Cross-Cultural Adult ADHD Assessment in 42 Countries Using the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale Screener.

OBJECTIVE: We analyzed adult ADHD symptoms in a cross-cultural context, including investigating the occurrence and potential correlates of adult ADHD and psychometric examination of the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS) Screener. METHOD: Our analysis is based on a large-scale research project involving 42 countries (International Sex Survey, N=72,627, 57% women, Mage=32.84; SDage=12.57). RESULTS: The ASRS Screener demonstrated good reliability and validity, along with partial invariance across different languages, countries, and genders. The occurrence of being at risk for adult ADHD was relatively high (21.4% for women, 18.1% for men). The highest scores were obtained in the US, Canada, and other English-speaking Western countries, with significantly lower scores among East Asian and non-English-speaking European countries. Moreover, ADHD symptom severity and occurrence were especially high among gender-diverse individuals. Significant associations between adult ADHD symptoms and age, mental and sexual health, and socioeconomic status were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Present results show significant cross-cultural variability in adult ADHD occurrence as well as highlight important factors related to adult ADHD. Moreover, the importance of further research on adult ADHD in previously understudied populations (non-Western countries) and minority groups (gender-diverse individuals) is stressed. Lastly, the present analysis is consistent with previous evidence showing low specificity of adult ADHD screening instruments and contributes to the current discussion on accurate adult ADHD screening and diagnosis.

Compulsive sexual behavior disorder in 42 countries: Insights from the International Sex Survey and introduction of standardized assessment tools.

Background and aims: Despite its inclusion in the 11th revision of the International Classification of Diseases, there is a virtual paucity of high-quality scientific evidence about compulsive sexual behavior disorder (CSBD), especially in underrepresented and underserved populations. Therefore, we comprehensively examined CSBD across 42 countries, genders, and sexual orientations, and validated the original (CSBD-19) and short (CSBD-7) versions of the Compulsive Sexual Behavior Disorder Scale to provide standardized, state-of-the-art screening tools for research and clinical practice. Method: Using data from the International Sex Survey (N = 82,243; Mage = 32.39 years, SD = 12.52), we evaluated the psychometric properties of the CSBD-19 and CSBD-7 and compared CSBD across 42 countries, three genders, eight sexual orientations, and individuals with low vs. high risk of experiencing CSBD. Results: A total of 4.8% of the participants were at high risk of experiencing CSBD. Country- and gender-based differences were observed, while no sexual-orientation-based differences were present in CSBD levels. Only 14% of individuals with CSBD have ever sought treatment for this disorder, with an additional 33% not having sought treatment because of various reasons. Both versions of the scale demonstrated excellent validity and reliability. Discussion and conclusions: This study contributes to a better understanding of CSBD in underrepresented and underserved populations and facilitates its identification in diverse populations by providing freely accessible ICD-11-based screening tools in 26 languages. The findings may also serve as a crucial building block to stimulate research into evidence-based, culturally sensitive prevention and intervention strategies for CSBD that are currently missing from the literature.

Socioeconomic characteristics of women with substance use disorder during pregnancy and neonatal outcomes in their newborns: A national registry study from the Czech Republic.

BACKGROUND: Maternal substance use can pose a risk to the fetal health. We studied the background characteristics of women with substance use disorders (SUDs) and selected neonatal outcomes in their children. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A database-linkage study was performed. The sample consisted of pregnant women with a SUD during pregnancy (ICD-10 diagnosis F10-F19 except F17, n = 1710), women not diagnosed with a SUD (n = 1,511,310) in Czechia in 2000-2014, and their children. The monitored neonatal outcomes were gestational age, birth weight, preterm birth, and small-for-gestational age (SGA). Binary logistic regression adjusted for age, marital status, education, concurrent substance use, and prenatal care was performed. RESULTS: Women with illicit SUDs were younger, more often unmarried, with a lower level of education, a higher abortion rate, a higher smoking rate, and lower compliance to prenatal care than women with a SUD related to alcohol, or sedatives and hypnotics (SH). Women with a SUD had worse socioeconomic situations, poorer pregnancy care, and worse neonatal outcomes than women without a SUD. After adjustment, we found no difference in SGA between the illicit SUD groups and the alcohol and the SH groups. The newborns from all SUD groups had a higher risk of SGA when compared to women without a SUD. However after adjustment, the difference remained significant just in the alcohol group (OR = 1.9, 95 % CI = 1.4-2.6). CONCLUSION: Mother's SUD during pregnancy increased risk of fetal growth restriction as measured by SGA. The role of maternal socioeconomic and lifestyle factors for the risk of SGA was substantial.