Dr. Kevin Antshel, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor of Psychology and Director of the Clinical Psychology doctoral program at Syracuse University. Dr. Antshel also directs the ADHD Lifespan Treatment, Education and Research (ALTER) program at Syracuse University. He will be chairing a symposium at the 2017 APSARD Annual Meeting on “ADHD in College Students”.
ADHD is a prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder that persists into adulthood. More than half of children with ADHD will attend a 2- or 4-year university, with prevalence rates of ADHD in college students estimated to be 5%. At least 25% of college students receiving disability services have ADHD. Thus, ADHD exists on college campuses. Despite ADHD existing in greater numbers on college campuses, our knowledge and understanding of ADHD in college students is relatively limited.
By virtue of their college student status, college students with ADHD have had higher academic success during elementary, middle and high school and likely have better coping skills and higher general abilities than individuals with ADHD from the general population. At the same time, college students with ADHD are likely to experience a different set of stressors than young adults with ADHD who are not enrolled in college. In this way, college students with ADHD may represent a distinct category of individuals with ADHD who face a distinct set of challenges.
The symposium that I am chairing brings together four clinical researchers who all have expertise in college students with ADHD. This symposium aims to provide the audience both breadth and depth of coverage into the central issues that are relevant to ADHD on college campuses.
The first paper that will be presented is from Dr. Arthur Anastopoulos from the University of North Carolina – Greensboro: http://www.uncg.edu/hdf/facultystaff/Anastopoulos/Anastopoulos.html. Dr. Anastopoulos will present data from his NIH-funded study investigating the 4-year trajectory of college students with ADHD with a particular emphasis on understanding moderators and mediators of functional outcomes.
Dr. Lawrence Lewandowski from Syracuse University: http://asfaculty.syr.edu/pages/psy/lewandowski-larry.html will present the second paper. Dr. Lewandowski will present data on the use of academic accommodations for college students with ADHD. In his talk, Dr. Lewandowski will focus on what the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) stipulates about accommodations as well as how well academic accommodations work for college students with ADHD.
The third paper that will be presented as part of the “ADHD in College Students” symposium will be from Dr. Brooke Molina from the University of Pittsburgh: http://www.psychology.pitt.edu/person/brooke-molina-phd. Dr. Molina will present data from her NIH-funded study of stimulant medication misuse and diversion in college students with a focus on prevention within the primary care setting.
I will present the fourth and final paper in this symposium: http://asfaculty.syr.edu/pages/psy/antshel-kevin.html
My talk will present data regarding how college students both with and without ADHD perceive ADHD and how these perceptions may be related to the malingering of ADHD.
We look forward to a great symposium at the 2017 APSARD conference and hope that you will join us from 1:30 – 3:30 PM on Saturday January 14th!