ADULT PATIENTS WITH ATTENTION-DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER (ADHD): COPING WITH DAILY CHALLENGES

Motnja pomanjkljive pozornosti s hiperaktivnostjo (ADHD) je ena izmed najbolj pogostih psihiatričnih motenj med otroki in mladostniki. Kljub nekdanjemu prepričanju, da je ADHD značilen za mlajšo populacijo, je danes znano, da mnogi njegovi simptomi s starostjo ne izvenijo. Znaki se v odrasli dobi kažejo v nekoliko drugačni obliki: kot nenehen notranji nemir, impulzivno reagiranje in težave z ohranjanjem pozornosti. Primanjkljaji v pozornosti, nadzoru impulzov in socialnih interakcijah pri odraslih z ADHD-jem vodijo v disfunkcije na več življenjskih področjih. Zaradi omenjenih simptomov bolniki z ADHD-jem pogosto ne dosežejo svojega polnega potenciala. ADHD ne vpliva torej zgolj na življenje bolnika, temveč ga pomembno ovira na učnem, socialnem in delovnem področju, pogoste pa so tudi težave s samopodobo. Skozi magistrsko delo smo spoznali in podrobno preučili značilnosti odraslih bolnikov z ADHD-jem, na kakšen način vplivajo simptomi na njihovo vsakdanje življenje in s kakšnimi obremenitvami se soočajo. Prav tako smo spoznali različne oblike pomoči in podpore odraslim z ADHD-jem. V emipirčnem delu smo s pomočjo vprašalnika skušali ugotoviti, katere so najpogostejše težave, s katerimi se soočajo odrasli z ADHD-jem. Zaradi premajhnega vzorca sicer nismo mogli izpostaviti najbolj pogostih težav, vseeno pa smo uspeli opozoriti na prisotnost različno pomembnih težav, s katerimi se morajo bolniki vsakodnevno soočati. Ena izmed pomembnih ugotovitev magistrskega dela je, da so udeleženci označili vsaj eno postavko na prav vseh področjih, kar nakazuje na resnost in pomembnost posledic, ki jih povzročajo simptomi.Hyperactivity disorder and attention deficit or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) represents one of the most common psychiatric disorders in children and adolescents. Despite earlier belief that ADHD is connected with a younger population, now it is clear that many of its symptoms do not disappear with age. The symptoms at an older age are slightly different: persistent unrest, impulsive reactions, and difficulties with attention control. Attention deficit, impulse control and social interaction in adults with ADHD lead towards disorders in many areas of life. Due to these symptoms, the patients often do not achieve their full potential. For this reason, adult ADHD does not only have effects on the patient’s life, but it also represents a considerable impediment to learning as well as to social and work areas of life. Additionally, it often causes self-esteem problems. The master thesis has studied and explained detailed personality traits in adult patients with ADHD, how the symptoms affect their daily life and what kind of mental burden they encounter every day. We have also learned different types of help and support for adult patients with ADHD. In the empirical part of the study, we have made a survey in order to find the most frequent problems that the adults with ADHD face. Due to very small number of samples, it has been impossible to emphasize the most common problems, but we have managed to draw attention to a variety of important problems the patients have to face every day. One of the important conclusions of the task is that the respondents have marked at least one (or more) items in actually all areas, which points to the severity and importance of consequences caused by the symptoms