integrate qualitative methods to systematically characterize contextual factors that may (a) delay identification of ADHD in childhood and (b) inform why ADHD symptoms emerge post-childhood. Method: Suspected late-onset ADHD cases from the local normative comparison group of the Multimodal Treatment Study of ADHD completed a qualitative interview (14 young adults and 7 caregivers). Interviews were qualitatively analyzed. Results: We identified five themes. Three themes may attenuate or delay identification of childhood ADHD: external factors (e.g., supportive adults), internal factors (e.g., strong intellectual functioning), and other factors (e.g., dismissive attitudes toward ADHD). Two themes may accompany an increase in ADHD symptoms post-childhood: external factors (e.g., increased external demands) and internal factors (e.g., perceived stress). Conclusion: Clinicians should probe these factors in suspected late-onset cases to address (a) whether, how, and to what extent ADHD was attenuated in childhood and (b) why symptoms emerge post-childhood.

Keywords: ADHD; late-onset; qualitative.

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References

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