Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the term designated by the American Psychiatric Association in the fifth edition of its Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) to refer to the set of three core psychological symptoms—inattention, excessive activity, and impulsivity—when those symptoms begin by age 12, persist for at least 6 months, and interfere with individuals’ development and ability to perform the tasks of everyday living. This entry further describes ADHD and discusses its prevalence, the development of the understanding of ADHD and diagnostic criteria for the disorder, risk and protective factors, treatments for ADHD, measurement issues in the evaluation of ADHD, and promising advances in diagnosis and treatment of ADHD from a neuroscience perspective.

For individuals with severe symptoms, the effects of ADHD can have ...