Below is a curated list of published studies related to different aspects of Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in Saudi Arabia, including prevalence, awareness, diagnosis, language and communication, and review articles.
Additional studies from Saudi Arabia, including topics not featured on this page, are available in the research library. We also maintain a list of ADHD-related theses that have been made available online. If you would like your research featured here, or know of any publications in or about ADHD in KSA that you believe should be included here, please get in touch by email at research @ adhd.org.sa.
Note: Unless specifically stated, these studies were neither conducted by nor supported by the Saudi ADHD Society, and are provided as a resource for researchers only.
Review Articles
Adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) among residents of Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study
- Norah Alharbi
- Kayan Fehan Alotaibi
- Ghaida Khalid Althaqel
- Nojoud Yahya Alasmari
- Ahad Fayez Alahmari
- Ohood Yahya Alasmari
- Mashael Saeed Alshahrani
- Lujain Abdullah Alghamdi
- Hajar Ahmad Alrashed
- Nouf Ayman Shugair
European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences
10.26355/eurrev_202311_34461Abstract
Objective: In this study, we aim to estimate the prevalence of adult ADHD among Saudi adults, determine its demographic correlates, the impact of the disorder on school/work, social life, and productivity, and describe its association with other psychiatric disorders such as depression and anxiety.
Subjects and Methods: A cross-sectional study involving 993 adult participants was carried out utilizing a validated online questionnaire that was given to the Saudi population between January 2022 and March 2022. Socio-demographic information, the adult ADHD Self-Report Scale, the Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS), and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) are among the data gathered from the questionnaire.
Results: Participants’ median age group was 21-30 years (48.4%), with 77.8% being females. The prevalence of participants who were positive for ADHD symptoms was 46.6%. In univariate analysis, age group, marital status, depression, anxiety, Sheehan scale domains, day lost, and unproductive days were all significant risk factors for ADHD. In a multivariate regression analysis, anxiety, depression, symptoms that disrupted work/school work, family life/home responsibilities, and days unproductive remained statistically significant and determined as the significant independent predictors of positive ADHD.
Conclusions: Morbidity of adult ADHD symptoms appreciably existed among younger adults of Saudi Arabia, mostly students with no favorable genders. Adult ADHD symptoms were found to affect the quality of social life and work/schoolwork performance as they decreased the productivity rate and increased the absenteeism rate. Moreover, symptoms of depression and anxiety were in a profound correlation with Adult ADHD symptoms.
Keywords
Adult, ADHD, Anxiety, Depression, Impairment, Saudi Arabia, PrevalenceCitation
[research_citation style="APA" pubtype="journal" authors="Norah Alharbi,Kayan Fehan Alotaibi,Ghaida Khalid Althaqel,Nojoud Yahya Alasmari,Ahad Fayez Alahmari,Ohood Yahya Alasmari,Mashael Saeed Alshahrani,Lujain Abdullah Alghamdi,Hajar Ahmad Alrashed,Nouf Ayman Shugair," year="2023" title="Adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) among residents of Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study" volume="27" issue="22" journal="European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences" shortjournal="Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci" startpage="10935" endpage="10943" articlenum="" doi="10.26355/eurrev_202311_34461"]Link to this page: https://res.adhd.org.sa/doi/10.26355/eurrev_202311_34461
Prevalence
Adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) among residents of Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study
- Norah Alharbi
- Kayan Fehan Alotaibi
- Ghaida Khalid Althaqel
- Nojoud Yahya Alasmari
- Ahad Fayez Alahmari
- Ohood Yahya Alasmari
- Mashael Saeed Alshahrani
- Lujain Abdullah Alghamdi
- Hajar Ahmad Alrashed
- Nouf Ayman Shugair
European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences
10.26355/eurrev_202311_34461Abstract
Objective: In this study, we aim to estimate the prevalence of adult ADHD among Saudi adults, determine its demographic correlates, the impact of the disorder on school/work, social life, and productivity, and describe its association with other psychiatric disorders such as depression and anxiety.
Subjects and Methods: A cross-sectional study involving 993 adult participants was carried out utilizing a validated online questionnaire that was given to the Saudi population between January 2022 and March 2022. Socio-demographic information, the adult ADHD Self-Report Scale, the Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS), and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) are among the data gathered from the questionnaire.
Results: Participants’ median age group was 21-30 years (48.4%), with 77.8% being females. The prevalence of participants who were positive for ADHD symptoms was 46.6%. In univariate analysis, age group, marital status, depression, anxiety, Sheehan scale domains, day lost, and unproductive days were all significant risk factors for ADHD. In a multivariate regression analysis, anxiety, depression, symptoms that disrupted work/school work, family life/home responsibilities, and days unproductive remained statistically significant and determined as the significant independent predictors of positive ADHD.
