Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia
Corso di laurea in infermieristica - Sede di Modena
| Thesis Title | Adulthood follow-up of Attention Deficit Disorder and Hyperactivity arose in childhood / adolescence: a systematic review of the literature of the las |
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| Name | Poppi Chiara |
| Supervisor(s) | Di Lorenzo Rosaria, Balducci Jessica |
| Academic Year | 2018/19 |
| Thesis type | Research thesis |
Abstract
The ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) is a neuro-developmental disorder characterized by disability symptoms of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity, with a prevalence in Italy ranging between 0.4% and 3.6% in childhood/adolescence and between 2.5% and 4% in adults. Up to now, the clinical course of ADHD in adults has been little studied. The primary objective of this study is to perform a systematic review with the aim of highlighting the clinical course and social complications in adults who had suffered from ADHD in their childhood/adolescence. The secondary objective is to develop nursing care plans with related nursing diagnoses, outcomes and interventions based on the results of our systematic review. We included in our systematic review 9 prospective and follow-up studies, published during the last 5 years, which highlighted that, in adulthood, 82% of patients present ADHD persistence, 58% of substance use and 32 % of criminal charges whereas only 1-2% present the occurrence of schizophrenia, other psychosis and bipolar disorder. Results of only 2 included studies permitted us to perform a quantitative analysis, which showed a limited preventive efficacy of the pharmacological treatment administered during childhood in preventing occurrence of schizophrenia, other psychoses and bipolar disorders in adulthood. This study highlights that ADHD is not only a childhood disorder due to the high frequency of its persistence in adulthood as well as the frequent occurrence of substance use and social maladjustment in adulthood. New studies are needed to better identify the clinical course of this disorder and meet the numerous therapeutic and assistance needs of patients with ADHD.