Recurrent missed appointments may be a sign of ADHD

The article suggests that recurrent missed medical appointments should prompt clinicians to consider the possibility of undiagnosed or inadequately treated attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Difficulties with organisation, time management, prospective memory, prioritisation, and planning are core manifestations of ADHD. These manifestations are reflected in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5 (text revision) and ICD-11 diagnostic criteria. Attention deficits can make attending appointments on time or remembering them at all particularly challenging, even when patients are highly motivated to engage with care. Growing evidence indicates an association between ADHD and missed healthcare appointments. For instance, McQueenie et al found a link between ADHD and serial missed appointments in general practice.