Undiagnosed ADHD linked to high-risk driving in adults after traffic accidents

by Erin Connors, American Psychiatric Association

edited by Lisa Lock, reviewed by Andrew Zinin

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New research presented today at the American Psychiatric Association's Annual Meeting in San Francisco 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.

The study authors include Amanda Abreu, M.D.; Michael Alcántara, M.D.; Jesús Echavarría Uceta, M.D.; and Suzana Guerrero Martínez, M.D. The 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.

Key medical concepts

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity DisorderAccidents, TrafficCross-Sectional Studies

Clinical categories

PsychiatryPsychology & Mental healthCommon illnesses & Prevention Provided by American Psychiatric Association Who's behind this story?

Lisa Lock

BA art history, MA material culture. Former museum editor, paramedic, and transplant coordinator. Editing for Science X since 2021. Full profile →

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