Read more about this disease, some with Classification – Types – Signs and symptoms – Genetics – Pathophysiology – Diagnosis – Screening – Prevention – Treatment and management – Cures and much more, some including pictures and video when available.
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD, or often abbreviated ADHD) is usually considered to be a neurobehavioral[1] developmental disorder.[2] It affects about 3 to 5% of children with symptoms starting before seven years of age.[3] It is characterized by a persistent pattern of impulsiveness and inattention, with or without a component of hyperactivity.[4] ADHD occurs twice as commonly in boys as in girls.[5] ADHD is generally a chronic[6] disorder with 10 to 40% of individuals diagnosed in childhood continuing to meet diagnostic criteria in adulthood.[7][8] As they mature, adolescents and adults with ADHD are likely to develop coping mechanisms to compensate for their impairment.[9]
Though previously regarded as a childhood diagnosis, ADHD can continue throughout adulthood.[10] ADHD has a strong genetic component.[11]
Methods of treatment usually involve some combination of medications, behavior modifications, life-style changes, and counseling. The American Academy of Pediatrics states that stimulant medications and/or behavior therapy are appropriate and generally safe treatments for ADHD.[12] However, a 2006 meta-analysis found a lack of data regarding ADHD drugs’ potential adverse effects,[13] with very few studies assessing the safety or efficacy of treatments beyond 4 months,[14] and no randomized controlled trials assessing either for periods of usage longer than two years.[7][15][10] Treatment of pre-school children is not recommended.[16]
ADHD and its treatment has been considered controversial since the 1970s.[17][18][19][20] The controversies have involved clinicians, teachers, policymakers, parents, and the media, with opinions regarding ADHD that range from not believing it exists at all to believing there are genetic and physiological bases for the condition, and also include disagreement about the use of stimulant medications in treatment.[18]
ADHD may be seen as an extreme of one or more continuous traits found throughout the population.[16] ADHD is a developmental disorder in which certain traits such as impulse control lag in development when compared to the general population.[21] Using magnetic resonance imaging of the prefrontal cortex, this developmental lag has been estimated to range from 3 to 5 years.[22] These delays are considered to cause impairment. ADHD has also been classified as a behavior disorder.[23] A diagnosis of ADHD however does not imply a neurological disease.[16]
ADHD is classified as a disruptive behavior disorder along with oppositional defiant disorder, conduct disorder, and antisocial disorder.[24]
The most common symptoms[25][26] of ADHD are:
The DSM-IV categorizes the symptoms of ADHD into three clusters, referred to as subtypes: (1) Inattentive; (2) hyperactive/impulsive; and (3) combined.[27] Most people exhibit some of these behaviors but not to the point where they significantly interfere with a person’s work, relationships, or studies. ADHD may accompany other disorders such as anxiety or depression.
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