"Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) affects 2.8% of adults and has significant consequences for their health, work life and personal relationships,” according to Gonzalo Arrondo, a researcher for the Mind-Brain Group at the Institute for Culture and Society (ICS) of the University of Navarra. He presented this information during the “Adults with ADHD: An unknown reality” conference, co-organized with Raquel Artuch, a professor and researcher at UNED Pamplona.

According to Arrondo, although 4% of children have ADHD, "it is not just an issue that affects children and school performance; it does not disappear just because they reach adulthood." Thus, he emphasized the importance of talking about ADHD in adults since there are countries where diagnosis rates areas little as 1%.

Low rates of diagnosis can pose serious problems, according to the researcher: "If an adult cannot put a name to her difficulties, she also cannot take steps to minimize the negative consequences." According to studies, some of the problems associated with the disorder include substance abuse, depression, anxiety and eating disorders (bulimia, anorexia, obesity...) "If you have ADHD and it inhibits you from achieving what you want and meeting others’ expectations, it can generate anxiety or depression," he explained.

Restlessness, impulsivity and risky behavior

Psychiatrist Rafael Benito Moraga, who also participated in the conference, stressed that, for adults, ADHD "involves deficient brain function performance that inhibits appropriate adaptation in most of life’s areas.”

On the one hand, he stated that difficulties in regulating attention can lead to carelessness and forgetfulness in one’s personal and work life, which can impinge upon a certain part of one’s environment. Even "distracted driving sometimes has serious consequences," he added. On the other hand, he added that, "the restlessness and impulsivity associated with the disorder favor the appearance of risky behaviors," in addition to problems derived from the failure to regulate one's actions, words or emotions. "Adults with ADHD are restless, easily distracted, often forget commitments and struggle to maintain order and attention, and delay tasks that require concentration,"the psychiatrist detailed.

However, presenting these symptoms does not necessarily mean one definitely has the disorder. Both Arrondo and Benito agreed that said symptoms only amount to ADHD if they are "persistent" and "negatively impact daily life." If this is the case, they advise consulting a physician.

Additional speakers included: Egiarte Goikoetxea, director of the Felix Urabayen Institute for Adults, Fernando Oscoz, counselor at the Cuatrovientos Integrated Center for Professional Training, Iñaki Lorea, clinical psychologist at the Argibide Foundation and professor at the Public University of Navarra, Azucena Díez, psychiatrist at the Clínica Universidad de Navarra, and Juan Cruz Ripoll, counselor at the Santa María la Real School. Likewise, adults with ADHD and their relatives offered testimoniesat a round table.

This event was part of the “Habit-driven Decisions: Devaluation in decision-making for adults with and without ADHD” research project at the ICS, which receives funding from the Government of Spain’s Ministry of Economy. The event was also organized in collaboration with UNED-Pamplona’s project, “Symptoms of ADHD in Adults: Prevalence in Navarra’s educational system.”