Structures ADHD evaluation with symptom scales, behavioral observation, and differential diagnosis. Use when evaluating ADHD, administering rating scales, or documenting ADHD assessments.
Structures ADHD evaluation with symptom scales, behavioral observation, and differential diagnosis. Use when evaluating ADHD, administering rating scales, or documenting ADHD assessments.
Structures ADHD evaluation with DSM-5-TR criteria application, validated symptom rating scales, behavioral observation, and systematic differential diagnosis for children, adolescents, and adults.
Why This Skill Exists
ADHD is among the most commonly diagnosed psychiatric conditions, affecting approximately 9.8% of children and 4.4% of adults in the United States. It is also among the most controversial, with significant concerns about both overdiagnosis in some populations and underdiagnosis in others (women, adults, ethnic minorities). The APA Practice Guidelines and AACAP Practice Parameters require that ADHD diagnosis be based on comprehensive evaluation — not a single screening instrument or brief clinical interview. Diagnosis requires documented evidence of symptoms in multiple settings, onset before age 12, clinically significant impairment, and exclusion of alternative explanations.
The controlled substance status of first-line ADHD medications (stimulants, Schedule II) creates additional documentation requirements. DEA regulations, state prescription drug monitoring programs, and payer prior authorization processes all require documentation of a thorough diagnostic evaluation. Prescribing stimulants without adequate diagnostic evaluation exposes prescribers to DEA scrutiny, malpractice liability, and licensing board complaints — particularly for adult-onset presentations where the differential diagnosis is broader.
Checkpoint A: Pre-Draft Intake (Mandatory)
What is the patient's age group? (child 6-11, adolescent 12-17, adult 18+) — default: assessment differs by age group
What is the referral source and reason? (parent concern, teacher concern, self-referral, primary care referral, academic accommodations request, workplace performance) — default: identify
Has the patient been previously diagnosed with ADHD? (new evaluation vs. re-evaluation) — default: new evaluation
Has the patient been on stimulant medication previously? (if so, document response) — default: obtain history
Are collateral informants available? (parents/caregivers for children; partner, parent, or employer for adults) — default: required for children, strongly recommended for adults
Are school or workplace records available? (report cards, IEPs, performance reviews) — default: request
Is neuropsychological testing available or indicated? — default: not required for all cases
Are there known co-occurring conditions? (anxiety, depression, SUD, learning disability, ASD, trauma) — default: screen
Documents to Request
Completed ADHD-specific rating scales from patient and at least one collateral source
School records: report cards (especially elementary school comments), IEPs/504 plans, standardized testing results, disciplinary records
Prior psychological or neuropsychological testing reports
Prior ADHD evaluations and treatment records
Medical records: birth history, developmental milestones, hearing and vision screening
Employment records or performance evaluations (adults)
PDMP query results (if stimulant medication is being considered)
Prior medication trials with doses, durations, and outcomes
Step 1: Symptom Assessment Using DSM-5-TR Criteria
DSM-5-TR ADHD Criteria (F90.x)
Inattention Symptoms (6+ for children, 5+ for adults ≥17, persisting ≥6 months):
Fails to give close attention to details or makes careless mistakes
Difficulty sustaining attention in tasks or play
Does not seem to listen when spoken to directly
Does not follow through on instructions; fails to finish tasks
Difficulty organizing tasks and activities
Avoids or is reluctant to engage in tasks requiring sustained mental effort
Loses things necessary for tasks and activities
Easily distracted by extraneous stimuli (or unrelated thoughts in adults)
Forgetful in daily activities
Hyperactivity-Impulsivity Symptoms (6+ for children, 5+ for adults ≥17, persisting ≥6 months):
Fidgets with hands/feet or squirms in seat
Leaves seat when remaining seated is expected
Runs about or climbs inappropriately (in adults, may be subjective restlessness)
Unable to play or engage in leisure activities quietly
"On the go" or acts as if "driven by a motor"
Talks excessively
Blurts out answers before questions are completed
Difficulty waiting turn
Interrupts or intrudes on others
Additional Required Criteria:
Several inattentive or hyperactive-impulsive symptoms were present BEFORE age 12
Symptoms present in TWO or more settings (home, school/work, social)
Clear evidence that symptoms interfere with functioning
Symptoms not better explained by another mental disorder
Presentation Specifiers:
Combined (F90.2): Both inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity criteria met
Predominantly Inattentive (F90.0): Inattention criteria met, hyperactivity-impulsivity criteria not fully met
Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive (F90.1): Hyperactivity-impulsivity criteria met, inattention criteria not fully met
Severity: Mild, Moderate, Severe
Step 2: Multi-Informant Rating Scales
Required Rating Scales by Age Group
Children and Adolescents:
Vanderbilt ADHD Diagnostic Rating Scale (Parent and Teacher): DSM-aligned, includes performance items, screens for ODD and anxiety/depression. Free, widely used.
BRIEF-2 (Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function): Assesses executive function in daily life. Parent and teacher forms.
Adults:
ASRS v1.1 (Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale): WHO-developed screener. Part A (6 items) = screening; Part B (12 items) = supplementary. Score ≥4 on Part A suggests ADHD.
