“Chronic Lateness” is the Reason for 57-Year-Old’s Failure to Accomplish Tasks on Time

A 57-year old man who has struggled to do anything on time has been told that his tardiness was in fact due to a condition known as ‘chronic lateness’. Jim Dunbar, from Angus, Scotland, has struggled to be on time for work, go to holidays, has been late for meals, attend funerals and even be on time for first dates with women. And even when he has been diagnosed with the condition he is struggling to complete his work on time. Dunbar had recently given himself a 11-hour head start in order to go to a cinema, but managed to be 20 minutes late for the show.

Lateness is thought to be caused by the same region of the brain that is linked with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). However not all experts are willing to accept Dunbar’s diagnosis, with Dr Sheri Jacobson, psychotherapist and director of Harley Therapy Clinic in London, stating that turning every human habit into a condition may not be the right way.

“The condition isn't in the DSM5 (the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) so I'm not sure you can really call it a condition. Repeated lateness is usually a symptom of an underlying condition such as ADHD or depression but it can also just be habit. I think making everyday human behaviour into a medical condition is unwise”, Dr Jacobson said.

Source-Medindia