New Research: Undiagnosed ADHD Linked to High-Risk Driving in Adults After Traffic Accidents
San Francisco — New research presented today at the American Psychiatric Association’s Annual Meeting finds that a substantial proportion of adults hospitalized after traffic accidents may have undiagnosed attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which has been associated with significantly riskier driving behaviors.
In a cross-sectional study of 95 adults hospitalized for traffic-related injuries in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, 34.7% of participants screened positive for ADHD despite no prior diagnosis. Those who screened positive were more likely to engage in dangerous driving behaviors, with 66.6% falling into a high-risk driving category, compared with 30.6% of those without ADHD symptoms.
Researchers note that ADHD may be an underrecognized factor in traffic-related injuries, and that screening in medical settings could help identify individuals at higher risk and support earlier intervention.
Researchers also found that intentional driving violations were reported in nearly half (48.5%) of ADHD-positive participants, and younger adults were more than twice as likely to screen positive, highlighting a key population for targeted prevention.
The study authors include Amanda Abreu, M.D.; Michael Alcántara, M.D.; Jesús Echavarría Uceta, M.D.; and Suzana Guerrero Martínez, M.D.
American Psychiatric Association
The American Psychiatric Association, founded in 1844, is the oldest medical association in the country. The APA is also the largest psychiatric association in the world with more than 40,400 physician members specializing in the diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and research of mental illnesses. APA’s vision is to ensure access to quality psychiatric diagnosis and treatment. For more information, please visit www.psychiatry.org.