ADHD in adults

Author(s):  
Stefanos Maltezos ◽  
Susannah Whitwell ◽  
Philip Asherson

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by pervasive or impairing levels of inattention or hyperactivity. It is most comprehensively defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition (DSM-5) criteria, which recognizes its clinical heterogeneity by grouping it according to three presentations: predominantly inattentive, predominantly hyperactive–impulsive, and combined subtypes. However, ADHD presentations can change significantly over time, most often presenting predominantly as hyperactive–impulsive in infants, with combined symptoms for children, and predominantly inattentive in the case of adults. This chapter focuses on the presentation of ADHD in adults, discussing the detrimental effects its various presentations can have on economic, educational, and social outcomes, before examining the systemic limitations of its recognition and treatment in certain countries. Finally, management and treatment methods are explored, for instance the administering of dopamine and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors such as methylphenidate and atomoxetine, respectively, and the lack of data on their effectiveness in tackling ADHD comorbidities such as bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.

2018 ◽  
Vol 52 (6) ◽  
pp. 509-513
Author(s):  
Marcelo M Victor ◽  
Bruna S da Silva ◽  
Djenifer B Kappel ◽  
Claiton HD Bau ◽  
Eugenio H Grevet

We present an ancient Greek description written by the philosopher Theophrastus in his classic book ‘ Characters’ comparable with modern attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. The arguments are based in one chapter of this book—The Obtuse Man—presenting features of a character closely resembling the modern description of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. In a free comparative exercise, we compared Theophrastus descriptions with modern Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.; DSM-5) attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms. The sentences describing The Obtuse Man written by Theophrastus are similar to several symptoms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and he would probably be currently diagnosed with this disorder as an adult. To our knowledge, this is the oldest description compatible with the current conception of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in adults in the Western literature. Differently than the moralistic view of ancient Greece regarding those symptoms, the medical attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder conception may be advantageous to patients since it might reduce prejudice and allow individuals to seek treatment.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 584-589 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kasey Stanton

Maladaptive experiences of negative mood states and difficulties regulating them, collectively referred to here as negative affective dysfunction, are linked robustly to many disorders. Despite negative affective dysfunction being a nonspecific psychopathology feature, the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ( DSM–5) introduced new (a) disorders and (b) features to existing disorders intended to capture manifestations of negative affective dysfunction. This theoretical article highlights why these additions may exacerbate issues concerning disorder overlap and differential diagnosis. Specific examples are provided to support this viewpoint, including potential consequences of emphasizing negative affective dysfunction within the diagnostic criteria for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Although researchers likely will continue to disagree about how to best classify negative affective dysfunction (e.g., using dimensions vs. categories), I argue that we can reach common ground as a field by recognizing that caution is needed when proposing new DSM–5 additions to capture nonspecific psychopathology features.


Author(s):  
Kirstin Painter ◽  
Maria Scannapieco

Chapter 9 begins with prevalence estimates for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity-impulsivity, and impulsivity are addressed, followed by descriptions of how these symptoms present in children and adolescents. An overview of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) criteria for diagnosing ADHD is presented. The chapter includes a discussion of the causes of ADHD and current research, with a focus on possible linkages between ADHD and biological, genetic, environmental, and nutritional causes and current brain research. Diagnosing youth using DSM criteria along with differentiating ADHD and other disorders is discussed. Common assessment tools used to screen for symptoms of ADHD are presented. Chapter 9 ends with two real-life case studies and questions for class discussion.


2008 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 1049-1051
Author(s):  
A. Aureli ◽  
D. Piancatelli ◽  
T. Del Beato ◽  
P. Sebastiani ◽  
V. Melillo ◽  
...  

During the last 10 years a significant increase of childhood neuropsychiatric disorders, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), has been reported. ADHD is believed to have a multifactorial etiology including multiple genetic and prenatal environmental factors. For this reason, there has been a recent revival regarding the role of autoimmunity in this pathology. An ADHD combined-type patient born from a drug-addicted mother was studied. Neuropsychological tests according to the criteria of the 4th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM4) permitted us to make the ADHD-diagnosis. The HLA-A, -B, and -DRB1 alleles of the child were determined by sequence-based typing (SBT) after DNA extraction. Although no autistic behavioral features were observed in the patient, a double genetic association between ADHD and autism was reported. In fact, HLA class I alleles (A*02 and B*44) associated to autism and the HLA class II allele (DRB1*04) associated both to autism and ADHD were identified.


2019 ◽  
Vol 64 (9) ◽  
pp. 607-610
Author(s):  
Gordon Parker

Schizoaffective disorder has long been recognized and quite variably defined. It has been variably positioned as a discrete entity, a variant of either schizophrenia or of a mood disorder, as simply reflecting the co-occurrence of schizophrenia and a mood disorder, and effectively reflecting a diagnosis along a continuum linking schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. This article considers historical views, some empirical data that advance consideration of its status, and focuses on its classification in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition (DSM-5). DSM-5 criteria seemingly weight it in the direction of a schizophrenic illness, as do some empirical studies, whereas the empirical literature examining the response to lithium links it more closely to bipolar disorder. It is suggested that DSM-5’s B and C criteria are operationally unfeasible. Some suggestions are provided for a simpler definition.


CNS Spectrums ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 13 (S12) ◽  
pp. 6-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas J. Spencer

Until recently, little was known about the epidemiology of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adults. Bottom-up studies following children with ADHD into adolescence had shown variable rates of persistence, some of which depended on the definitions used. The traditional diagnosis was complicated by the introduction of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Third Edition, which stated that ADHD could be diagnosed with inattentive symptoms alone. This resulted in diagnostic inconsistency as earlier investigations demanded the presence of hyperactivity while others did not. Diagnosis also depended on the site, the cohort, whether interviews versus rating scales were employed, and whether the subject or their parent were the source of information.


2012 ◽  
pp. 125-133 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. PŘÍHODOVÁ ◽  
I. PACLT ◽  
D. KEMLINK ◽  
S. NEVŠÍMALOVÁ

The high rate of occurrence of sleep disturbances in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) prompted the idea that structural and neurotransmitter changes might give rise to specific sleep pattern abnormalities. The aim of this study was to evaluate the microstructure of sleep in children with ADHD who had no polysomnographically diagnosed sleep disorder, had never been treated for ADHD, and were free from any psychiatric comorbidity. Participants were 14 patients with ADHD (12 boys and 2 girls aged 7-12 years, mean age 9.6±1.6). ADHD was diagnosed according to DSM-IV criteria (Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders). Psychiatric comorbidities were ruled out by detailed psychiatric examination. The patients underwent two consecutive overnight video-polysomnographic (PSG) recordings, with the sleep microstructure (cyclic alternating pattern – CAP) scoring during the second night. The data were compared with age- and sex-matched controls. Sleep microstructure analysis using CAP revealed no significant differences between the ADHD group and the controls in any of the parameters under study. In conclusions, no ADHD-specific alterations were found in the sleep microstructure.


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