Abstract
The pilot study aimed to learn whether clients with ADHD (in childhood, in adulthood or both) can be found in therapeutic communities for drug addicts (TCs) in the CR. The sample involved clients of six participating TCs, in total 76 clients aged 15-45 (27 women, 49 men).
A two-step sampling procedure (intentional selection, total sampling) was used. The ADHD occurrence was surveyed by self-report questionnaires: for ADHD in childhood the case history sheet based on WURS-61, for ADHD symptoms in adulthood a questionnaire designed according to ASRS vl.l were used.
Data were analysed by the evaluation of questionnaires and a fixed cross-sectional pathology score for ADHD. A descriptive approach was combined with particular procedures of qualitative data analysis.
A high prevalence of potential ADHD in the sample was found: 43 from the total 76 clients (56.6%) showed ADHD symptoms. The criteria for ADHD in childhood were met by 21 clients, for ADHD in adulthood by 6, and for ADHD in childhood and in adulthood by 21 clients.
The findings can confirm the high rate of ADHD in substance users and the impact of neuropsychological disorders on individual vulnerability in the bio-psycho-social domain.