Is ADHD a valid diagnosis in adults? Yes

Asherson, Philip, Adamou, Marios, Bolea, Blanca, Müller, Ulrich, Morua, Susan Dunn, Pitts, Mark, Thome, Johannes and Young, Susan J. (2010) Is ADHD a valid diagnosis in adults? Yes. British medical journal, 340. p. 549. ISSN 0959-8138

Abstract

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is well established in childhood, with 3.6% of children in the United Kingdom being affected. Most regions have child and adolescent mental health or paediatric services for ADHD. Follow-up studies of children with ADHD find that 15% still have the full diagnosis at 25 years, and a further 50% are in partial remission, with some symptoms associated with clinical and psychosocial impairments persisting.

ADHD is a clinical syndrome defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition, by high levels of hyperactive, impulsive, and inattentive behaviours in early childhood that persist over time, pervade across situations, and lead to notable impairments. ADHD is thought to result from complex interactions between genetic and environmental factors.

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