Research on the Impacts Associated With Having ADHD

According to a review published in Frontiers in Psychiatry, ADHD is not just a condition of childhood, but it also carries lasting implications that impact the following areas: mental health, physical health, relationships, education, and job outcomes.

For instance, ADHD is linked to a higher prevalence of mood disorders (like bipolar disorder) and depression. There is also strong evidence that links ADHD to various addictions, such as children being at twice the risk of developing problems with nicotine, alcohol, or other substances compared to those without ADHD. In adults, ADHD is linked to lower self-esteem.

Knowing about these risks can help reduce stigma and encourage parents, teachers, and healthcare systems to offer better support and preventive measures. This is particularly important since about 7 million children have been diagnosed with ADHD.

Understanding the Research

This umbrella review included various types of published reviews (narrative, systematic, scoping) that explored the impacts and risks associated with ADHD. This approach helped to capture a wide range of relevant findings.

The search was done across five databases, which produced 16,675 records. Out of these records, 125 reviews were deemed relevant and met the study's inclusion criteria.

These were the three main areas identified where ADHD poses risks:

• Mental health - this included risks such as addiction, self-harm, suicide, self-esteem, and disorders of mood and personality.
• Physical health - this included risks such as sleep disturbances (including problematic behaviors around bedtime and early morning), poor oral health, being overweight or obese, and diseases (such as an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, migraines, and neurodegenerative diseases).
• Social and lifestyle - this included risks such as an earlier onset of criminal behavior and the likelihood of committing it again in the future, incarceration, intimate partner or domestic violence, poor education outcomes, and difficulty maintaining job stability and attaining high-status jobs.

Practical Tips for Parents, Caregivers, and Schools

Based on the findings of the study, here are some practical strategies that may help minimize the challenges that come with ADHD:

1. Gain knowledge. For parents, it’s really important to gain a thorough understanding of their child’s condition — how their symptoms affect them, the family as a whole, and their peers. Knowledge will enable you to meet the demands of raising a child with ADHD.
2. Help them benefit from a balanced treatment plan. Treatment doesn’t only include medications to manage ADHD symptoms, but it also incorporates therapy. In therapy, they learn coping strategies, how to get along with others, and other skills that will help them lead happier, more productive lives.
3. Support students’ success in school. Schools can provide classroom accommodations to improve a child’s learning. These accommodations include preferential seating, quiet spaces to lessen distractions, and extended time for assignments if the child shows effort.

The study concludes by stressing the importance of incorporating this comprehensive understanding of ADHD into discussions. “ADHD affects many areas of life and effective treatment and support must take all of these into account to be truly beneficial.”

Interested in ADHD resources? Explore our ADHD worksheets that can make a difference in helping manage a child’s symptoms and increase their success.