Conclusions: Morbidity of adult ADHD symptoms appreciably existed among younger adults of Saudi Arabia, mostly students with no favorable genders. Adult ADHD symptoms were found to affect the quality of social life and work/schoolwork performance as they decreased the productivity rate and increased the absenteeism rate. Moreover, symptoms of depression and anxiety were in a profound correlation with Adult ADHD symptoms.
Keywords
Adult, ADHD, Anxiety, Depression, Impairment, Saudi Arabia, PrevalenceCitation
[research_citation style="APA" pubtype="journal" authors="Norah Alharbi,Kayan Fehan Alotaibi,Ghaida Khalid Althaqel,Nojoud Yahya Alasmari,Ahad Fayez Alahmari,Ohood Yahya Alasmari,Mashael Saeed Alshahrani,Lujain Abdullah Alghamdi,Hajar Ahmad Alrashed,Nouf Ayman Shugair," year="2023" title="Adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) among residents of Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study" volume="27" issue="22" journal="European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences" shortjournal="Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci" startpage="10935" endpage="10943" articlenum="" doi="10.26355/eurrev_202311_34461"]Link to this page: https://res.adhd.org.sa/doi/10.26355/eurrev_202311_34461
Awareness and Attitudes
Adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) among residents of Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study
- Norah Alharbi
- Kayan Fehan Alotaibi
- Ghaida Khalid Althaqel
- Nojoud Yahya Alasmari
- Ahad Fayez Alahmari
- Ohood Yahya Alasmari
- Mashael Saeed Alshahrani
- Lujain Abdullah Alghamdi
- Hajar Ahmad Alrashed
- Nouf Ayman Shugair
European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences
10.26355/eurrev_202311_34461Abstract
Objective: In this study, we aim to estimate the prevalence of adult ADHD among Saudi adults, determine its demographic correlates, the impact of the disorder on school/work, social life, and productivity, and describe its association with other psychiatric disorders such as depression and anxiety.
Subjects and Methods: A cross-sectional study involving 993 adult participants was carried out utilizing a validated online questionnaire that was given to the Saudi population between January 2022 and March 2022. Socio-demographic information, the adult ADHD Self-Report Scale, the Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS), and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) are among the data gathered from the questionnaire.
Results: Participants’ median age group was 21-30 years (48.4%), with 77.8% being females. The prevalence of participants who were positive for ADHD symptoms was 46.6%. In univariate analysis, age group, marital status, depression, anxiety, Sheehan scale domains, day lost, and unproductive days were all significant risk factors for ADHD. In a multivariate regression analysis, anxiety, depression, symptoms that disrupted work/school work, family life/home responsibilities, and days unproductive remained statistically significant and determined as the significant independent predictors of positive ADHD.
Conclusions: Morbidity of adult ADHD symptoms appreciably existed among younger adults of Saudi Arabia, mostly students with no favorable genders. Adult ADHD symptoms were found to affect the quality of social life and work/schoolwork performance as they decreased the productivity rate and increased the absenteeism rate. Moreover, symptoms of depression and anxiety were in a profound correlation with Adult ADHD symptoms.
Keywords
Adult, ADHD, Anxiety, Depression, Impairment, Saudi Arabia, PrevalenceCitation
[research_citation style="APA" pubtype="journal" authors="Norah Alharbi,Kayan Fehan Alotaibi,Ghaida Khalid Althaqel,Nojoud Yahya Alasmari,Ahad Fayez Alahmari,Ohood Yahya Alasmari,Mashael Saeed Alshahrani,Lujain Abdullah Alghamdi,Hajar Ahmad Alrashed,Nouf Ayman Shugair," year="2023" title="Adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) among residents of Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study" volume="27" issue="22" journal="European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences" shortjournal="Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci" startpage="10935" endpage="10943" articlenum="" doi="10.26355/eurrev_202311_34461"]Link to this page: https://res.adhd.org.sa/doi/10.26355/eurrev_202311_34461
Diagnosis
Adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) among residents of Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study
- Norah Alharbi
- Kayan Fehan Alotaibi
- Ghaida Khalid Althaqel
- Nojoud Yahya Alasmari
- Ahad Fayez Alahmari
- Ohood Yahya Alasmari
- Mashael Saeed Alshahrani
- Lujain Abdullah Alghamdi
- Hajar Ahmad Alrashed
- Nouf Ayman Shugair
European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences
10.26355/eurrev_202311_34461Abstract
Objective: In this study, we aim to estimate the prevalence of adult ADHD among Saudi adults, determine its demographic correlates, the impact of the disorder on school/work, social life, and productivity, and describe its association with other psychiatric disorders such as depression and anxiety.
