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Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder ( Adhd )

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Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is commonly diagnosed in childhood and affects approximately 5% of children worldwide (5th ed.; DSM-5; American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2013). Once thought to be a disruptive behavior problem, it is now believed to be a neuropsychological disorder that results from abnormalities within the brain and manifests as functional deficits (Barkley, 1997). These deficits result in symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and/or impulsivity. Current diagnostic criteria for ADHD include 18 symptoms that are defined by these three core clusters (APA, 2013). ADHD usually manifests during childhood, however it persists into adolescence and adulthood in an estimated 35%-70% of cases (Adler & Cohen, 2004; Barkley, Fischer, Smallish, & Fletcher, 2002; Kessler et al., 2005) and affects approximately 2.5% of adults worldwide (APA, 2013). The prevalence of adult ADHD is estimated to be between 4% and 5% in the United States, amounting to approximately 9.4 million adults (Faraone, Spencer, Montano, & Biederman, 2004). ADHD was conceived as primarily a disorder of childhood; therefore diagnostic criteria, assessment, and treatment of ADHD in children are well established and more is known about ADHD in children than in adults. ADHD is defined by inattention and behavioral characteristics that affect the individuals’ academic or occupational performance and relationships. For an adult ADHD diagnosis, the individual must have symptoms that

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