TDAH diagnosticado na infância versus TDAH diagnosticado na idade adulta: impactos na vida acadêmica e profissional

Abstract

The effects of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in academic, occupational, interpersonal relationships and general health can be more serious when the diagnosis only occurs in adult life, due to delay in treatment and accumulated losses. The aim of the study was to carry out an integrative review of studies on adults diagnosed with ADHD as adults (AD-ADHD) compared to those diagnosed as children (C-ADHD) considering their life trajectories in academic and occupational areas. Articles published between 2013 and 2023 in English and Portuguese language journals were consulted in the Web of Science and Pubmed databases. Of 641 studies, 07 met the inclusion criteria. In academic life, AD-ADHD manifest stress, guilt, poor time management, motivational difficulties, which affected the academic area. Variables such as: intelligence quotient (IQ); treatment (initiation and resources); educational and family support and experiencing stressors seem to mediate the outcome. In occupational life, unlike C-ADHD, AD-ADHD individuals self-rated themselves as failures and disorganized and were rated less successful in self-regulation and cooperation processes. It is concluded that a life history related to a high IQ, educational and family support, is associated with lower academic losses, which, in turn, incurs a lower search for diagnostic evaluation. However, other difficulties (daily life management, self-regulation, relationships with peers, problem solving) generate suffering and are part of the clinical picture, which will be diagnosed later, probably when functional impairments accumulate (problems at work, accidents, addiction to substances, risky behavior, depression, anxiety, etc.).