Skip to main content

Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Intimate Relationships and Sexuality

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Sexual Dysfunctions in Mentally Ill Patients

Part of the book series: Trends in Andrology and Sexual Medicine ((TASM))

Abstract

The attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurobiological disorder that starts in childhood and persists in the majority of cases into adulthood. In adults with ADHD, intimate relationships may be problematic. Due to the lifetime symptoms of ADHD like inattentiveness, forgetfulness, mood swings and anger outbursts, as well as sensation seeking, impulsive and aggressive behaviour, some do not manage to start, others not to maintain relationships. The characteristics of relationships in adults with ADHD, including sexual relationships, will be discussed in this chapter.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 79.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 99.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 139.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM-5). Washington, D.C.: American Psychiatric Association; 2013.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  2. Michielsen M, Semeijn E, Comijs HC, van de Ven P, Beekman AT, Deeg DJ, Kooij JJ. Prevalence of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in older adults in The Netherlands. Br J Psychiatry. 2012;201(4):298–305.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Rubia K, Alegría AA, Brinson H. Brain abnormalities in attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: a review. Rev Neurol. 2014;58(Suppl 1):S3–16.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Rubia K, Alegria A, Brinson H. Imaging the ADHD brain: disorder-specificity, medication effects and clinical translation. Expert Rev Neurother. 2014;14(5):519–38.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Simon V, Czobor P, Bálint S, Mészáros A, Bitter I. Prevalence and correlates of adult attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: meta-analysis. Br J Psychiatry. 2009;194(3):204–11.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Biederman J, Faraone SV, Spencer T, Wilens T, Norman D, Lapey KA, Mick E, Lehman BK, Doyle A. Patterns of psychiatric comorbidity, cognition, and psychosocial functioning in adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Am J Psychiatry. 1993;150(12):1792–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Bijlenga D, van der Heijden KB, Breuk M, van Someren EJ, Lie ME, Boonstra AM, Swaab HJ, Kooij JJ. Associations between sleep characteristics, seasonal depressive symptoms, lifestyle, and ADHD symptoms in adults. J Atten Disord. 2013;17(3):261–75.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Kooij JJS. Adult ADHD: diagnostic assessment and treatment. 3rd ed. London: Springer; 2012.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Robin LA. The impact of ADHD on marriage. ADHD Rep. 2002;10(3):9–14.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Greenfield B, Hechtman L, Stehli A, Wigal T. Sexual maturation among youth with ADHD and the impact of stimulant medication. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2014;23(9):835–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Barkley RA, Fischer M, Smallish L, Fletcher K. Young adult outcome of hyperactive children: adaptive functioning in major life activities. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2006;45(2):192–202.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Flory K, Molina BS, Pelham WE Jr, Gnagy E, Smith B. Childhood ADHD predicts risky sexual behavior in young adulthood. J Clin Child Adolesc Psychol. 2006;35(4):571–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Van Veen MM, Kooij JJ, Boonstra AM, Gordijn MC, Van Someren EJ. Delayed circadian rhythm in adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and chronic sleep-onset insomnia. Biol Psychiatry. 2010;67(11):1091–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Canu WH, Carlson CL. Differences in heterosocial behavior and outcomes of ADHD-symptomatic subtypes in a college sample. J Atten Disord. 2003;6(3):123–33.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Bijlenga D, Vroege JA, Stammen AJM, Breuk M, Boonstra AM, van der Rhee K, et al. Prevalence of sexual disorders in adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. 2018;10:87–96. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12402-017-0237-6.

  16. Strang JF, Kenworthy L, Dominska A, Sokoloff J, Kenealy LE, Berl M, et al. Increased gender variance in autism spectrum disorders and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Arch Sex Behav. 2014;43(8):1525–33.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. McLeer SV, Callaghan M, Henry D, Wallen J. Psychiatric disorders in sexually abused children. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 1994;33(3):313–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Merry SN, Andrews LK. Psychiatric status of sexually abused children 12 months after disclosure of abuse. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 1994;33(7):939–44.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Ouyang L, Fang X, Mercy J, Perou R, Grosse SD. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms and child maltreatment: a population-based study. J Pediatr. 2008;153(6):851–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Briscoe-Smith AM, Hinshaw SP. Linkages between child abuse and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in girls: behavioral and social correlates. Child Abuse Negl. 2006;30(11):1239–55.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  21. Rucklidge JJ, Brown DL, Crawford S, Kaplan BJ. Retrospective reports of childhood trauma in adults with ADHD. J Atten Disord. 2006;9(4):631–41.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Bryer JB, Nelson BA, Miller JB, Krol PA. Childhood sexual and physical abuse as factors in adult psychiatric illness. Am J Psychiatry. 1987;144(11):1426–30.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. JJS K. ADHD in adults. In: Clinical studies on assessment and treatment. Thesis. Amsterdam: Harcourt Assessment BV; 2006.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Zanarini MC, Williams AA, Lewis RE, Reich RB, Vera SC, Marino MF, et al. Reported pathological childhood experiences associated with the development of borderline personality disorder. Am J Psychiatry. 1997;154(8):1101–6.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Zanarini MC, Frankenburg FR, Reich DB, Hennen J, Silk KR. Adult experiences of abuse reported by borderline patients and Axis II comparison subjects over six years of prospective follow-up. J Nerv Ment Dis. 2005;193(6):412–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Guendelman MD, Ahmad S, Meza JI, Owens EB, Hinshaw SP. Childhood attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder predicts intimate partner victimization in young women. J Abnorm Child Psychol. 2015;44(1):155–66. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-015-9984-z.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Snyder JA. The link between ADHD and the risk of sexual victimization among college women: expanding the lifestyles/routine activities framework. Violence Against Women. 2015;21(11):1364–84. https://doi.org/10.1177/1077801215593647.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Wymbs B, Molina B, Pelham W, Cheong J, Gnagy E, Belendiuk K, et al. Risk of intimate partner violence among young adult males with childhood ADHD. J Atten Disord. 2012;16(5):373–83.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Fang X, Massetti GM, Ouyang L, Grosse SD, Mercy JA. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, conduct disorder, and young adult intimate partner violence. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2010;67(11):1179–86.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Blocher D, Henkel K, Retz W, Retz-Junginger P, Thome J, Rosler M. Symptoms from the spectrum of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in sexual delinquents. [German]. Fortschr Neurol Psychiatr. 2001;69(10):453–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Kafka MP, Prentky RA. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in males with paraphilias and paraphilia-related disorders: a comorbidity study. J Clin Psychiatry. 1998;59(7):388–96.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Kafka MP, Hennen J. A DSM-IV Axis I comorbidity study of males (n = 120) with paraphilias and paraphilia-related disorders. Sex Abus. 2002;14(4):349–66.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Kafka MP, Hennen J. Psychostimulant augmentation during treatment with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in men with paraphilias and paraphilia-related disorders: a case series. J Clin Psychiatry. 2000;61(9):664–70.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to J. J. Sandra Kooij .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2018 Springer International Publishing AG, part of Springer Nature

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Sandra Kooij, J.J. (2018). Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Intimate Relationships and Sexuality. In: Jannini, E., Siracusano, A. (eds) Sexual Dysfunctions in Mentally Ill Patients. Trends in Andrology and Sexual Medicine. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-68306-5_7

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-68306-5_7

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-68305-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-68306-5

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics