What is ADHD?

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

ADHD in Adults is a legitimate diagnosis. It begins in childhood typically by the teenage years, and two-thirds of ADHD children grow into ADHD adults. ADHD is very typically accompanied by other conditions such as anxiety, depression, substance use disorder, bipolar disorder, sleep problems, and a number of other diagnoses. The presence of these diagnoses should alert primary care professionals to screen for the presence of ADHD, which can be an underlying contributor to patient complaints. There are 18 well-recognized symptoms of ADHD, the count of which can determine if a person is one of three types — hyperactive, inattentive, or combined.

The most effective treatment for ADHD today is ADHD medication, from which there is a variety to choose — both stimulants and non-stimulants. While exercise, other psychological approaches and alternative modalities can have positive effects on ADHD symptoms, ADHD medications have been shown by research to have the most predictable and largest effect size in reducing symptoms of ADHD.

Due to century-old assumptions about the disorder disappearing after childhood, adults with ADHD and their primary care doctors are today beginning to understand the disorder and what can be done about it, safely and effectively. No longer just a disorder in children and adolescents, ADHDinAdults.com has up-to-date, evidence-based, accredited CME and non-CME programs for healthcare professionals, developed and presented by experts in the field.