CAARS-2 (Conners Adult ADHD Rating Scales): Self-report and observer forms. Norm-referenced T-scores with validity indices.
BAARS-IV (Barkley Adult ADHD Rating Scale): Current and childhood symptom assessment with normative data.
Administer at least one validated rating scale from the patient and one from a collateral informant. Document scores and interpret against normative data for the patient's age and sex.
Step 3: Clinical Interview and Developmental History
Behavioral problems in early childhood (before school entry)
Elementary school performance — request report cards with teacher comments (most revealing source)
History of disciplinary actions, suspensions, grade retention
Social development: peer relationships, ability to play cooperatively, turn-taking
Family history of ADHD, learning disabilities, substance use disorders (strong genetic component — heritability ~75%)
Current Functioning Assessment
Academic or work performance: GPA, job evaluations, task completion, organizational challenges
Daily living: Time management, bill payment, household management, driving record
Relationships: Impact on partner, family, social connections
Self-esteem and emotional regulation
Substance use history (ADHD increases risk for SUD, and SUD complicates assessment)
Coping strategies used (caffeine self-medication, avoidance, delegation)
Behavioral Observation During Interview
Document observed ADHD-consistent behaviors: fidgeting, difficulty staying on topic, losing train of thought, frequently checking phone, difficulty with sustained conversation, impulsive interruptions. Also document the absence of such behaviors — ADHD symptoms may not be evident in a novel, stimulating, one-on-one setting.
Step 4: Differential Diagnosis and Comorbidity Assessment
ADHD has extensive symptom overlap with multiple conditions. Systematically evaluate:
Anxiety disorders (GAD): Difficulty concentrating, restlessness — but anxiety-driven, episodic, associated with worry. Administer GAD-7.
Major Depressive Disorder: Poor concentration, psychomotor changes, low motivation — but episodic, associated with mood change. Administer PHQ-9.
Bipolar Disorder: Distractibility, talkativeness, increased activity — but episodic, associated with mood elevation or irritability, grandiosity, decreased sleep need.
PTSD / Trauma: Hyperarousal, concentration difficulty, irritability — but associated with trauma exposure and re-experiencing/avoidance symptoms. Administer PCL-5.
Substance Use Disorders: Cognitive impairment, impulsivity — screen with AUDIT and DAST-10. Assess whether ADHD symptoms predate substance use.
Sleep disorders: Sleep deprivation produces inattention, irritability, and impaired executive function indistinguishable from ADHD. Screen with STOP-BANG, Epworth Sleepiness Scale.
Learning Disabilities: Academic difficulties may mimic ADHD inattention. Psychoeducational testing may be indicated.
Autism Spectrum Disorder: Inattention and executive dysfunction are common; ADHD and ASD frequently co-occur.
Personality Disorders (Borderline): Impulsivity, emotional dysregulation, relationship instability — but identity disturbance, abandonment fear, and self-harm distinguish BPD.
Document each differential considered, the clinical reasoning for inclusion or exclusion, and any conditions that co-occur with ADHD (comorbidity rates: anxiety 30-40%, depression 20-30%, ODD/CD 40-60% in children, SUD 25-40% in adults).
Step 5: Diagnostic Formulation and Treatment Recommendations
Integrate all data sources into a formulation:
Diagnostic statement example:
"Based on multi-informant rating scales (Vanderbilt Parent: 8/9 inattention items endorsed at 'often' or 'very often'; Teacher: 7/9 inattention items; performance impairment in 3/8 areas), clinical interview confirming onset before age 12, corroborating school records demonstrating consistent pattern since 2nd grade, and systematic exclusion of anxiety (GAD-7 = 3), depression (PHQ-9 = 4), sleep disorder, and thyroid dysfunction (TSH normal), the patient meets DSM-5-TR criteria for ADHD, Predominantly Inattentive Presentation, Moderate severity."
PDMP queried if stimulant medication is recommended
Presentation specifier and severity documented
Treatment recommendations aligned with age-appropriate guidelines
Academic/workplace accommodations addressed
Guidelines
Never diagnose ADHD based solely on self-report or a single rating scale — multi-informant, multi-method assessment is the standard of care per APA and AACAP guidelines.
Always document evidence of childhood onset — adult-onset ADHD is not recognized in DSM-5-TR, and "late-onset" presentations should trigger evaluation for alternative diagnoses.
Screen for substance use disorders before prescribing stimulants — ADHD and SUD commonly co-occur, and stimulant diversion/misuse is a documented risk. Use PDMP.
Do not rely on behavioral observations during the office visit to rule out ADHD — a structured, novel, one-on-one setting may temporarily suppress ADHD symptoms.
In adults presenting for first-time ADHD evaluation, maintain high suspicion for stimulant-seeking behavior — but do not deny appropriate diagnosis and treatment based on this concern alone. Document the clinical reasoning for the diagnosis.
For children, obtain teacher rating scales before rendering a diagnosis — parent-only assessment is insufficient to establish cross-setting impairment.
Document the response to treatment using the same rating scales used for diagnosis — measurement-based care is the standard for ADHD management.
When ADHD co-occurs with other conditions, treat the most impairing condition first — but document the rationale for treatment sequencing.
