Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Grown Up: An 18-Year Follow-Up after Multimodal Treatment

Abstract

Objective: ADHD treatment has positive effects on behavioral symptoms and psychosocial functioning, but studies that follow children treated for ADHD into adulthood are rare.

Method: This follow-up study assessed symptom severity and functional outcomes of adults (n = 70) who had received individualized ADHD treatment in the Cologne Adaptive Multimodal Treatment (CAMT) Study at ages 6 to 10 years.

Results: Despite symptomatic improvement, participants reported poorer educational and occupational outcomes than expected (e.g., currently unemployed: 17%). They had also been in contact with the justice system more often than expected (e.g., lifetime convictions: 33%) and were impaired on health-related outcomes (e.g., substance use problems: 15%). Several social outcomes were favorable (e.g., long-term relationship/married: 63%).

Conclusion: Compared to the general population or norm samples, CAMT participants had a higher relative risk (RR) of functional impairments, demonstrating the need for continued support for a substantial proportion of the young adults.

Keywords: ADHD; follow-up; functional outcomes; persistence; treatment.