ADULTS WITH ATTENTION-DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER - A CONTROVERSIAL DIAGNOSIS/

The diagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in ad ults has remained controversial. This paper reviews the empirical evid ence to date as to whether the diagnosis of ADHD in adults is valid an d consistent with the childhood syndrome. Evidence of descriptive, div ergent, pre dictive, and concurrent validity were examined. The availa ble literature provides evidence that adult ADHD can be reliably diagn osed and that the diagnosis confers considerable power to forecast com plications and treatment response. Studies of genetic transmission, sp ecific treatment responses, and abnormalities in brain structure and f unction in affected individuals are also consistent with studies in ch ildhood ADHD. There is converging evidence that adult ADHD is a not ra re, valid clinical diagnosis. In addition, studies suggest that adult and child patients with ADHD may share a similar treatment-responsive, underlying neurobiological substrate.