title: Medical mimics. Medical and neurological conditions simulating ADHD.
abstract: The medical and neurological conditions that simulate ADHD are reviewed, as well as those disorders frequently presenting as comorbidities with ADHD. The localization of ADHD has invoked multiple areas, including frontal lobes, nondominant parietal lobe, and basal ganglia, and the neural network theory of cortical-subcortical-cortical loops has been implicated in the pathogenesis of ADHD. The medical evaluation of patients presenting with ADHD should be comprehensive, with an emphasis on demonstrating chronic and permeating symptoms since early childhood without a better medical explanation. Associated thyroid disorders are reviewed, including the syndrome of resistance to thyroid hormone. Suggested laboratory studies are provided, depending on the clinical circumstances.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics and Neurology, George Washington University School of Medicine and Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC 20010, USA.
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Pearl
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Weiss
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Stein
mesh_terms: D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D006980:Hyperthyroidism / Q000175:diagnosis; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000175:diagnosis; D009069:Movement Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000503:physiopathology; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D013963:Thyroid Hormones