Adults with ADHD are at higher risk for mental health conditions, and it’s time for the health industry to catch up, according to new research from the United Kingdom.

“The link between mental health and ADHD is strong – so why aren’t we paying attention?” asks a press release from the University of Bath. New research by university psychologists has shown that adults who exhibit high levels of ADHD symptoms are more likely to suffer from anxiety and depression than adults with high levels of autistic traits.

The research also showed that “the higher the levels of ADHD traits, the more likely a person is to experience severe mental health symptoms.” Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by inattention and/or hyperactivity and impulsivity.

As the lead researcher, Luca Hargitai, noted, “Scientists have long known that autism is linked to anxiety and depression, but ADHD has been somewhat neglected. This study is groundbreaking in that it shows that ADHD is more predictive of poor mental health outcomes in adults than other neurodevelopmental conditions.

Until now, there has been little information on the effects of ADHD on poor mental health, which affects between 3% and 9% of the UK population. In the United States, the lifetime prevalence of ADHD is between 8.1% and 8.7% among adults (18+) and adolescents (13-17) respectively.

In contrast, according to the CDC, approximately 2.3% of the U.S. population has been identified with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Given that ADHD is nearly four times as common as ASD, the researchers suggest that ADHD receive fresh attention––and funding for further research.

As Ms. Hargitai explained, “Our findings suggest that research and clinical practice must shift some of the focus from autism to ADHD. This may help to identify those most at risk of anxiety and depression so that preventative measures – such as supporting children and adults with the management of their ADHD symptoms – can be put in place earlier to have a greater impact on improving people’s wellbeing.”

Read the press release here.

Or read the study published in the prestigious journal Scientific Reports.

Photo by Uday Mittal on Unsplash