What do I need to understand about ADHD that is not fully represented in the DSM?
Diagnosing a patient with ADHD is a complex and nuanced process. This 7-part guide highlights key considerations and decisions clinicians face along the way.
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY: How does ADHD impair the areas of the brain responsible for executive function? (ADHD)?
A: Findings from neuropsychological studies suggest that the frontal cortex and the circuits linking them to the basal ganglia are critical for executive function and, therefore, to attention and exercising inhibition… | Keep reading on Medscape »
DEFICIENT EMOTIONAL SELF-REGULATION: Is emotional dysregulation an ADHD trait? How does it affect diagnosis and treatment?
A: DESR, or deficient emotional self-regulation, is a core facet of ADHD that carries significant consequences. However, it is not included the disorder’s diagnostic criteria. As new research confirms…| Keep reading on ADDitude »
SLEEP: Why does ADHD impact a patient’s sleep?
A: Sleep disturbances caused by ADHD have been overlooked for a number of reasons, including the late age of onset. But recent studies confirm that ADD symptoms do not go away at night… | Keep reading on ADDitude »
COMPLEX ADHD: What is complex ADHD?
A: Most children and adults with ADHD have one or more co-occurring conditions, which almost always impact treatment and outcomes. “Complex ADHD” is a relatively new term that reflects this phenomenon… | Keep reading on ADDitude »
RSD AND ADHD: Is rejection sensitive dysphoria a symptom of ADHD?
A: Rejection sensitive dysphoria is not a formal ADHD symptom, but it is commonly experienced by patients with ADHD who experience extreme emotional sensitivity and emotional pain. It may imitate mood disorders with suicidal ideation and manifest as instantaneous rage at the person responsible… | Keep reading on ADDitude »
RESEARCH ON EMOTIONAL DYSREGULATION: What do I need to know about the latest research on ADHD and emotional dysregulation?
A: Recent findings suggest that problems with emotional regulation, including anger and negative emotions, are genetically linked to ADHD… | Keep reading on ADDitude »
STIGMA: How can clinicians address the stigma around ADHD in Black communities to ensure better healthcare?
A: Battling stigma is nothing new in the ADHD community. The lack of understanding is surprising, even among professionals. But in Black and other marginalized communities, it abounds. | Keep reading on ADDitude »
RELATED RESOURCES
Deficient Emotional Self-Regulation: The Overlooked ADHD Symptom That Impacts Everything
Expert Webinar with Russell Barkley, Ph.D.| Listen now on ADDitude »
Complex ADHD: The New Approach to Understanding, Diagnosing, and Treating Comorbidities in Concert
Expert Webinar with Theresa Cerulli, M.D. | Listen now on ADDitude »
How ADHD Shapes Your Perceptions, Emotions & Motivation
Expert Webinar with William Dodson, M.D. | Listen now on ADDitude »
ADHD Then and Now: How Our Understanding Has Evolved
Expert Webinar with David Anderson, Ph.D. | Listen now on ADDitude »
7-Week Guide to Differential Diagnosis of ADHD, from Medscape x MDEdge x ADDitude:
DECISION 1: How can I better understand ADHD, its causes, and its manifestations?
> DECISION 2: What do I need to understand about ADHD that is not represented in the DSM?
DECISION 3: How can I avoid the barriers and biases that impair ADHD diagnosis for underserved populations?
DECISION 4: How can I best consider psychiatric comorbidities when evaluating for ADHD?
DECISION 5: How can I differentiate ADHD from the comorbidities most likely to present at school and/or work?
DECISION 6: How can I best consider trauma and personality disorders through the lens of ADHD?
DECISION 7: What diagnostic criteria and tests should I perform as part of a differential diagnosis for ADHD?
