Abstract
Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common disorders of childhood and yet the diagnosis remains controversial. There are no specific cognitive, metabolic, neurological markers or medical tests for ADHD. Comorbidity is also extremely high, leading to doubt on the specificity of the diagnosis. Another commonly cited shortcoming of the ADHD construct is that none of the symptoms are uniquely diagnostic of ADHD and more often than not, each symptom can also be explained by other diagnoses. Specifically, children with anxiety disorders, autism spectrum, or cognitive disorders secondary to medical conditions share many common characteristics with developmental ADHD. Because the behaviorally defined DSM diagnostic system is not neuroanatomically defined, the diverse range of ADHD symptoms cannot be precisely mapped to any particular anatomic structure. In fact, imaging studies of ADHD suggests countless areas of possible dysfunction. This makes ADHD less likely to have a single etiology. Despite these multitudes of issues, ADHD has been maintained in the DSM-V with only small diagnostic modifications. Healthcare providers are encouraged to stay abreast of ongoing diagnostic research, but potentially confusing diagnosis.
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