(ADHD) Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD or AD/HD or ADD) is a developmental disorder. It is primarily characterized by “the co-existence of attentional problems and hyperactivity, with each behavior occurring infrequently alone” and symptoms starting before seven years of age.

ADHD is the most commonly studied and diagnosed psychiatric disorder in children, affecting about 3 to 5 percent of children globally and diagnosed in about 2 to 16 percent of school aged children.It is a chronic disorderwith 30 to 50 percent of those individuals diagnosed in childhood continuing to have symptoms into adulthood.Adolescents and adults with ADHD tend to develop coping mechanisms to compensate for some or all of their impairments. It is estimated that 4.7 percent of American adults live with ADHD. Standardized rating scales such as WHO’s Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale can be used for ADHD screening and assessment of the disorder’s symptoms severity.

ADHD is diagnosed two to four times more frequently in boys than in girls,though studies suggest this discrepancy may be partially due to subjective bias of referring teachers.ADHD management usually involves some combination of medications, behavior modifications, lifestyle changes, and counseling. Its symptoms can be difficult to differentiate from other disorders, increasing the likelihood that the diagnosis of ADHD will be missed.Additionally, most clinicians have not received formal training in the assessment and treatment of ADHD, particularly in adult patients.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD or AD/HD or ADD) is a developmental disorder. It is primarily characterized by “the co-existence of attentional problems and hyperactivity, with each behavior occurring infrequently alone” and symptoms starting before seven years of age.ADHD is the most commonly studied and diagnosed psychiatric disorder in children, affecting about 3 to 5 percent of children globally and diagnosed in about 2 to 16 percent of school aged children.It is a chronic disorderwith 30 to 50 percent of those individuals diagnosed in childhood continuing to have symptoms into adulthood.Adolescents and adults with ADHD tend to develop coping mechanisms to compensate for some or all of their impairments. It is estimated that 4.7 percent of American adults live with ADHD. Standardized rating scales such as WHO’s Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale can be used for ADHD screening and assessment of the disorder’s symptoms severity.ADHD is diagnosed two to four times more frequently in boys than in girls,though studies suggest this discrepancy may be partially due to subjective bias of referring teachers.ADHD management usually involves some combination of medications, behavior modifications, lifestyle changes, and counseling.

Its symptoms can be difficult to differentiate from other disorders, increasing the likelihood that the diagnosis of ADHD will be missed.Additionally, most clinicians have not received formal training in the assessment and treatment of ADHD, particularly in adult patients.