Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adults: evidence base, uncertainties and controversies.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Narrative review synthesizing evidence, controversies, and expert perspectives without systematic review methods.
PubMed 40948064 · doi:10.1002/wps.21374
What was done
This narrative review summarizes current empirical evidence, lived experience perspectives, uncertainties, and controversies regarding the definition, epidemiology, diagnostic validity, etiology, neurobiology, and management of adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
What was found
The estimated worldwide prevalence of adult ADHD is around 2.5%, and up to 70% of individuals with childhood-onset ADHD continue to experience impairing symptoms as adults. The paper identifies eight key areas of ongoing controversy: late-onset ADHD, emotional dysregulation as a core symptom, defining functional impairment, comorbid psychiatric and somatic conditions, executive dysfunction relevance, objective diagnostic measures, long-term treatment effects, and the role of non-pharmacological interventions.
Why it matters
It establishes the validity of adult ADHD while systematically framing the clinical ambiguities and research gaps that currently limit clinical consensus and care.
Limits
The abstract describes a broad narrative overview rather than a systematic review or meta-analysis. No specific search protocols, study selection criteria, risk of bias assessments, or quantitative data beyond general prevalence estimates are reported.
Cited by
- supports A substantial proportion of children diagnosed with ADHD no longer meet diagnostic criteria for the disorder in adulthood.