Subjects and Methods: A cross-sectional study involving 993 adult participants was carried out utilizing a validated online questionnaire that was given to the Saudi population between January 2022 and March 2022. Socio-demographic information, the adult ADHD Self-Report Scale, the Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS), and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) are among the data gathered from the questionnaire.
Results: Participants’ median age group was 21-30 years (48.4%), with 77.8% being females. The prevalence of participants who were positive for ADHD symptoms was 46.6%. In univariate analysis, age group, marital status, depression, anxiety, Sheehan scale domains, day lost, and unproductive days were all significant risk factors for ADHD. In a multivariate regression analysis, anxiety, depression, symptoms that disrupted work/school work, family life/home responsibilities, and days unproductive remained statistically significant and determined as the significant independent predictors of positive ADHD.
Conclusions: Morbidity of adult ADHD symptoms appreciably existed among younger adults of Saudi Arabia, mostly students with no favorable genders. Adult ADHD symptoms were found to affect the quality of social life and work/schoolwork performance as they decreased the productivity rate and increased the absenteeism rate. Moreover, symptoms of depression and anxiety were in a profound correlation with Adult ADHD symptoms.
Keywords
Adult, ADHD, Anxiety, Depression, Impairment, Saudi Arabia, PrevalenceCitation
[research_citation style="APA" pubtype="journal" authors="Norah Alharbi,Kayan Fehan Alotaibi,Ghaida Khalid Althaqel,Nojoud Yahya Alasmari,Ahad Fayez Alahmari,Ohood Yahya Alasmari,Mashael Saeed Alshahrani,Lujain Abdullah Alghamdi,Hajar Ahmad Alrashed,Nouf Ayman Shugair," year="2023" title="Adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) among residents of Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study" volume="27" issue="22" journal="European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences" shortjournal="Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci" startpage="10935" endpage="10943" articlenum="" doi="10.26355/eurrev_202311_34461"]Link to this page: https://res.adhd.org.sa/doi/10.26355/eurrev_202311_34461
Language & Communication
Adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) among residents of Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study
- Norah Alharbi
- Kayan Fehan Alotaibi
- Ghaida Khalid Althaqel
- Nojoud Yahya Alasmari
- Ahad Fayez Alahmari
- Ohood Yahya Alasmari
- Mashael Saeed Alshahrani
- Lujain Abdullah Alghamdi
- Hajar Ahmad Alrashed
- Nouf Ayman Shugair
European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences
10.26355/eurrev_202311_34461Abstract
Objective: In this study, we aim to estimate the prevalence of adult ADHD among Saudi adults, determine its demographic correlates, the impact of the disorder on school/work, social life, and productivity, and describe its association with other psychiatric disorders such as depression and anxiety.
Subjects and Methods: A cross-sectional study involving 993 adult participants was carried out utilizing a validated online questionnaire that was given to the Saudi population between January 2022 and March 2022. Socio-demographic information, the adult ADHD Self-Report Scale, the Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS), and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) are among the data gathered from the questionnaire.
Results: Participants’ median age group was 21-30 years (48.4%), with 77.8% being females. The prevalence of participants who were positive for ADHD symptoms was 46.6%. In univariate analysis, age group, marital status, depression, anxiety, Sheehan scale domains, day lost, and unproductive days were all significant risk factors for ADHD. In a multivariate regression analysis, anxiety, depression, symptoms that disrupted work/school work, family life/home responsibilities, and days unproductive remained statistically significant and determined as the significant independent predictors of positive ADHD.
Conclusions: Morbidity of adult ADHD symptoms appreciably existed among younger adults of Saudi Arabia, mostly students with no favorable genders. Adult ADHD symptoms were found to affect the quality of social life and work/schoolwork performance as they decreased the productivity rate and increased the absenteeism rate. Moreover, symptoms of depression and anxiety were in a profound correlation with Adult ADHD symptoms.
Keywords
Adult, ADHD, Anxiety, Depression, Impairment, Saudi Arabia, PrevalenceCitation
[research_citation style="APA" pubtype="journal" authors="Norah Alharbi,Kayan Fehan Alotaibi,Ghaida Khalid Althaqel,Nojoud Yahya Alasmari,Ahad Fayez Alahmari,Ohood Yahya Alasmari,Mashael Saeed Alshahrani,Lujain Abdullah Alghamdi,Hajar Ahmad Alrashed,Nouf Ayman Shugair," year="2023" title="Adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) among residents of Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study" volume="27" issue="22" journal="European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences" shortjournal="Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci" startpage="10935" endpage="10943" articlenum="" doi="10.26355/eurrev_202311_34461"]Link to this page: https://res.adhd.org.sa/doi/10.26355/eurrev_202311_34461