Expert consensus on the diagnosis and treatment of adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in China (2023 Edition)

Abstract

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder in school-age children, with 30%-50% persisting into adulthood. In addition, adult ADHD patients have more comorbidities, are more difficult to identify, and have a wider range of impairments on individual function, thereby leading to more serious adverse effects on medical care, economy and society. This consensus establishes the diagnose of adult ADHD based on the 11th edition of International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11), determines the treatment plans based on the etiology and pathogenesis of the disease, recommends psycho-stimulants as the first-line pharmacotherapy for adult ADHD and selective noradrenalin reuptake inhibitors (NARIs) as the second-line pharmacotherapy to reduce the core symptoms, and combines non-pharmacological treatments, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, health education and lifestyle training, aiming to improve patients' functioning and quality of life to the utmost.