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Few studies have examined the course of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adults or its longitudinal trajectory. Two recent studies are informative.
Brazilian investigators examined changes in inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity in 344 adults with well-characterized ADHD (mean baseline age, 34; nearly 50% male, predominantly middle class) for a mean follow-up of 7 years (retention, 66%). Over half of enrollees had the combined ADHD subtype (56%; inattentive subtype, 38%; hyperactive/impulsive subtype, 6%). Analytic models accounted for prior and intercurrent treatment with methylphenidate and psychiatric comorbidities. Although symptoms declined 21% in the overall group, inattention symptoms increased in 13%, hyperac…