Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is common in childhood (affecting about 5% of children) and persists into adulthood up to 80% of the time. As a result, up to 3.5% of adults may have ADHD, which much higher rates in parents of children referred for ADHD, as heredity plays a role in ADHD. Thus, screening ADHD in adults is relevant in psychiatric and public health practice. The Adult ADHD Symptom Rating Scale (ASRS) was specifically developed for this reason by the World Health Organisation and translated into many languages, including French.

This study aims to estimate the prevalence rates of ADHD in a community sample of French adults, a population where no valid estimates are currently available.

A total of 1,171 adults were asked to rate their behaviours on the ASRS. The total score on the first six items is used as a screener, and the total score of the full set of 18 items is used for adults scoring in the clinically significant zone on the screener (i.e. two-stage algorithm). Maximum-likelihood prevalence rates were estimated in the entire sample and in gender (men vs. women) and age (below and above 43 years-old) subgroups.

The 6-item screener score suggests that 11.27% of participants (10.59% for females, 12.16% for males, 10.66% for younger adults, 12.16% for older ones). The two-stage algorithm suggests that 2.99% of participants (2.57%/3.53% for females/males, 2.16%/4.19% for younger/older adults) present clinical levels of ADHD, which is the rate commonly reported in other countries.