Definition of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in Adults

Abstract

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a clinical syndrome defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSMIV) by high levels of hyperactive, impulsive, and inattentive behaviors that begin during early childhood, are persistent over time, pervasive across situations, and lead to clinically significant impairments. Current DSM-IV criteria use a list of 18 symptom items, with 9 for hyperactivity impulsivity and 9 for inattention. Under the International Classification of Disease (ICD-10) classification system endorsed by the World Health Organization, the condition is referred to as hyperkinetic disorder, which is a more restricted definition of the disorder, describing a severe subgroup of patients with the combined subtype of ADHD.