Adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (also referred to as Adult ADHD, Adult ADD or simply ADHD in adults) is the neurobiological condition of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adults. About one-third to two-thirdsp. 87 of children with symptoms from early childhood continue to demonstrate notable ADHD symptoms throughout life.

Three subtypes of ADHD are identified in the DSM-IV (inattentive, hyperactive/impulsive, and combined). In later life, the hyperactive/impulsive subtype manifests more frequentlyp44. Symptoms include distractability, impulsivity and restlessness, which impair executive functions – management of memory and approach to tasks, causing persistent and significant impairment among different areas of life.

Diagnosis of the condition includes assessment by clinicians, with examination of personal history, observational evidence from family members and report cards going back to school years etc., and neuropsychological tests as well as evaluation to rule out other possibilities or diagnose co-morbid (coincident) conditions.

The condition is highly heritable,p32 and while its exact causes are not fully known, genetic and environmental factors are understood to play a part. ADHD is a childhood-onset condition, usually requiring symptoms to have been present before age seven for a diagnosis. Children under treatment will migrate to adult health services if necessary as they transit into adulthood, while diagnosis of adults involves full examination of their history.

Successful treatment of ADHD is usually based on a combination of medication, cognitive behavioral therapy, and coaching or skills training. Within school and work, reasonable accommodations may be put in place to help the individual work more efficiently and productively.

Early work on disorders of attention was conducted by Alexander Crichton in 1798 writing about "mental restlessness". The underlying condition came to be recognized from the early 1900s by Sir George Stillp. 6. Efficacy of medications on symptoms was discovered during the 1930s and research continued throughout the twentieth century. ADHD in adults began to be studied from the early 1970s and research has increased as worldwide interest in the condition has grown.