Complementary Health Approach Utilization Among U.S. Adults With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Mental Health Research
• Complementary Health Practices

Background:

• Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) often persists into adulthood, causing significant functional impairment and unmet mental health needs.
• Complementary Health Approaches (CHAs) are frequently used by individuals with chronic mental health conditions.
• Limited data exist on CHA utilization among U.S. adults diagnosed with ADHD.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate patterns of CHA utilization among U.S. adults with ADHD.
• To determine if an ADHD diagnosis is an independent predictor of CHA use.
• To explore the role of expectations and experiences in CHA use among adults with ADHD.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of a nationally representative, quota-matched, cross-sectional survey of U.S. adults (N = 3,022) conducted in August 2024.
• ADHD status determined by self-reported clinician diagnosis.
• Logistic regression models used to assess associations between ADHD diagnosis and CHA use, controlling for covariates.

Main Results:

• Adults with ADHD (15.7%) were significantly more likely to report any CHA use compared to those without ADHD (adjusted OR 3.21).
• ADHD diagnosis was independently associated with increased use of physical, psychological, and combined psychological and physical CHAs.
• No consistent differences in favorable expectations or experiences were found based on ADHD status after adjustment.

Conclusions:

• U.S. adults with ADHD exhibit higher utilization of CHAs, particularly those targeting psychological and physical well-being.
• The increased utilization of CHAs among adults with ADHD is not consistently explained by more favorable expectations or experiences.
• Findings underscore distinct patterns of complementary health use in adults with ADHD, informing patient-centered care strategies.