Sickness Absence Recommendation Among Outpatients With ADHD and Comorbidity: A Latent Class Analysis

Objective: Determine sickness absence recommendation (SAR) prevalence for treatment-seeking patients with ADHD depending on comorbidity. Method: Population-based patient chart review of ADHD outpatients aged 19 to 29 years. The outcome, SAR, included both available financial benefit forms; activity compensation and sickness benefit. Latent class analyses (LCA) of demography and psychiatric comorbidities were performed both with and without SAR as an outcome variable. Results: Overall, 38% received SAR. Latent classes ranged from a from a small class of only females with personality disorders where all had SAR to larger groups characterized by lower comorbidity where 15% to 29% had SAR. In between these extremes were other classes of (a) neurodevelopmental disorders, for example, autism diagnosis or intellectual disabilities, and (b) high rate of anxiety disorder, where SAR rates ranged 46% to 65%. Conclusion: Treatment-seeking ADHD patients can be categorized into clinically relevant subgroups providing opportunities to structure rehabilitation efforts to the individuals' needs.