Could Maladaptive Daydreaming Delay ADHD Diagnosis Until Adulthood? Clinical Characteristics of Adults With ADHD Based on Diagnosis Age.

This article focuses on factors associated with delayed diagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) until adulthood, emphasizing the role of maladaptive daydreaming (MD). Analyzing data from 214 adults diagnosed with ADHD at Selçuk University's Adult Neurodevelopmental Disorders Clinic, the study found that only about one-third received an ADHD diagnosis during childhood or adolescence. Adults diagnosed in adulthood were older, had higher education levels, exhibited more severe ADHD symptoms, and showed increased MD severity compared to those diagnosed earlier. Logistic regression identified older age, higher education, lower current ADHD medication use, and greater MD severity as predictors of delayed diagnosis. The findings suggest that MD may mask or compensate for ADHD symptoms, contributing to later recognition, and that MD severity correlates with ADHD symptom severity and psychiatric comorbidities in adults diagnosed in adulthood. The study recommends considering MD in adult ADHD assessments but notes that longitudinal research is needed to confirm these conclusions.