title: [ADHD across the lifespan - an update on research and practice].
abstract: ADHD can be regarded as a lifespan disorder. From biopsychosocial vantage point, ADHD leads to age-specific impairments, high psychological distress and is associated with a high occurrence of comorbid disorders. For this review, we summarize actual findings from epidemiological, neuroscientific and clinical studies to present an overview of ADHD-research. We discuss the proposed revisions for DSM-V criteria by comparing them with the present DSM-IV-TR criteria, with a focus on the implications for research and practice. In the second part of this paper, we present new findings from socioeconomic, diagnostic and therapeutic perspectives. There is evidence for a high economic burden that is indirectly caused by ADHD (e.g., production loss, material costs, higher accident rates). Consequently, there is a high demand for comprehensive diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. We present a summary of the latest available diagnostic instruments and therapeutic manuals. The results of research and practice show a growing support for a lifespan perspective on ADHD psychopathology. The burdens resulting from ADHD are evident in all age groups, which has led to establishing age-specific diagnostic and therapeutic materials. Although there is a lack in ADHD-specific healthcare in adulthood, this should be realized by structural changes in healthcare services.
authors.affiliation: Zentrum für Klinische Psychologie und Rehabilitation, Universität Bremen, 28359 Bremen, Germany. sschmidt@uni-bremen.de
authors.forename: Sören
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schüßler
authors.forename: Franz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Petermann
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods; D012106:Research; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012951:Socialization