ATTENTION-DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER IN ADULTS - DIAGNOSIS, TREATMENT, AND PROGNOSIS

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common, disabling disease in adults. Newly developed diagnostic measures are available to screen for and support the diagnosis. ADHD typically causes complai nts of disturbances of attention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity, alth ough a subgroup of patients have only problems with attention. The dis order may be subtle or it may be obscured by secondary problems; the b oundaries of the syndrome often blur with those of other disease entit ies. Once the diagnosis is confirmed, effective pharmacologic treatmen ts are available. Psychologic treatment serves an important adjunctive role for associated problems and concurrent psychologic disorders. Ma rked improvement in quality of life often occurs after diagnosis and a ppropriate treatment.