Healthy Lifestyle in Adults With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Healthy Lifestyle in Adults With ADHD

The purpose of this study is to understand the relationship between ADHD and the overall health of someone with ADHD. People who have ADHD have trouble paying attention, concentrating, organizing, and planning. They may have trouble in school, at work, and at home. The investigators are interested in finding out whether these difficulties have had any influence in the past, current, or future health problems of someone with ADHD. About 100 people with ADHD and 100 people without ADHD will take part in this research study, all through Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH).

Inclusion Criteria:

ADHD Subjects

1. Signed written informed consent to participate in the study.
2. Age: 18 - 60 (inclusive).
3. Current diagnosis of DSM-IV ADHD by structured interview. Late age of onset acceptable for participation provided ADHD symptoms meet full criteria currently.

Control Subjects

1. Signed written informed consent to participate in the study.
2. Age: 18 - 60 (inclusive).
3. Subjects must have <3 symptoms in each domain (Inattention and Hyperactive/Impulsive) and <5 total symptoms in both domains on the DSM-IVADHD module of the structured interview.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Diagnosis of any psychotic disorder or Autism.
2. Mental impairment as evidenced by a Full Scale I.Q. less than 80.
3. Major sensorimotor handicaps such as deafness or blindness.
4. Subject currently taking antipsychotic medication or mood stabilizers.
5. Inadequate command of the English language.