title: New DSM-5 criteria for ADHD - Does it matter?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The new Diagnostic Statistical Manual (DSM) requires the presence of fewer symptoms to make a diagnosis of adult ADHD while the criteria for diagnosis in childhood are unchanged as compared to previous editions. This study examines the prevalence of adults meeting the revised DSM-5 symptoms cutoff as compared to the previous DSM-IV symptoms cutoff.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study is part of a larger nationwide study that evaluated the use of, and the attitudes toward, ADHD medications by university students. 445 students from four major university faculties were surveyed and filled out questionnaires for our study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The proportion of participants that met the minimum threshold of six out of nine current symptoms in either of the two DSM-IV symptom domains (inattentive presentation and hyperactive/impulsive presentation) for ADHD was 12.7% while the proportion that met the minimum threshold of five symptoms in either of the DSM-5 symptom domains was 21%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Since the new DSM requires fewer current symptoms for a diagnosis of ADHD, a significant increase (65%) was observed in the number of participants meeting the new cutoff as compared to the old DSM-IV symptoms cutoff. This increase in the number of adults meeting symptoms cutoff may affect the rates of adults diagnosed with ADHD. Using the new criteria may identify more adults with ADHD and fewer diagnoses will be missed. However, meeting the new symptoms cutoff should be considered within the overall clinical context to prevent over-diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Soroka Medical Center, Beer Sheva, Israel. Electronic address: tohar_2@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Tohar
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rigler
authors.affiliation: Geha Mental Health Center, Petach Tikva, Israel. Electronic address: dr.iris.manor@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Iris
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Manor
authors.affiliation: Soroka Medical Center, Beer Sheva, Israel. Electronic address: adiekalansky@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Adie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kalansky
authors.affiliation: Soroka Medical Center, Beer Sheva, Israel. Electronic address: zshorer@bgu.ac.il.
authors.forename: Zamir
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Shorer
authors.affiliation: Soroka Medical Center, Beer Sheva, Israel. Electronic address: iris@noyman.com.
authors.forename: Iris
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Noyman
authors.affiliation: Soroka Medical Center, Beer Sheva, Israel. Electronic address: yair.sadaka@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Yair
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sadaka
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005178:Faculty; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015995:Prevalence; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires