Revue internationale de santé mentale et de psychiatrie

Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Adults with Multiple Sclerosis

Murat Alpua, Yakup Turkel, Gunes HN, Omer Oguzturk, Ersel Dag and Tahir Kurtulus Yoldas

Abstract
Objectives: To determine symptoms and their effects of attentiondeficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adult patients with multiple sclerosis. Studies of psychiatric comorbidities in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) have reported greater rates in MS patients than the general population.

Methods: Subjects consisted of 72 relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis patients and 57 controls. Demographic characteristics including age, gender, education level, duration of disease and Expanded Disability Symptom Scale (EDSS) were recorded. ADHD symptoms were assessed by Adult Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity
Disorder Self-Report Scale (ASRS). Furthermore, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and Short Form-36 (SF-36) were also applied.

Results: MS patients had statistically significant higher the rate of ADHD mean scores compared to controls. Patients with MS had statistically significant higher rate of clinical elevation in ASRS scores. There were 26 MS patients and 4 controls with ADHD symptoms. ASRS scores in MS patients were associated with SF- 36 mental and physical component scores and depression and anxiety scores.

Conclusion: ADHD symptoms may develop in adults MS patients and are associated with lowered quality of life and increased psychosocial morbidity. In the future, more comprehensive investigations could clarify origins of ADHD symptoms in adult MS patients.