title: ADHD in adults: a concept in evolution.
abstract: Although attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has been recognized as a disorder affecting individuals across the life cycle since the end of the nineties, there is still considerable debate on how to conceptualize the disorder in adults, and on the best way to operationalize diagnostic criteria for this age range. In this comprehensive non-systematic review of the literature, we provide data about prevalence and presentation of ADHD in adulthood as well as discuss major problems in applying criteria developed for children in assessing adults (clinical utility, threshold of symptoms for diagnosis, full ADHD diagnosis in childhood, information source, and additional dimensions for diagnosis-executive functioning impairment and emotional impulsivity). In addition, we provide some recommendations for improving ADHD diagnostic criteria in adulthood.
authors.affiliation: ADHD Outpatient Program, Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Rua Ramiro Barcelos 2350, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
authors.forename: Breno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Matte
authors.forename: Luis Augusto
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Rohde
authors.forename: Eugenio Horácio
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Grevet
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D015995:Prevalence