Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

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By Dr Greg Mulhauser

If you'd like to learn about the diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), sometimes called 'attention deficit disorder' (ADD), this section describes the symptoms which psychiatrists look for as well as providing other general information.

Article Contents

Please see our separate note on Treatment, Mental Disorders and Basic Science for important caveats on the role and definition of diagnostic criteria.

What is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)?

The ICD and the DSM differ in their approach to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), with the former dubbing it a hyperkinetic disorder and the latter opting for the broader classification of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

For more information on the differences between the two approaches, and one physician's take on some of the myths surrounding the disorder in Europe, see Kewley (1998).

Our separate section on psychological testing and screening also includes two different screening tests for Adult ADHD, the Jaspers-Goldberg screening test and the World Health Organization screening test for Adult ADHD.

Drug Treatments for ADHD

Our medication centre includes information about common drug treatments for ADHD, including traditional medications such as Strattera. Other new approaches to treatment which may particularly benefit children who are unable to tolerate stimulants include the use of antihypertensives, and our medication centre includes a page on Tenex and ADHD.

This page was last reviewed by Dr Greg Mulhauser, Monday, 1 June 2009.

The URL of this page is:
http://counsellingresource.com/distress/adhd/