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Revitalizing Psychiatry
Adult ADD
What is Adult ADD?
Until the 1970s, it was believed that ADHD was strictly a childhood disorder, and that children outgrew it
in adolescence. It is one of the most prevalent and diagnosed disorders in children. Only gradually was it
realized that while the hyperactivity component may diminish, the attention and impulsive aspects can
persist into adulthood.
The basic categories of symptoms in children are inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. People often
refer to the adult form of the disorder as ADD (Attention-Deficit Disorder), because symptoms of
hyperactivity tend to diminish with age, often taking the form of restlessness or fidgetiness (eg,
persistent pencil tapping and/or foot tapping) and difficulty engaging in quiet activities. However, the
medical community uses ADHD for both children and adults, and this term is becoming more widely
accepted.
Symptoms commonly associated with Adult ADD in adults include:
These symptoms may interfere with success at work and get in the way at home or with friends. Many
adults do not realize that they have Adult ADD until their own child is diagnosed with the disorder. Only
then do they recognize the pattern of problems they have faced since childhood. They are relieved that
there's a name for the frustration they've felt all their lives, and there are therapies and treatments
designed to help.
World Health Organization designed an Adult Self-Report Scale (ASRS - V1.1) Screener consisting of the
following questionnaire that can be used as a starting point to help you recognize the signs/symptoms of
adult ADD but is not meant to replace consultation with a trained healthcare professional. An accurate
diagnosis can only be made through a clinical evaluation. Regardless of the questionnaire results, if you
have concerns about diagnosis and treatment of ADD, please discuss your concerns with your physician.
Main questions:
Additional questions:
Possible answers are: "Never", "Rarely", "Sometimes", "Often" and "Very Often".
If four or more answers to the Main questions are "Sometimes", "Often" or "Very Often" then the patient
has symptoms highly consistent with ADD in adults and should seek consultation with a psychiatrist.
From WHO Composite International Diagnostic Interview
© World Health Organization
Until the 1970s, it was believed that ADHD was strictly a childhood disorder, and that children outgrew it
in adolescence. It is one of the most prevalent and diagnosed disorders in children. Only gradually was it
realized that while the hyperactivity component may diminish, the attention and impulsive aspects can
persist into adulthood.
The basic categories of symptoms in children are inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. People often
refer to the adult form of the disorder as ADD (Attention-Deficit Disorder), because symptoms of
hyperactivity tend to diminish with age, often taking the form of restlessness or fidgetiness (eg,
persistent pencil tapping and/or foot tapping) and difficulty engaging in quiet activities. However, the
medical community uses ADHD for both children and adults, and this term is becoming more widely
accepted.
Symptoms commonly associated with Adult ADD in adults include:
- Lack of focus
- Disorganization
- Restlessness
- Difficulty finishing projects
- Losing things
These symptoms may interfere with success at work and get in the way at home or with friends. Many
adults do not realize that they have Adult ADD until their own child is diagnosed with the disorder. Only
then do they recognize the pattern of problems they have faced since childhood. They are relieved that
there's a name for the frustration they've felt all their lives, and there are therapies and treatments
designed to help.
World Health Organization designed an Adult Self-Report Scale (ASRS - V1.1) Screener consisting of the
following questionnaire that can be used as a starting point to help you recognize the signs/symptoms of
adult ADD but is not meant to replace consultation with a trained healthcare professional. An accurate
diagnosis can only be made through a clinical evaluation. Regardless of the questionnaire results, if you
have concerns about diagnosis and treatment of ADD, please discuss your concerns with your physician.
Main questions:
- How often do you have trouble wrapping up the final details of a project, once the challenging
parts have been done? - How often do you have difficulty getting things in order when you have to do a task that requires
organization? - How often do you have problems remembering appointments or obligations?
- When you have a task that requires a lot of thought, how often do you avoid or delay getting
started? - How often do you fidget or squirm with your hands or feet when you have to sit down for a long
time? - How often do you feel overly active and compelled to do things, like you were driven by a motor?
Additional questions:
- How often do you make careless mistakes when you have to work on a boring or difficult project?
- How often do you have difficulty keeping your attention when you are doing boring or repetitive
work? - How often do you have difficulty concentrating on what people say to you, even when they are
speaking to you directly? - How often do you misplace or have difficulty finding things at home or at work?
- How often are you distracted by activity or noise around you?
- How often do you leave your seat in meetings or other situations in which you are expected to
remain seated? - How often do you feel restless or fidgety?
- How often do you have difficulty unwinding and relaxing when you have time to yourself?
- How often do you find yourself talking too much when you are in social situations?
- When you’re in a conversation, how often do you find yourself finishing the sentences of the
people you are talking to, before they can finish them themselves? - How often do you have difficulty waiting your turn in situations when turn taking is required?
- How often do you interrupt others when they are busy?
Possible answers are: "Never", "Rarely", "Sometimes", "Often" and "Very Often".
If four or more answers to the Main questions are "Sometimes", "Often" or "Very Often" then the patient
has symptoms highly consistent with ADD in adults and should seek consultation with a psychiatrist.
From WHO Composite International Diagnostic Interview
© World Health Organization
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