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. 2023 Feb;27(3):270-272.
doi: 10.1177/10870547221135800. Epub 2022 Nov 10.

Under-Documented or Under-Recognized? Comorbid ADHD in Emergency Department Patients With Addictive Disorders

Elijah W Hale  1 , Tyler D Coyle  1
Affiliations

Under-Documented or Under-Recognized? Comorbid ADHD in Emergency Department Patients With Addictive Disorders

Elijah W Hale et al. J Atten Disord. 2023 Feb.

Abstract

Objectives: We sought to examine rates of comorbid ADHD and SUD/AUD using a nationally representative dataset, and to compare this data with established estimates. We hoped to increase available research on ADHD within patients with SUD/AUD.

Methods: This study is a retrospective secondary analysis of cross-sectional data collected in the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS).

Results: The data showed less than 1% of comorbid ADHD in either AUD or SUD, and prevalence of 0.6% in patients with both. Our estimated prevalence of ADHD among SUD/AUD patients is more than 30-fold smaller than the 25% consensus.

Conclusion: The stark difference between our data and prior research indicates a need for further examination of the prevalence of ADHD within acute care. This finding of a large reservoir of ADHD that is unrecognized or undocumented indicates a substantive need for ADHD-focused education with opportunity for improvement in patient treatment.

Keywords: ADHD; ADHD-associated problems; comorbidity.

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