Two neurodevelopmental disorders in adults are explored in this thesis: attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (autism).
Chapter 1 investigates the prevalence of ADHD in the psychiatric population in a systematic literature review. Fifteen articles reporting on prevalence rates in psychiatric in and outpatient services in international settings were identified. Estimated prevalence rates of ADHD varied widely due to heterogenic assessment methods and inclusion criteria. However, all reported prevalence rates were considerably higher than the 2.8% estimated for the adult general population. ADHD is thought to be underdiagnosed in individuals with psychiatric disorders. Directions for future research are discussed. Recommendations are made about employing a routine ADHD screen for all individuals accessing psychiatric services in order to optimise identification and treatment.
Chapter 2 reports on a qualitative study investigating what motivated middle-aged adults to seek an autism diagnosis. A thematic analysis was conducted, three main themes are described: road to self-acceptance, diagnosis as a way of overcoming a crisis and autism tailored support for future proofing. These themes were part of the motivation for seeking a diagnosis, however, the processes they involved continued after receiving it. The importance of post-diagnostic support is discussed.
Chapter 3 contains clinical and theoretical implications arising from the previous chapters. Some reflections on conducting the empirical study and the systematic literature review conclude this thesis.