The diagnostic issues of Adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): A systematic literature review

Introduction Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a condition that is usually diagnosed in childhood . However studies have shown that there is a propotion of adults with ADHD that did not have the disorder in their early ages and have been diagnosed in adulthood . Symptoms of adult A...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: F. Askri, A. Aissa, S. Jedda, Y. Zgueb, U. Ouali
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Cambridge University Press 2023-03-01
Series:European Psychiatry
Online Access:https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933823020187/type/journal_article
_version_ 1797617551301148672
author F. Askri
A. Aissa
S. Jedda
Y. Zgueb
U. Ouali
author_facet F. Askri
A. Aissa
S. Jedda
Y. Zgueb
U. Ouali
author_sort F. Askri
collection DOAJ
description Introduction Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a condition that is usually diagnosed in childhood . However studies have shown that there is a propotion of adults with ADHD that did not have the disorder in their early ages and have been diagnosed in adulthood . Symptoms of adult ADHD are often confused with other psychiatric conditions due to the similarities in clinical criteria . Diagnosing Adult ADHD is still challenging due to lack of gold standard instruments , which can interfere with the therapy . Objectives Identify the assessement measures that improve the early diagnosis of Adult ADHD Methods A systematic literature search was executed using the PUBMED and GOOGLEscholar databases from 2009 to 2022 exploring the different assessement tools of adult ADHD using the keywords : Adult ADHD – Diagnosis issues – Assessement . Results Results show diagnosing Adult ADHD can be by using three different assessement methods : clinical interview – ADHD behaviour rating and neuropsychological tests . Clinical interview has a high sensitivity but low speceficity in diagnosing ADHD in adults . Harrison and Al showed the CAARS scale appears to have adequate specificity in a young adult population giving it has validity to identify invalid symptom presentation. The TOVA and the Conners CPT are the two CPTs widely used in ADHD assessment. It is not clear whether the TOVA or Conners CPT has better diagnostic accuracy . Cognitive test batteries dont show specific results in identifying ADHD Conclusions To sum up , diagnosing adult ADHD is a challenging situation due to the lack of specifity in the assessemnt tools . This work highlights the necessity of further studies to improve the diagnostic process and the ability to create a universal guidelines . That way , early interventions and treatments can take place and avoid the confusion with other conditions . Disclosure of Interest None Declared
first_indexed 2024-03-11T07:57:38Z
format Article
id doaj.art-4ae0c50a68904c828d57a435b18e15fd
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 0924-9338
1778-3585
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-11T07:57:38Z
publishDate 2023-03-01
publisher Cambridge University Press
record_format Article
series European Psychiatry
spelling doaj.art-4ae0c50a68904c828d57a435b18e15fd2023-11-17T05:05:16ZengCambridge University PressEuropean Psychiatry0924-93381778-35852023-03-0166S952S95210.1192/j.eurpsy.2023.2018The diagnostic issues of Adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): A systematic literature reviewF. Askri0A. Aissa1S. Jedda2Y. Zgueb3U. Ouali4Avicenna, razi psychiatric hospital, Manouba, TunisiaAvicenna, razi psychiatric hospital, Manouba, TunisiaAvicenna, razi psychiatric hospital, Manouba, TunisiaAvicenna, razi psychiatric hospital, Manouba, TunisiaAvicenna, razi psychiatric hospital, Manouba, Tunisia Introduction Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a condition that is usually diagnosed in childhood . However studies have shown that there is a propotion of adults with ADHD that did not have the disorder in their early ages and have been diagnosed in adulthood . Symptoms of adult ADHD are often confused with other psychiatric conditions due to the similarities in clinical criteria . Diagnosing Adult ADHD is still challenging due to lack of gold standard instruments , which can interfere with the therapy . Objectives Identify the assessement measures that improve the early diagnosis of Adult ADHD Methods A systematic literature search was executed using the PUBMED and GOOGLEscholar databases from 2009 to 2022 exploring the different assessement tools of adult ADHD using the keywords : Adult ADHD – Diagnosis issues – Assessement . Results Results show diagnosing Adult ADHD can be by using three different assessement methods : clinical interview – ADHD behaviour rating and neuropsychological tests . Clinical interview has a high sensitivity but low speceficity in diagnosing ADHD in adults . Harrison and Al showed the CAARS scale appears to have adequate specificity in a young adult population giving it has validity to identify invalid symptom presentation. The TOVA and the Conners CPT are the two CPTs widely used in ADHD assessment. It is not clear whether the TOVA or Conners CPT has better diagnostic accuracy . Cognitive test batteries dont show specific results in identifying ADHD Conclusions To sum up , diagnosing adult ADHD is a challenging situation due to the lack of specifity in the assessemnt tools . This work highlights the necessity of further studies to improve the diagnostic process and the ability to create a universal guidelines . That way , early interventions and treatments can take place and avoid the confusion with other conditions . Disclosure of Interest None Declaredhttps://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933823020187/type/journal_article
spellingShingle F. Askri
A. Aissa
S. Jedda
Y. Zgueb
U. Ouali
The diagnostic issues of Adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): A systematic literature review
European Psychiatry
title The diagnostic issues of Adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): A systematic literature review
title_full The diagnostic issues of Adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): A systematic literature review
title_fullStr The diagnostic issues of Adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): A systematic literature review
title_full_unstemmed The diagnostic issues of Adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): A systematic literature review
title_short The diagnostic issues of Adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): A systematic literature review
title_sort diagnostic issues of adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder adhd a systematic literature review
url https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933823020187/type/journal_article
work_keys_str_mv AT faskri thediagnosticissuesofadultattentiondeficithyperactivitydisorderadhdasystematicliteraturereview
AT aaissa thediagnosticissuesofadultattentiondeficithyperactivitydisorderadhdasystematicliteraturereview
AT sjedda thediagnosticissuesofadultattentiondeficithyperactivitydisorderadhdasystematicliteraturereview
AT yzgueb thediagnosticissuesofadultattentiondeficithyperactivitydisorderadhdasystematicliteraturereview
AT uouali thediagnosticissuesofadultattentiondeficithyperactivitydisorderadhdasystematicliteraturereview
AT faskri diagnosticissuesofadultattentiondeficithyperactivitydisorderadhdasystematicliteraturereview
AT aaissa diagnosticissuesofadultattentiondeficithyperactivitydisorderadhdasystematicliteraturereview
AT sjedda diagnosticissuesofadultattentiondeficithyperactivitydisorderadhdasystematicliteraturereview
AT yzgueb diagnosticissuesofadultattentiondeficithyperactivitydisorderadhdasystematicliteraturereview
AT uouali diagnosticissuesofadultattentiondeficithyperactivitydisorderadhdasystematicliteraturereview