Trollor J N
Neuropsychiatric Institute, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, NSW.
Med J Aust. 1999 Oct 18;171(8):421-5. doi: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1999.tb123723.x.
Reports published over the past decade indicate that attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a cause of significant psychological impairment in adults. The adulthood disorder occurs as a continuation of its childhood counterpart, with the full ADHD syndrome persisting into early adulthood in about a third of those with childhood ADHD. Despite advances in the understanding of the neurobiology of adult ADHD, the diagnosis is made clinically by establishing a retrospective childhood diagnosis, evaluating the current symptom profile and excluding alternative medical or psychiatric causes of symptoms. Adults with ADHD have high rates of comorbid psychiatric disorder and suffer significant relationship dysfunction, work and educational failure. There is emerging evidence for the effectiveness of specific treatments for adult ADHD, including stimulant medications and some antidepressants. Clinicians should be aware of this potentially treatable disorder in young adults presenting with psychological difficulties and a history of childhood ADHD symptoms.
过去十年发表的报告表明，注意力缺陷多动障碍（ADHD）是导致成年人出现严重心理障碍的一个原因。成人期的这种疾病是儿童期对应疾病的延续，约三分之一患有儿童期ADHD的患者会持续出现完整的ADHD综合征直至成年早期。尽管在成人ADHD神经生物学的理解方面取得了进展，但诊断仍是通过回顾性地确立儿童期诊断、评估当前症状特征并排除症状的其他医学或精神科病因来临床进行的。患有ADHD的成年人共病精神障碍的发生率很高，并且存在严重的人际关系功能障碍、工作和学业失败。有新证据表明针对成人ADHD的特定治疗方法有效，包括兴奋剂药物和一些抗抑郁药。临床医生应该意识到，在有心理困难且有儿童期ADHD症状病史的年轻人中存在这种可能可治疗的疾病。
