Lisa L. Weyandt

Self-Report of ADHD Symptoms in University Students Cross-Gender and Cross-National Prevalence

Little research has examined the structure and prevalence of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms in university students, including whether symptom structure conforms to the bidimensional (i.e., inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity) conceptualization of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSMV-IV; American Psychiatric Association, 1994) and whether self-reported symptoms vary across gender and country. A sample of 1,209 university students from three countries (Italy, New Zealand, and the United States) completed a 24-item self-report measure (the Young Adult Rating Scale) tapping ADHD symptomatology. Factor analyses within the U.S. and New Zealand samples supported a bidimensional symptom structure, whereas weaker support for this conceptualization was provided by the Italian sample. Participants did not vary significantly by gender in symptom report; however, Italian students reported significantly more inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity symptoms than students from the United States, and students from New Zealand reported more inattention symptoms than students from the United States. The prevalence of self-reported ADHD symptoms beyond DSM-IV thresholds for diagnosis ranged from 0% (Italian women) to 8.1% (New Zealand men). The implications of these results for the use of DSM-IV criteria in identifying university students with ADHD are discussed.

College students with ADHD: current status and future directions.

Approximately 2 to 8% of the college population reports clinically significant levels of ADHD symptomatology and at least 25% of college students with disabilities are diagnosed with ADHD. A comprehensive review of the literature was conducted with findings consistently indicating academic deficits associated with ADHD in college students. It is less clear whether this disorder significantly impacts social, psychological, and neuropsychological functioning. Although several self- and parent-report measures have been developed for this population, very few studies of assessment methods have been conducted. Similarly, no controlled studies of psychopharmacological, psychosocial, or educational interventions have been completed in samples of college students with ADHD. Non-prescribed use (i.e., diversion) of stimulant medication is a growing problem with approximately 7% of college students reporting this behavior. Studies, to date, are limited by lack of controlled investigations, use of small samples, and lack of confirmation of diagnostic status. Comprehensive and methodologically sound investigations are needed, especially regarding treatment, to promote the success of students with ADHD in higher education settings. (J. of Att. Dis. 2008; 13(3) 234-250)

ADHD in College Students

Objective: According to the American Psychiatric Association, 3% to 7% of the school-age population has ADHD and many children continue to display significant symptoms throughout adolescences and adulthood. Relative to the childhood literature, less is known about ADHD in adults, especially college students with ADHD. The principle purpose of this review articles is to summarize the major research findings concerning ADHD in the college student population with regard to prevalence of symptoms, neuropsychological and psychological functioning. Overall, findings suggest that college students with ADHD are at greater risk for academic and psychological difficulties, and they perform similar to non-ADHD controls on many neuropsychological tasks. These findings are preliminary, however, and are tempered by the small number of studies that have been conducted as well as the methodological limitations of these studies. Conclusion: Future research using larger sample sizes, rigorous assessment criteria, and a longitudinal design is needed to better understand the psychological, academic, and neuropsychological functioning of college students with ADHD. Studies are also needed to elucidate the effects of pharmacological and nonpharmacological effects of treatment on the functioning of college students with this disorder.

Executive functions in school-aged children: Potential efficacy of tasks in discriminating clinical groups.

The performance of three groups of children on a battery of executive function tasks was investigated. A double dissociation paradigm was used, including six executive function tasks (Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, Matching Familiar Figures Test, visual search, verbal fluency, Tower of Hanoi, and mazes) and two vocabulary tasks (Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test‐Revised and the Boston Naming Test). Executive function was defined as goal‐directed behavior including strategic planning, impulse control, organized search, and flexibility of thought and action. One hundred and fifteen children, aged 6.0 to 12.11 years, participated in the study (36 children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, 34 children with developmental language disorder, and 45 nondisabled children). Four main results were found: (a) groups differed on three of the executive function tasks, (b) groups differed on both of the nonexecutive function tasks, (c) the relationship between age and performance was linear, and (d) discriminan...

Nonmedical prescription stimulant use among a sample of college students: relationship with psychological variables.

