Adult Attention-Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder and Fibromyalgia: A Case-Control Study

Abstract

Introduction: Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal
pain accompanied by fatigue, sleep, memory and mood issues. An association
between attention deficit and fibromyalgia was reported. However, to our knowledge, there are
few articles reporting an association between adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
(ADHD) and FMS.
We hypothesized that ADHD should be frequently associated with FMS. To confirm this hypothesis
we conducted this study.
Methods: Patients with Cognitive Complaint (CC) recruited from the membership of the Italian
Hospital Medical Care Program in Argentina from 2009 to 2013 were classified as ADHD
or without ADHD, and compared with Normal Controls (NC) about the presence of FMS.
Adapted DSM-IV criteria for adult ADHD and validated to Spanish Wender Utah Rating Scale
were used to identify individuals with adult ADHD. FMS was diagnosed according to Criteria
Classification of Fibromyalgia of American College of Rheumatology of 1990. Analysis of
categorical variables was carried out using chi-square. Mann-Whitney test was used for continuous
variables. Statistical significance was P<0.05.
Results: We identified 154 patients with ADHD, 71 NC, and 262 with CC without ADHD.
Amongst ADHD cases, 37.7% were men, the median age was 72.5 years, in NC group, 40.8%
were men with a mean age of 71.9, and in CC group, and 40% were men with a median age
of 71.4 years. No significant differences in these variables between groups or in the years of
education were found.