Ant McPartlin is back entertaining audiences every Saturday night on ITV’s Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway, alongside his longtime collaborator and friend Dec Donnelly. Seeing the TV star in such good spirits is a poignant sight to observe. The last couple of years had been challenging for Ant.

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The TV comedian had been battling alcoholism, a struggle he eventually confronted after several stints in rehab.

During his recovery process, Ant discovered an underlying health condition that he believes contributed to his descent.

The star was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Speaking to The Sun, he said: “I never knew that until afterwards.

“I was so thoroughly examined and diagnosed, I found stuff out about me I hadn’t addressed for years.

“There are a lot of links to alcohol-dependency, which I studied a lot when I was away.”

What is ADHD?

“Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a chronic condition that affects millions of children and often continues into adulthood,” explains Mayo Clinic.

According to the health site, ADHD includes a combination of persistent problems, such as difficulty sustaining attention, hyperactivity and impulsive behaviour.

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Symptoms of ADHD tend to be noticed at an early age and may become more noticeable when a child’s circumstances change, such as when they start school, says the NHS.

As the health site explains, in adults, the symptoms of ADHD are more difficult to define.

This is largely due to a lack of research into adults with ADHD.

“As ADHD is a developmental disorder, it’s believed it cannot develop in adults without it first appearing during childhood,” says the health body.

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Some specialists have suggested the following as a list of symptoms associated with ADHD in adults:

• Carelessness and lack of attention to detail
• Continually starting new tasks before finishing old ones
• Poor organisational skills
• Inability to focus or prioritise
• Continually losing or misplacing things
• Forgetfulness
• Restlessness and edginess
• Difficulty keeping quiet, and speaking out of turn
• Blurting out responses and often interrupting others
• Mood swings, irritability and a quick temper
• Inability to deal with stress
• Extreme impatience
• Taking risks in activities, often with little or no regard for Personal safety or the safety of others – for example, driving dangerously

How to treat ADHD in adults

According to Mayo Clinic, standard treatments for ADHD in adults typically involve medication, education, skills training and psychological counselling.

“A combination of these is often the most effective treatment,” explains the health body.

Although, as it points out, these treatments can help manage many symptoms of ADHD, but they don’t cure it.

According to the NHS, there are five types of medication licensed for the treatment of ADHD:

• Methylphenidate
• Dexamfetamine
• Lisdexamfetamine
• Atomoxetine
• Guanfacine

As the health site explains, these medications are not a permanent cure for ADHD but may help someone with the condition concentrate better, be less impulsive, feel calmer, and learn and practise new skills.

As well as taking medication, different therapies can be useful in treating ADHD in children, teenagers and adults, notes the health site.

Therapy options include:

• Psychoeducation
• Behaviour therapy
• Parent training and education programmes
• Social skills training
• Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)

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