Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity

Type of psychology: Psychopathology

Field of study: Childhood and adolescent disorders

Key concepts

• impulsivity

• inattention

• overactivity

• treatment

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most extensively

studied behavior disorders that begin in childhood. Thousands of articles

and books have been published on the subject. There are a number of

reasons this disorder is of such interest to researchers and clinicians. The

two primary reasons are, first, that ADHD is a relatively common disorder of

childhood, and second, that there are numerous problems associated with

ADHD, including lower levels of intellectual and academic performance

and higher levels of aggressive and defiant behavior. (Although ADHD usually

persists into adulthood, it is most commonly regarded as a childhood

disorder.)

In national and international studies of childhood emotional and behavioral

disorders, ADHD has been found to be relatively common among children.

Although prevalence estimates range from 1 percent to 20 percent,

most researchers agree that between 3 percent and 7 percent of children

could be diagnosed as having ADHD. The revised fourth edition of the Diagnostic

and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR), published by

the American Psychiatric Association in 2000, describes the diagnostic criteria

and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR), published by

the American Psychiatric Association in 2000, describes the diagnostic criteria

the American Psychiatric Association in 2000, describes the diagnostic criteria

for ADHD. In order to receive the diagnosis of ADHD according to

DSM-IV-TR, a child must show abnormally high levels of inattention, hyperactivity-

impulsivity, or both when compared with peers of the same age. The

DSM-IV-TR lists two sets of behavioral symptoms characteristic of ADHD.

The first list contains nine symptoms of inattention such as “often has difficulty

sustaining attention in tasks or play activities,” while the second list

contains nine symptoms of hyperactivity-impulsivity such as “often talks excessively”

and “often has difficulty awaiting turn.” In order to be diagnosed

with ADHD, a child must exhibit six to nine symptoms from at least one of

the lists. Although many of these behaviors are quite common for most children

at some point in their lives, the important point to consider in the diag

the American Psychiatric Association in 2000, describes the diagnostic criteria

for ADHD. In order to receive the diagnosis of ADHD according to

DSM-IV-TR, a child must show abnormally high levels of inattention, hyperactivity-

impulsivity, or both when compared with peers of the same age. The

DSM-IV-TR lists two sets of behavioral symptoms characteristic of ADHD.

The first list contains nine symptoms of inattention such as “often has difficulty

sustaining attention in tasks or play activities,” while the second list

contains nine symptoms of hyperactivity-impulsivity such as “often talks excessively”

and “often has difficulty awaiting turn.” In order to be diagnosed

with ADHD, a child must exhibit six to nine symptoms from at least one of

the lists. Although many of these behaviors are quite common for most children

at some point in their lives, the important point to consider in the diag

the American Psychiatric Association in 2000, describes the diagnostic criteria

for ADHD. In order to receive the diagnosis of ADHD according to

DSM-IV-TR, a child must show abnormally high levels of inattention, hyperactivity-

impulsivity, or both when compared with peers of the same age. The

DSM-IV-TR lists two sets of behavioral symptoms characteristic of ADHD.

The first list contains nine symptoms of inattention such as “often has difficulty

sustaining attention in tasks or play activities,” while the second list

contains nine symptoms of hyperactivity-impulsivity such as “often talks excessively”

and “often has difficulty awaiting turn.” In order to be diagnosed

with ADHD, a child must exhibit six to nine symptoms from at least one of

the lists. Although many of these behaviors are quite common for most children

at some point in their lives, the important point to consider in the diag

and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR), published by

the American Psychiatric Association in 2000, describes the diagnostic criteria

the American Psychiatric Association in 2000, describes the diagnostic criteria

for ADHD. In order to receive the diagnosis of ADHD according to

DSM-IV-TR, a child must show abnormally high levels of inattention, hyperactivity-

impulsivity, or both when compared with peers of the same age. The

DSM-IV-TR lists two sets of behavioral symptoms characteristic of ADHD.

The first list contains nine symptoms of inattention such as “often has difficulty

sustaining attention in tasks or play activities,” while the second list

contains nine symptoms of hyperactivity-impulsivity such as “often talks excessively”

and “often has difficulty awaiting turn.” In order to be diagnosed

with ADHD, a child must exhibit six to nine symptoms from at least one of

the lists. Although many of these behaviors are quite common for most children

at some point in their lives, the important point to consider in the diag

the American Psychiatric Association in 2000, describes the diagnostic criteria

for ADHD. In order to receive the diagnosis of ADHD according to

DSM-IV-TR, a child must show abnormally high levels of inattention, hyperactivity-

impulsivity, or both when compared with peers of the same age. The

DSM-IV-TR lists two sets of behavioral symptoms characteristic of ADHD.

The first list contains nine symptoms of inattention such as “often has difficulty

sustaining attention in tasks or play activities,” while the second list

contains nine symptoms of hyperactivity-impulsivity such as “often talks excessively”

and “often has difficulty awaiting turn.” In order to be diagnosed

with ADHD, a child must exhibit six to nine symptoms from at least one of

the lists. Although many of these behaviors are quite common for most children

at some point in their lives, the important point to consider in the diag

the American Psychiatric Association in 2000, describes the diagnostic criteria

for ADHD. In order to receive the diagnosis of ADHD according to

DSM-IV-TR, a child must show abnormally high levels of inattention, hyperactivity-

impulsivity, or both when compared with peers of the same age. The

DSM-IV-TR lists two sets of behavioral symptoms characteristic of ADHD.

The first list contains nine symptoms of inattention such as “often has difficulty

sustaining attention in tasks or play activities,” while the second list

contains nine symptoms of hyperactivity-impulsivity such as “often talks excessively”

and “often has difficulty awaiting turn.” In order to be diagnosed

with ADHD, a child must exhibit six to nine symptoms from at least one of

the lists. Although many of these behaviors are quite common for most children

at some point in their lives, the important point to consider in the diag

and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR), published by

the American Psychiatric Association in 2000, describes the diagnostic criteria

the American Psychiatric Association in 2000, describes the diagnostic criteria

for ADHD. In order to receive the diagnosis of ADHD according to

DSM-IV-TR, a child must show abnormally high levels of inattention, hyperactivity-

impulsivity, or both when compared with peers of the same age. The

DSM-IV-TR lists two sets of behavioral symptoms characteristic of ADHD.

The first list contains nine symptoms of inattention such as “often has difficulty

sustaining attention in tasks or play activities,” while the second list

contains nine symptoms of hyperactivity-impulsivity such as “often talks excessively”

and “often has difficulty awaiting turn.” In order to be diagnosed

with ADHD, a child must exhibit six to nine symptoms from at least one of

the lists. Although many of these behaviors are quite common for most children

at some point in their lives, the important point to consider in the diag

the American Psychiatric Association in 2000, describes the diagnostic criteria

for ADHD. In order to receive the diagnosis of ADHD according to

DSM-IV-TR, a child must show abnormally high levels of inattention, hyperactivity-

impulsivity, or both when compared with peers of the same age. The

DSM-IV-TR lists two sets of behavioral symptoms characteristic of ADHD.

The first list contains nine symptoms of inattention such as “often has difficulty

sustaining attention in tasks or play activities,” while the second list

contains nine symptoms of hyperactivity-impulsivity such as “often talks excessively”

and “often has difficulty awaiting turn.” In order to be diagnosed

with ADHD, a child must exhibit six to nine symptoms from at least one of

the lists. Although many of these behaviors are quite common for most children

at some point in their lives, the important point to consider in the diag

the American Psychiatric Association in 2000, describes the diagnostic criteria

for ADHD. In order to receive the diagnosis of ADHD according to

DSM-IV-TR, a child must show abnormally high levels of inattention, hyperactivity-

impulsivity, or both when compared with peers of the same age. The

DSM-IV-TR lists two sets of behavioral symptoms characteristic of ADHD.

The first list contains nine symptoms of inattention such as “often has difficulty

sustaining attention in tasks or play activities,” while the second list

contains nine symptoms of hyperactivity-impulsivity such as “often talks excessively”

and “often has difficulty awaiting turn.” In order to be diagnosed

with ADHD, a child must exhibit six to nine symptoms from at least one of

the lists. Although many of these behaviors are quite common for most children

at some point in their lives, the important point to consider in the diag

the American Psychiatric Association in 2000, describes the diagnostic criteria

for ADHD. In order to receive the diagnosis of ADHD according to

DSM-IV-TR, a child must show abnormally high levels of inattention, hyperactivity-

impulsivity, or both when compared with peers of the same age. The

DSM-IV-TR lists two sets of behavioral symptoms characteristic of ADHD.

The first list contains nine symptoms of inattention such as “often has difficulty

sustaining attention in tasks or play activities,” while the second list

contains nine symptoms of hyperactivity-impulsivity such as “often talks excessively”

and “often has difficulty awaiting turn.” In order to be diagnosed

with ADHD, a child must exhibit six to nine symptoms from at least one of

the lists. Although many of these behaviors are quite common for most children

at some point in their lives, the important point to consider in the diag

nosis of ADHD is that these behaviors must be in excess of the levels of behaviors

nosis of ADHD is that these behaviors must be in excess of the levels of behaviors

most frequently exhibited by children of that age and that the

behaviors must cause functional impairment in at least two settings (for instance,

at home and at school). Additionally, it is expected that these behaviors

have been excessive for at least six months and that some of the problem

behaviors were present by the time the child was seven years old.

Boys tend to outnumber girls in the diagnosis of ADHD, with the male:

female ratio estimated at 2:1 to 9:1, depending on the source. ADHD boys

tend to be more aggressive and antisocial than ADHD girls, while girls are

more likely to display inattentive symptoms of ADHD than boys.