Objective: To further investigate use and potential misuse of prescription stimulants (e.g., Ritalin, Adderall, Concerta) among a sample of college students and to explore the relationship between psychological variables and nonmedical stimulant use. Method: The sample consisted of 390 college students (71.6% female, 28.4% male). Participants were asked to complete five questionnaires concerning demographic information, prescription stimulant use, internal restlessness, sensation seeking, and psychological distress. Results: The study findings revealed that, regarding nonprescribed stimulants, 7.5% reported use within the past 30 days; 60% reported knowing students who misused stimulants; and 50% agreed or strongly agreed that prescription stimulants were “easy to get on this campus.” Findings further revealed a relationship between stimulant use and degree of psychological distress and internal restlessness. Conclusions: Continued research regarding psychological variables, specific group membership (e.g., fraternity, sorority, athletics), and stimulant acquisition is suggested. Effective prevention and education efforts are needed to help address the nonmedical use of prescription stimulants on college campuses. (J. of Att. Dis. 2009; 13(3) 284-296)

Reported prevalence of attentional difficulties in a general sample of college students

The present study investigated the self-reported prevalence of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)symptoms in 770 college students using the Adult Rating Scale and the Wender Utah Rating Scale. Psychometric properties of these scales were explored. The study also investigated the performance of students with ADHD symptoms, relative to students without ADHD symptoms, on a battery of neuropsychological tasks. Results revealed that 7 and 8% of the students reported significant symptoms (i.e., 1.5 SD above the mean) on the Adult Rating Scale and the Wender Utah Rating scale, respectively, and 2.5% reported significant symptoms on both the Adult Rating Scale and the Wender Utah Rating Scale. Using more stringent criteria (two standard deviations), fewer (i.e, 4, 3.8%, and 0.5%) subjects reported significant symptoms associated with ADHD. Between-group differences were found on one of the neuropsychological tasks. The construct validity of the rating scales was supported. Limitations and implications for future research are advanced.

School-based Intervention for Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Effects on academic, social, and behavioural functioning.

Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) exhibit significant academic, social, and behavioural difficulties in school settings. This article reviews empirical findings regarding the effects of classroom interventions for students with ADHD. Three major types of interventions are reviewed including behavioural (e.g., token reinforcement, response cost), academic (e.g., peer tutoring), and social (e.g., social skills training). Relatively strong evidence supports the use of behavioural interventions in reducing disruptive, off‐task behaviours in children with ADHD. Evidence for academic and social interventions with this population is weaker, but recent findings indicate that these are potentially effective treatments. Implications of this review for clinical practice and future research are discussed.

ADHD in college students: Developmental findings.

According to the American Psychiatric Association [DSM-IV-TR, 2000], Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) affects approximately 3-7% of the school aged population and 2-4% of the adult population. Recently, college students with ADHD have begun to receive more attention, largely due to the increase in numbers of high school students with ADHD pursuing higher education, as well as reports of prescription stimulant misuse on college campuses. The purpose of the present article is to summarize major research findings concerning developmental issues facing college students with ADHD. Overall, findings suggest that relative to the general college population, college students with ADHD are at greater risk for academic and psychological difficulties, and misuse of prescription stimulants is indeed a problem on many campuses. Primary treatment strategies include psychostimulant medication, coaching, and educational accommodations; however, very little controlled treatment outcome research has been conducted with this population. These findings are preliminary and are tempered by methodological limitations as well as the small number of studies that have been conducted. Future research using larger sample sizes, rigorous assessment criteria, and employing longitudinal designs is needed to better understand the developmental issues facing college students with ADHD.

Neuropsychological performance of a sample of adults with ADHD, developmental reading disorder, and controls

In this study, we investigated the performance of adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), relative to adults with Developmental Reading Disorder (DRD), and controls on a battery of executive function tasks (Wisconsin Card Sorting Test [WCST], Test of Variables of Attention, Tower of Hanoi, and Ravens Progressive Matrices) and several self‐report ADHD rating scales (Wender Utah Rating Scale, Patient Behavior Checklist, and the Adult Rating Scale). Sixty‐four participants took part in the study (21 with ADHD, 19 with DRD, and 24 controls). Kruskall‐Wallis one‐way analysis of variance results revealed a significant difference between groups, with the DRD group committing more WCST errors (total and perseveration) than the remaining groups. Group differences were also found on the ADHD ratings scales, with the ADHD group reporting higher ratings. Discriminant Function Analyses (using the rating scales and the neuropsychological tasks) correctly classified 67% and 44% of the cases, respect...

The Internal Restlessness Scale Performance of College Students With and Without ADHD

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) was previously believed to be a disorder of childhood, with symptoms attenuating at the onset of puberty. Follow-up studies, however, suggest that the majority of children with ADHD continue to manifest symptoms into adulthood. Although the inattention components associated with ADHD persist into adulthood, the nature of the hyperactivity component is less well understood. For example, according to criteria established by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition, hyperactivity in adolescents and adults may be limited to subjective feelings of restlessness. Recent studies with adults with ADHD have also reported that mental restlessness is commonly reported by individuals with the disorder. To better understand this characteristic of ADHD, the Internal Restlessness Scale (IRS) was developed. The results of the IRS suggest that (a) college students with ADHD report significantly higher ratings of internal restlessness than college students without ADHD, and (b) the IRS appears to have adequate test—retest reliability and a four-factor structure. Implications and suggestions for future research are discussed.