ORIGINAL ARTICLES   

Minerva Psichiatrica 2013 June;54(2):165-72

Copyright © 2013 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: Italian

Adhd in adulthood. Prevalence, risk factors and possible identification in a sample from regione Lombardia

Mansi G. L. ^{1, 2}, Di Giacomo E. ^{3, 4}, Di Noto B. ¹, Fumagalli A. ², Folegatti A. ⁵, Molteni M. ², Clerici M. ^{3, 4}

¹ Istituti Clinici Zucchi Unità Operativa di Psichiatria Carate B, Monza-Brianza, Italia; ² IRCCS E. Medea Unità Operativa Neuroriabilitazione 2 Bosisio Parini, Lecco, Italia; ³ Dipartimento di Chirurgia e Medicina Interdisciplinare Università Milano Bicocca, Milano, Italia; ⁴ Dipartimento di Salute Mentale Azienda Ospedale S. Gerardo Monza, Monza-Brianza, Italia; ⁵ Centro Interdipartimentale Mente/Cervello Università di Trento, Trento, Italia

Aim: Aim of the present study was to evaluate risk factors and prevalence of this disorder in populace at risk and to attest current screening tests sensitivity.
Methods: We administered Brown ADD Scales to two samples at risk for attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): one of acute psychiatric inpatients (N.=56) and the other of affected children’ parents (N.=28). We got through to people positive to screening in order to confirm the diagnosis.
Results: Data obtained seem to suggest a low reliability of Brown ADD Scales self-scoring in populace at risk.
Conclusion: The results obtained indicate the call for developing more sensitive diagnostic instruments targeted on “particular” populaces. It is confirmed the importance of self history and family/close friends records. Generally speaking, it is also confirmed adult ADHD diagnosis as problematic and the need of further and wider researchers.