Why Diagnose and Treat ADHD in Adults?

Abstract

There are compelling reasons why primary care physicians concerned about the well-being of their patients should strive to become competent in recognizing the symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Despite lingering social controversy, the existence of ADHD among a portion of the adult population is well accepted among medical experts. Attention- deficit/hyperactivity disorder in adulthood meets formal validity criteria established for medical disorders.^1,2 An estimated 4% to 5% of the adult population is impaired by ADHD. However, less than one-quarter of these adults have been diagnosed as having ADHD.^1–4