ADHD Comorbidity Structure and Impairment: Results of the WHO World Mental Health Surveys International College Student Project (WMH-ICS)

Arthur D.P. Mak, Sue Lee, Nancy A. Sampson, Yesica Albor, Jordi Alonso, Randy P. Auerbach, Harald Baumeister, Corina Benjet, Ronny Bruffaerts, Pim Cuijpers, David D. Ebert, Raúl A. Gutierrez-Garcia, Penelope Hasking, Coral Lapsley, Christine Lochner, Ronald C. Kessler

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

28 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective: To examine the prevalence of ADHD and the association of comorbid disorders, and multivariate disorder classes with role impairment in college students. Method: About 15,991 freshmen (24 colleges, 9 countries, WMH-ICS) (response rate = 45.6%) completed online WMH-CIDI-SC surveys for 6-month ADHD and six 12-month DSM-IV disorders. We examined multivariate disorder classes using latent class analysis (LCA) and simulated a population attributable risk proportions (PARPs) of ADHD-related impairment. Results: About 15.9% had ADHD, of which 58.4% had comorbidities. LCA classified ADHD respondents to pure (42.9%), internalizing (36.0%), bipolar comorbidities (11.3%), and externalizing disorder classes (9.8%). ADHD, comorbidities, and multivariate disorder classes independently predicted severe impairment. PARPs: eliminating ADHD hypothetically reduced severe impairment by 19.2%, 10.1% adjusted for comorbidities, 9.5% for multivariate disorder classes. Conclusions: ADHD and comorbid disorders are common and impairing in college students. Personalized transdiagnostic interventions guided by multivariate disorder classes should be explored.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1078-1096
Number of pages19
JournalJournal of Attention Disorders
Volume26
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2022

Keywords

  • ADHD
  • college students
  • epidemiology
  • mental disorder
  • role impairment

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