Richard Jones: The neglect of ADHD needs to be addressed

In 1798 a Scottish doctor wrote about a condition which resulted in profound problems of attention, which was present from birth and rendered a person “incapable of attending with constancy to any one object of education”. The quote is from Dr Alexander Crichton in Physiology and Pathology of the Human Mind. It is identified as the first recorded description of the condition that is now known as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Dr Crichton also identified that the condition often persisted into adulthood and could rob an individual of achieving full expectations in life.

Today, most people’s understanding of ADHD is that it affects only children or the problem is really just bad parenting or wilful behaviour. These perceptions are flawed.

The truth is that ADHD affects 3-4 per cent of our children and about 2 per cent of the adult population, or 60,000 adults in Scotland. It’s not the case that ADHD was invented by this generation, but the vast majority of sufferers have never been diagnosed and don’t understand why their lives are so traumatic.

What does it mean for adults? They may find difficulty with short-term memory and motivation, constantly “putting things off” and finding it hard to get along with people, be impulsive and make mistakes from poor attention to detail. Some tasks may be pursued with a determination that will astound others. They may self-medicate with alcohol, cigarettes, coffee or high-risk sports. These symptoms are pervasive, adversely affecting lives in all situations, to a very harmful level.

Some will be struggling with unemployment or addictions and end up in prison. Others will have found it too difficult to sustain relationships, or failed to parent their children as well as they wanted.

Now, a group of ADHD sufferers has set up Addressing the Balance, a charity to help people with the condition which is petitioning the Scottish Parliament for a national strategy for ADHD adults.

l Richard Jones is chair of Addressing the Balance.