Adult ADHD: Underdiagnosis, healthcare barriers, and the role of primary care

AI Summary

ADHD persists into adulthood, yet most affected adults in Spain remain undiagnosed and untreated.
Recognition is hindered by high psychiatric comorbidity, insufficient clinician training, stigma, and absent transition protocols from child and adolescent services.
Underdiagnosis links to worse academic and occupational outcomes, increased substance use and suicide risk; primary care requires targeted training to improve detection.

AI Summary

Recognition in adulthood is hindered by high psychiatric comorbidity, insufficient training among healthcare professionals, stigma, and the lack of transition protocols from child and adolescent care.

Underdiagnosis and untreated cases are associated with poorer academic and occupational performance, increased risk of substance use, psychiatric and somatic comorbidity, absenteeism, accidents, suicide, and mortality.

This review synthesizes the evidence on adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder to identify diagnostic barriers and improve its detection and management in primary care, aiming to optimize healthcare quality and reduce its impact on the healthcare system through targeted training.

Basic summary

Semergen. 2026 Jul 6;52(7):102797. doi: 10.1016/j.semerg.2026.102797. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, traditionally regarded as a childhood disorder, persists into adulthood according to current evidence. In Spain, most affected individuals remain undiagnosed and untreated. Recognition in adulthood is hindered by high psychiatric comorbidity, insufficient training among healthcare professionals, stigma, and the lack of transition protocols from child and adolescent care. Underdiagnosis and untreated cases are associated with poorer academic and occupational performance, increased risk of substance use, psychiatric and somatic comorbidity, absenteeism, accidents, suicide, and mortality. This review synthesizes the evidence on adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder to identify diagnostic barriers and improve its detection and management in primary care, aiming to optimize healthcare quality and reduce its impact on the healthcare system through targeted training.

PMID:42407212 | DOI:10.1016/j.semerg.2026.102797

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