Screening for Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) among substance users is improved

Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a major learning disability among both children and adults. ADHD is especially common among drug users and alcoholics and increases the severity of their addiction problems.

ADHD is treatable, but diagnosing it among adult substance users has been difficult and expensive. Charles Cleland and his colleagues at National Development and Research Institutes in New York City found that a screening test originally developed for the general population the Conners Adult ADHD Rating Scale (CAARS) – also works well to identify ADHD symptoms among substance users.

The CAARS is an effective, simple and inexpensive way to screen adult substance users for ADHD, so that they can be referred for confirmatory diagnosis and possible ADHD treatment.

Stephen Magura, the Principal Investigator of the study, remarks: Although more research is needed, our study shows that better screening of substance users for ADHD is possible, with the payoff that ADHD will be treated and recovery from addiction will be facilitated.

Media Contact

Betty Wagoner EurekAlert!

More Information:

http://www.ndri.org

All latest news from the category: Health and Medicine

This subject area encompasses research and studies in the field of human medicine.

Among the wide-ranging list of topics covered here are anesthesiology, anatomy, surgery, human genetics, hygiene and environmental medicine, internal medicine, neurology, pharmacology, physiology, urology and dental medicine.

Back to home

Comments (0)

Write a comment

Newest articles

Results for control of pollutants in water

Brazilian scientists tested a simple and sustainable method for monitoring and degrading a mixture of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, compounds present in fossil fuels and industrial waste. An article published in the journal Catalysis…

A tandem approach for better solar cells

Perovskite-based solar cells were first proved in 2009 to have excellent light-absorbing properties of methylammonium lead bromide and methylammonium lead iodide, collectively referred to as lead halide perovskites or, more…

The behavior of ant queens is shaped by their social environment

Specialization of ant queens as mere egg-layers is reversible / Queen behavioral specialization is initiated and maintained by the presence of workers. The queens in colonies of social insects, such…

Partners & Sponsors