A Qualitative Analysis of Contextual Factors Relevant to Suspected Late-Onset ADHD.
Objective: Recent studies suggest attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may emerge post-childhood. We integrate qualitative methods to systematically characterize contextual factors that may (a) delay identification of ADHD in childhood and (b) inform why ADHD symptoms emerge post-childhood. Method: Suspected late-onset ADHD cases from the local normative comparison group of the Multimodal Treatment Study of ADHD completed a qualitative interview (14 young adults and 7 caregivers). Interviews were qualitatively analyzed. Results: We identified five themes. Three themes may attenuate or delay identification of childhood ADHD: external factors (e.g., supportive adults), internal factors (e.g., strong intellectual functioning), and other factors (e.g., dismissive attitudes toward ADHD). Two themes may accompany an increase in ADHD symptoms post-childhood: external factors (e.g., increased external demands) and internal factors (e.g., perceived stress). Conclusion: Clinicians should probe these factors in suspected late-onset cases to address (a) whether, how, and to what extent ADHD was attenuated in childhood and (b) why symptoms emerge post-childhood.
Duke Scholars
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Related Subject Headings
- Young Adult
- Humans
- Developmental & Child Psychology
- Combined Modality Therapy
- Child
- Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity
- 5203 Clinical and health psychology
- 5202 Biological psychology
- 5201 Applied and developmental psychology
- 1701 Psychology
Citation
Published In
DOI
EISSN
Publication Date
Volume
Issue
Start / End Page
Location
Related Subject Headings
- Young Adult
- Humans
- Developmental & Child Psychology
- Combined Modality Therapy
- Child
- Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity
- 5203 Clinical and health psychology
- 5202 Biological psychology
- 5201 Applied and developmental psychology
- 1701 Psychology