Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)-Causes, Diagnosis And Management

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), is a psychiatric disorder of the neuro developmental type in which there are significant problems of attention, hyperactivity, or acting impulsively that are not appropriate for a person's age.Despite being the most commonly studied and diagnosed psychiatric disorder in children and adolescents, the cause in the majority of cases is unknown. It affects about 6–7% of children when diagnosed via theDSM-IV(Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) criteria and 1–2% when diagnosed via theICD-10(International classification of diseases) criteria. Rates are similar between countries and depend mostly on how it is diagnosed. ADHD is diagnosed approximately three times more in boys than in girls. About 30–50% of people diagnosed in childhood continue to have symptoms into adulthood and between 2–5% of adults have the condition. ADHD management usually involves some combination of counseling, lifestyle changes, and medications. Medications are only recommended as a first-line treatment in children who have severe symptoms and may be considered for those with moderate symptoms who either refuse or fail to improve with counseling.Most healthcare providers accept ADHD as a genuine disorder with debate in the scientific community mainly around how it is diagnosed and treated.