Depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder in adult outpatients with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms in addiction medicine clinic of Riga Psychiatry and Addiction Medicine Centre

To examine the prevalence of self-reported depression and anxiety in patients with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms comparing to patients without ADHD symptoms in a sample of outpatients of an addiction medicine clinic in Riga, Latvia. Self-report surveys that included sociodemographic data, PHQ-2, GAD-2 and Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS-v I.I) were completed by outpatients of Riga Psychiatry and Addiction Medicine Centre. Patients were divided into groups – patients with ADHD and patients without ADHD symptoms. PHQ-2 score 3 or greater were considered screened positive for depression; GAD-2 score 3 or greater were considered screened positive for general anxiety disorder. Self-report survey was compleated by 312 outpatients. A total of 19,6% of patients were screened positive ADHD. 38,8% patients with ADHD symptoms were also screened positive for depressive disorder and 27,9 % screened positive for generalized anxiety disorder (patients without ADHD symptoms 12,3% and 17,2%, respectively). Data shows significant higher depression rates (p<0,000) or anxiety rates (p=0,049) in patients with ADHD symptoms, comparing to patients without ADHD symptoms. There was found significantly higher rates of anxiety among females with ADHD symptoms comparing to males (p<0,000). Patients with ADHD symptoms report higher levels of depression or anxiety comparing to patients without ADHD symptoms, consistent with the current literature. Identifying psychiatric comorbidities in patients with ADHD might improve the outcome of treatment.