Diagnostic Criteria for ADHD

There are five DSM-IV Criteria required for the diagnosis.

Symptom criteria must be met for 6 months.
Some symptoms must be present before the age of 7 years.
Some impairment from symptoms must be present in 2 or more settings .
Symptoms lead to significant impairment in the context of social, academic or occupational functioning.
Symptoms are not exclusively due to other medical, neurological or psychiatric disorder.

ADHD DSM-IV-TR CRITERIA HYPERACTIVITY/IMPULSIVITY SYMPTOMS

6 or more of the following manifested often:

HYPERACTIVITY SYMPTOMS

Unable to stay seated.
Inappropriate running, climbing.
(adults have internal restlessness)
Difficulty engaging in leisure activities quietly.
On the go.
Talks excessively.
Fidgets with hands or feet or squirms in seats.

IMPULSIVITY SYMPTOMS

Blurts out answers before questions finished.
Difficulty awaiting turn.
Interrupts or intrudes on others.

ADHD DSMIV-TR CRITERIA INATTENTIVE SYMPTOMS

6 or more of the following manifested often:

Inattention to details, makes careless mistakes.
Difficulty sustaining attention.
Seems not to listen, fails to finish tasks.
Does not follow through on instructions and fails to finish school work, chores or duties in the workplace.
Difficulty organizing.
Avoids tasks requiring sustained attention.
Loses things.
Easily distracted.
Forgetful.

Reference: APA, DSM-IV-TR, 2000

Adult Scale: A scale has been created to assist with the diagnosis of ADHD in the adult population. The Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS) Symptom Checklist was developed in conjunction with the World Health Organization and the Workgroup on Adult ADHD.

Information on this rating scale and a copy of the ASRS can be found at this web address: www.med.nyu.edu/psych/assets/ adhdscreen18.pdf