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Abstract
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) was previously believed to be a disorder of childhood, with symptoms attenuating at the onset of puberty. Follow-up studies, however, suggest that the majority of children with ADHD continue to manifest symptoms into adulthood. Although the inattention components associated with ADHD persist into adulthood, the nature of the hyperactivity component is less well understood. For example, according to criteria established by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition, hyperactivity in adolescents and adults may be limited to subjective feelings of restlessness. Recent studies with adults with ADHD have also reported that mental restlessness is commonly reported by individuals with the disorder. To better understand this characteristic of ADHD, the Internal Restlessness Scale (1RS) was developed. The results of the IRS suggest that (a) college students with ADHD report significantly higher ratings of internal restlessness than college students without ADHD, and (b) the IRS appears to have adequate test-retest reliability and a four-factor structure. Implications and suggestions for future research are discussed.
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is characterized by inability to sustain attention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. It is estimated that 3% to 7% of the school-age population is affected by this disorder, with more boys diagnosed than girls by a ratio of three to one (American Psychiatric Association, 1994). Prior to the 1970s, ADHD was believed to be a childhood disorder outgrown with the onset of puberty (DuPaul, Guevermont, & Barkley, 1991). Longitudinal research, however, has suggested that the majority of children and adolescents diagnosed with ADHD will display symptoms into adulthood (Barkley, 1998; Shekim, Asarnow, Hess, Zaucha, & Wheeler, 1990). Although relatively little information is available concerning ADHD in adulthood, and specifically among college students, it is estimated that ADHD may affect 2% to 4% of the college student population (DuPaul et al., 2001; Heiligenstein, Conyers, Berns, & Smith, 1998; Robin, 1998; Weyandt, Linterman, & Rice, 1995).
According to Barkley (1998) and others (e.g., Robin, 1998), ADHD symptoms may manifest differently in adulthood than in childhood. For example, based on longitudinal studies, Weiss and Hechtmann (1993) reported that the hyperactivity component of ADHD improves dramatically as children increase in age. Recent results by Biederman, Mick, and Faraone (2000) support this finding. Others, such as Nadeau (1995), have suggested...