Diagnosis in adults

It's not easy to diagnose ADHD in adults or even in teenagers, since a lack of focus, impulsive behavior, and an inability to organize and follow through might be explained by depression, substance abuse, or the stresses of a too-busy life. Sometimes an adult will recognize the symptoms in himself--or herself--when a child is diagnosed. Other times, adults will seek professional psychological help and find that their depression or anxiety is related to ADHD.

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In order to be properly diagnosed with ADHD, an adult must have childhood-onset and persistent, current symptoms. For an accurate diagnosis, the following are recommended:

• A history of the adult's behavior as a child
• An interview with the patient's life partner, parent, close friend, or other close associate
• A physical exam
• Psychological tests to rule out competing causes, such as psychiatric disorders