Under-Documented or Under-Recognized? Comorbid ADHD in Emergency Department Patients With Addictive Disorders

Objectives: We sought to examine rates of comorbid ADHD and SUD/AUD using a nationally representative dataset, and to compare this data with established estimates. We hoped to increase available research on ADHD within patients with SUD/AUD. Methods: This study is a retrospective secondary analysis of cross-sectional data collected in the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS). Results: The data showed less than 1% of comorbid ADHD in either AUD or SUD, and prevalence of 0.6% in patients with both. Our estimated prevalence of ADHD among SUD/AUD patients is more than 30-fold smaller than the 25% consensus. Conclusion: The stark difference between our data and prior research indicates a need for further examination of the prevalence of ADHD within acute care. This finding of a large reservoir of ADHD that is unrecognized or undocumented indicates a substantive need for ADHD-focused education with opportunity for improvement in patient treatment.