This small pilot study asked 66 adults in New Zealand, aged 18 to 65, about their ADHD symptoms and their past. About half met criteria for adult ADHD. Everyone was placed in one of four bands of 16 or 17 people, from mildest to most severe symptoms.
People in the more severe bands were more likely to say they had self-harmed or had suicidal thoughts at some point in their lives. In the mildest band, 23.5% reported self-harm. In the most severe band, 62.5% did. Suicide attempts were also more common in the most severe band. Each band held only about 16 people, so these rates are rough, and they describe this group, not any one person. If you're in crisis in the US, call or text 988.
The link did not run directly from ADHD symptoms. It ran through other conditions people also had, such as mood, anxiety, alcohol and drug use disorders. Coping by focusing on feelings rather than on the problem also played a part for self-harm. If you're in crisis in the US, call or text 988.
The study was small, relied on people's memories and their own reports, and included many university students. The authors call for larger studies that follow people over time.
The authors suggest that diagnosing and treating other mental health conditions, and spotting unhelpful coping styles, may help lower this risk in adults with ADHD symptoms. Talk to a clinician about your own situation. Support is available.
The numbers Stats and what the terms mean
The statistics behind the plain-language claims above.
- Taylor, 2014: how strongly ADHD symptom severity tracked lifetime self-harm, B = .52, SE = .24.
- Taylor, 2014: how strongly ADHD symptom severity tracked suicidal thoughts, B = .74, SE = .26. If you're in crisis in the US, call or text 988. What the terms mean:
- B An estimate of how strongly ADHD symptom severity was linked to the outcome. A bigger positive number means a stronger link.
- SE The standard error, a measure of how uncertain the estimate is. Smaller is more certain.
Source: Taylor M, Boden J, Rucklidge J. The relationship between ADHD symptomatology and self-harm, suicidal ideation, and suicidal behaviours in adults: a pilot study. ADHD Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorders (2014). doi:10.1007/s12402-014-0139-9