A reason for failure: adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND AND AIM:The aim of this study was to investigate the lack of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in university students who were motivated to fail to perform effectively despite the desire to study effectively. METHODS:The sample of the study consists of KTO Karatay University students. In September-December 2019 academic year, students who found their motivation to work insufficiently and complained of not performing the way they wanted were invited to the study. Psychological examinations of the volunteer participants were conducted by the psychiatrist. After the structured psychiatric examination, the sociodemographic form and Wender-Utah Rating Scale (WURS) prepared by the participants were administered to the participants. The data of the study was evaluated with SPSS 25 program. RESULTS:57 students (44 female, 13 male) between the ages of 19-36 participated in the study. According to the psychiatric examination, there was only attention deficit in 10 students (17.5%), only hyperactivity in 1 student (1.75%), and both attention deficity and hyperactivity in 8 students (14.03%). When the pathologies other than attention deficit hyperactivity (ADHD) were examined, performance anxiety was found in 3 students (5.26%) and generalized anxiety disorder was found in 5 students (8.8%). It was found that 11 students (19.3%) participating in the study applied psychiatric support with different complaints during childhood and 30 (52.63%) during adult period and none of them were diagnosed with ADHD. It was also found that WURS scores of individuals diagnosed with ADHD were significantly higher (r =, 870). CONCLUSIONS:ADHD is not only a childhood disease but also it is a mental pathology that can continue in adulthood and may have a significant impact on the academic performance of individuals. The most important step in the treatment of ADHD is to remember and recognize this pathology. Our awareness of this issue will contribute to the patients’ comfort of life.