Does childhood attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder predict risk-taking and medical illnesses in adulthood?

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To test whether children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), free of conduct disorder (CD) in childhood (mean = 8 years), have elevated risk-taking, accidents, and medical illnesses in adulthood (mean = 41 years); whether development of CD influences risk-taking during adulthood; and whether exposure to psychostimulants in childhood predicts cardiovascular disease. We hypothesized positive relationships between childhood ADHD and risky driving (in the past 5 years), risky sex (in the past year), and between risk-taking and medical conditions in adulthood; and that development of CD/antisocial personality (APD) would account for the link between ADHD and risk-taking. We report causes of death.

Method

Prospective 33-year follow-up of 135 boys of whi

SUBMITTER: Ramos Olazagasti MA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3662801 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature