ADHD in Adulthood: A Guide to Current Theory, Diagnosis, and Treatment Book

Until the 1970s, ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder) was considered a childhood problem that disappeared during adolescence, but today most professionals recognize ADHD as a disorder that can continue in adulthood. With new findings about adult ADHD receiving unprecedented media attention, ADHD has become one of the most frequently self-diagnosed disorders in psychiatry. ADHD in Adulthood is a comprehensive guide to theory, diagnosis, and treatment that will help physicians and other health care professionals as well as patients and their families understand and cope with the disorder. Here, leading authorities provide a practical approach for diagnosing and treating ADHD in adult patients. All three authors have extensive experience treating children and adults with ADHD, and Drs. Gabrielle Weiss and Lily Trokenberg Hechtman conducted the first study following children with ADHD into adulthood. How does ADHD manifest itself in adult life? In general, the authors write, hyperactivity tends to diminish with age, impulsivity changes quality, and attention problems remain the same but become more disabling as organizational demands increase. The authors carefully answer the questions often posed by professionals and patients about these symptoms and other issues. They describe the diagnostic interview and the use of rating scales, and include examples of the scales in the text. They also provide a well-balanced review of associated psychiatric conditions, such as mood and anxiety disorders, Tourette's syndrome, oppositional and conduct problems, and substance abuse. Descriptions of all the primary approaches to treatment?medication, psychological therapies, and environmental restructuring?include vivid case examples. Because ADHD is both an adult and a pediatric disorder and is frequently found in more than one family member, the authors also discuss ADHD's effects on the family. The book includes descriptions of the disorder's impact written by each member of a family in which both the mother and the eldest son suffer from ADHD. ADHD in Adulthood ends with speculations on directions the field may take and suggestions for future research.Read More