Diagnosis: DSM-5

Understanding Adult ADHD Prevalence

Recent estimates suggest that 6.76% of adults worldwide, approximately 366 million individuals, exhibit symptoms of ADHD. This significant prevalence underscores the importance of organizations like ADDA in supporting adults with ADHD (source).

Despite its high prevalence, diagnosing ADHD in adults is challenging due to symptom variations from childhood ADHD. There is no single medical test for ADHD; diagnosis involves a comprehensive examination of symptoms and their impact on daily life.

Diagnostic Approach

Diagnostic Tools: The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), is a key tool in diagnosing adult ADHD. This manual provides healthcare professionals with standardised criteria for assessing mental health disorders, including ADHD.

Diagnosis Process: ADHD cannot be diagnosed through brain scans, blood tests, or genetic testing. Instead, physicians rely on symptom assessment, which includes:

  • Behavioural Rating Scales: Questionnaires about experiences, challenges, and behaviours at work, school, and home.

  • Historical Accounts: Interviews with parents, ex-teachers, or others familiar with the individual's childhood to identify early ADHD signs.

The DSM-5 helps doctors evaluate the gathered information, offering diagnostic standards and examples specific to adolescents and adults (source).

DSM-5 Criteria for ADHD Subtypes

Three Main Subtypes:

  1. Predominantly Inattentive ADHD

  2. Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive ADHD

  3. Combined-Type ADHD

Predominantly Inattentive ADHD

Diagnosis requires at least five symptoms of inattention persisting for six months, with fewer than five symptoms of hyperactivity or impulsivity. Symptoms include:

  • Lack of Attention to Detail: Making careless mistakes.

  • Difficulty Focusing: Struggling to maintain attention in meetings or during reading.

  • Trouble Listening: Appearing not to listen and thinking of unrelated matters.

  • Incomplete Tasks: Getting easily sidetracked and failing to finish assignments.

  • Poor Organizational Skills: Difficulty managing tasks, scheduling time, or meeting deadlines.

  • Avoidance of Sustained Focus Tasks: Avoiding lengthy reports or papers.

  • Losing Important Items: Misplacing documents, glasses, wallets, keys, and phones.

  • Easily Distracted: Frequently distracted by unrelated thoughts.

  • Forgetfulness: Forgetting bill payments, chores, or appointments.

Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive ADHD

Diagnosis requires at least five symptoms of hyperactivity or impulsivity persisting for six months, with fewer than five symptoms of inattention. Symptoms include:

  • Leaving Seat Frequently: Especially in settings like meetings.

  • Blurting Out Answers: Completing others' sentences.

  • Interrupting Others: Intruding on activities.

  • Struggling to Stay Quiet: Difficulty being quiet during activities.

  • Fidgeting: Tapping hands or feet.

  • Constant Motion: Inability to sit still.

  • Trouble Waiting Turn: Impatience.

  • Excessive Talking: Talking excessively.

  • Feeling Restless: Persistent restlessness.

Combined-Type ADHD

Diagnosis involves a mix of both inattentive and hyperactive/impulsive symptoms, with at least five symptoms of each type persisting for six months.

Additional Diagnostic Criteria

For a valid ADHD diagnosis, the following conditions must also be met:

  • Exclusivity: Symptoms must not be better explained by another mental health issue, such as anxiety or mood disorders, and should not occur solely during schizophrenia or another psychotic disorder.

  • Impact: Symptoms must affect at least two areas of life (e.g., work, school, social life) and reduce functioning in these areas.

  • Early Onset: Symptoms must have been present before age 12.

ADHD Severity Levels

The DSM-5 categorizes ADHD severity as follows:

  • Mild: Fewer symptoms with minor impact on daily functioning.

  • Moderate: Severity falls between mild and severe.

  • Severe: Numerous or particularly severe symptoms significantly affecting daily functioning .

Understanding these criteria can help individuals and healthcare professionals navigate the complexities of adult ADHD diagnosis

and management. For more information, you can refer to the DSM-5 ADHD criteria.

Here are some useful links to the DSM-5 ADHD criteria and related resources:

  1. APA's DSM-5 ADHD Criteria

    • This PDF document provides detailed information about the diagnostic criteria for ADHD as outlined in the DSM-5, directly from the American Psychiatric Association (APA).

  2. What is ADHD? - Psychiatry.org

    • This page on the APA's website offers an overview of ADHD, including its causes, symptoms, diagnosis process, and treatment options.

  3. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5-TR)

    • This page provides comprehensive information about the DSM-5-TR, including updates, resources, and how to access the manual. It is a useful resource for understanding the broader context of mental disorder classification.

These resources should provide you with thorough and reliable information

on the DSM-5 criteria for ADHD and the diagnostic process.