ADHD

What is it?

Reactive disorder

history

In the 60's US recognized it as 'reactive disorder'.

Currently on DSM5

DSM = Diagnostic and Statistic Manual

How common is it?

5% of children

50% - 80% impaired into adulthood

3% of adults

15% retained up to age 25

Diagnosis around the world

Ten times more than UK

over diagnose, milder cases more likely to be diagnosed, US give meds direct to the consumer,

underdiagnosed

More likely to be recognized due to behavioral, girls missed, often seen as a learning dissorder - miss diagnosed

Childhood v later life

Symptoms

inattention

Impulsivity

Hyperactivity

3 Types / Presentations

Predominately hyperactive / impulsive

combined

Stages and presentations

infant / baby

Difficult to soothe, slight language delay, slight motor co-ordination issues, behaviour regulation issues, over active, impulsive

Childhood

hyperactivity or inattentiveness

Adult

Greater use of adaptive skills to reduce impact - harder to tell

Inattention

Hyperactive / impulsive

distracted, forgetful, restless, impulsive, overactive.

inattention, hyperactive, impulsive, restless, impatient, forgetful, disorganized, hyper focus

When does it start?

In the womb?

Some mothers say the unborn baby was more active

Can diagnose at age 3

Often diagnosed age 6 /7

Coincides with extra school demands

Behaviours

Why are they different to normal behaviours?

The symptoms must reach a certain level and impact on the individual's life. pervasive (across multiple settings). Start before 12.

criteria

Need multiple symptoms in 1/3 domains

Adults

5/9

Children

6/9

Symptoms

present for 6 months and be inappropriate for developmental level

Inattention

Fail to give attention to details or make careless mistakes
Trouble holding attention
doesn't listen
Doesn't follow instructions or fails to finish tasks
Trouble organising
Avoids prolonged mental tasks
Often loses things needed for task (pencils, pens)
Easily distracted
Forgetful

Hyperactive / Impulsive

often...
fidgets
leaves seat
runs and climbs
unable to play quietly
on the go
talks excessively
Blurts out the answer before
the question is finished
won't wait their turn
interupts

Combined

includes symptoms from both inattention and combined