How persistent is ADHD? A controlled 10-year follow-up study of boys with ADHD
Open accessAbstract
The main aim of this study was to examine the age-dependent persistence of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in boys transitioning from adolescence into early adulthood attending to different definitions of persistence. We conducted a 10-year follow-up study (mean follow-up time=11 years) of 110 boys with ADHD and 105 non-ADHD controls. Both groups were 6-17 years of age at ascertainment. ADHD was considered persistent at follow-up if subjects met full or subthreshold (more than half of the symptoms required for a full diagnosis) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition, (DSM-IV) diagnostic criteria, failed to attain functional remission (Global Assessment of Functioning, GAF score < or =60) or were receiving treatment for ADHD. While 65% of children with ADHD no longer met full DSM-IV criteria for ADHD at the 10-year follow-up, 78% of subjects met at least one of our definitions of persistence. Persistence as described above was associated with more psychiatric co-morbidity, more familiality with mood disorders and higher levels of educational and interpersonal impairments than controls. This 10-year longitudinal follow-up study shows that the majority of ADHD boys experience persistent symptoms and functional impairments into early adulthood. Persistence of ADHD is associated with greater psychiatric comorbidity, familiality and functional impairments.
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Differential genetic associations with childhood and adult ADHD suggest that ADHD is a developmentally complicated phenotype characterized by both continuity and alteration of genetic influences across the lifespan.
“The differential genetic associations with childhood and adult ADHD suggest that ADHD is a developmentally complicated phenotype characterized by both continuity and alteration of the genetic influences across the life span (Faraone et al., 2006; Biederman et al., 2010; Chang et al., 2013).”
From A Review of Heterogeneity in Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) (2019) · cites this paper as Biederman et al., 2010
The Results (§3.4; page unavailable) report differences in family history between persistent and remittent ADHD, and the Discussion (§4; page unavailable) describes changing symptom patterns with age. These findings support a developmental distinction, but the paper does not establish differential genetic associations between childhood and adult ADHD or continuity and alteration of genetic influences across the lifespan. (LLM, conf=0.78)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThis study is consistent with previous findings that, at a single timepoint, most individuals who no longer meet ADHD DSM criteria still experience elevated symptoms or impairments or are actively treated with medication.
“This study is consistent with previous findings that, at a single timepoint, most individuals who no longer meet ADHD DSM criteria still experience elevated symptoms or impairments or are actively treated with medication (see Table 2).”
From Variable Patterns of Remission From ADHD in the Multimodal Treatment Study of ADHD (2022) · cites this paper as [7]
In Biederman and colleagues' studies, the vast majority (77-78%) had clinically elevated ADHD symptoms, impairment, and/or continuation of ADHD treatments.
“On the other hand, the vast majority (77–78%) had clinically elevated ADHD symptoms, impairment, and/or continuation of ADHD treatments.”
From Variable Patterns of Remission From ADHD in the Multimodal Treatment Study of ADHD (2022) · cites this paper as [7]
Biederman and colleagues detected a subgroup of children with ADHD who appeared fully remitted in young adulthood (~22-23%).
“Biederman and colleagues detected a subgroup of children with ADHD who appeared fully remitted in young adulthood (~22–23%), signifying possible recovery from ADHD.”
From Variable Patterns of Remission From ADHD in the Multimodal Treatment Study of ADHD (2022) · cites this paper as [7]
Young adult assessments corresponding temporally with Biederman and colleagues' estimates (12- and 14-year assessments) demonstrated comparable full remission rates (18% vs 22-23%).
“Young adult assessments corresponding temporally with Biederman and colleagues’ estimates (i.e., 12- and 14-year assessments) demonstrated comparable full remission rates (18% vs 22–23%).”
From Variable Patterns of Remission From ADHD in the Multimodal Treatment Study of ADHD (2022) · cites this paper as [7]
Biederman and colleagues demonstrated that 65-67% of young adults (mean age 22) with childhood ADHD no longer met full DSM criteria.
“Biederman and colleagues7–8 demonstrated that 65–67% young adults (mean age 22) with childhood ADHD no longer met full DSM criteria.”
From Variable Patterns of Remission From ADHD in the Multimodal Treatment Study of ADHD (2022) · cites this paper as [7]
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References 34 · Cited by 496
Research works printed but not linked: 2
- American Psychiatric Association Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: Fourth Edition Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR) American Psychiatric Association 2000
- Faraone SV Biederman J Kiely K Beitchman J Cognitive functioning, learning disability, and school failure in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: A family study perspective Language, Learning and Behavior Disorders 1 Cambridge University Press 1996
- Authors
- Biederman, J., Petty, C. R., Evans, M., Small, J., & Faraone, S. V.
- Affiliations
- Harvard University (US)
- SUNY Upstate Medical University (US)
- Venue
- Psychiatry Research
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2010-05
- Volume
- 177
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 299-304
- ISSN
- 0165-1781 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC2881837
- OpenAlex
- W1995827789
- Cited by
- 496
- References
- 34
- Citations by year
- 2026: 17 · 2025: 24 · 2024: 24 · 2023: 26 · 2022: 33 · 2021: 36 · 2020: 35 · 2019: 30 · 2018: 22 · 2017: 31 · 2016: 50 · 2015: 40 · 2014: 34 · 2013: 38 · 2012: 29
- FWCI
- 20.12
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- Psychiatry Research (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) (5R01HD036317-10)
- Lilly Foundation Fund
- Pediatric Psychopharmacology Philanthropic Fund
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
- Keywords
- attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, ADHD persistence, boys, early adulthood, functional disability, psychiatric comorbidity, mood disorders, familiality, DSM-IV diagnostic criteria, longitudinal follow-up
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Age Factors, Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity, Child, Educational Status, Humans, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Personality Disorders, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Surveys and Questionnaires, Socioeconomic Factors, Comorbidity, Mood Disorders, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
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