ADHD described as a syndrome of antisocial inattentive disorder no evidence of minimal brain dysfunction categorical in DSM III DSM 5 neurodevelopmental disorder adults only need 5 symptoms while children need 6 subtypes inattention hyperactivity combined One of the most commonly diagnosed childhood disorder moreso males 2 1 or 10 1 like autism almost never seen in girls age of child is critical in making diagnosis over diagnosis is a cultural thing Other Specifiers in partial remission mild moderate severe Inattention careless mistakes failing to give close attention to detail difficulty sustaining attention in tasks play don t listen follow instructions difficulty organizing tasks keep belongings in order poor time management reluctant to engage in tasks requiring sustained mental effort looses things necessary for tasks activities easily distracted by extraneous activity forgetful in daily activities chores errands Hyperactive Impulsive fidgets taps hands or feet or squirms often leaves seat when being seated is expected often runs about or climbs when inappropriate unable to play engage in leisure activity quietly on the go all the time talks excessively interrupting conversations can t wait turn impatient blurts out answers before questions complete these assessments seek to identify deficits in Forms of Assessment WISC WRAT attention cognitive control cid 127 memory global intelligence Genetic studies Neurobiological frontal abnormality family studies show ADHD is 5x more frequent in relatives with a child presenting ADHD twin studies also show links between heredity and ADHD environmental factors low SES or poor parenting issues not enough known about development of frontal cortex and neural connections to other parts across childhood difficulty of how to map neural changes to behavioral manifestation that changes across time cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 Psychological Explanations Executive Functioning Hypothesis impaired processes behavior account for subtle neurobiological impairments biology residual normality developing in on modular space in the brain Developmental Psychopathology at different ages inhibition systems develop at different rates that cause specific disorders development of one system affects another measurement issues different paradigms Sonuga Barke motivational attitude aversion to delay 2 distinct pathways cognitive deficits executive functioning ADHD motivational style adverse to situations ADHD Explains development through transactional approach works best