Question

How will you assess a 20 year old college student who thinks he has ADHD, and has tried his friend's Concerta and found it to help him study?

Using dsm5 criteria and diagnostic tools

Answer 1

Assessment for the 20 year old college student for ADHD using the criteria and Diagnostic tools of DSM 5 would be as following:

Criteria: All following criteria are essential to diagnose for ADHD. None of them should be missed for diagnosing ADHD.

• Assessing for the symptoms of inattention and impulsivity/hyperactivity: At least five symptoms of inattention or impulsivity/ hyperactivity were present persistently for past six months. These symptoms could be in combined states of both inattention and impulsivity/hyperactivity or separately as symptoms for inattention and symptoms for impulsivity/hyperactivity.
• Assessing whether the symptoms were present in childhood: For ADHD it's necessary that several symptoms of in attention and impulsivity/ hyperactivity should be present before the age of 12 years.
• To diagnose ADHD it's necessary that several symptoms of inattention or impulsivity/ hyperactivity interferes with activities at least two settings as home, school/college/workplace or social relationships/gatherings.
• These symptoms should interfere or reduce the quality of social, academic or personal performance of the individual.
• These symptoms must not be associated with other psychological disorders as Schizophrenia, mood disorders, depression etc.

Symptoms for inattention. If five of these symptoms are present in the student then he can diagnosed with ADHD

• Difficulty in giving close attention to detail or makes careless mistakes.
• Difficulty to focus attention for longer duration.
• Difficulty to give close attention while listening to the details.
• Difficulty to follow the instructions and often mess up or end up with incomplete work.
• Do not like or avoids tasks that requires focus and concentration of attention.
• Is disorganized at tasks and daily activities.
• Often looses interest in activities and tasks,and discontinues them.
• Is easily deflected from the task by the outer stimulus or inner thoughts.
• Often display forgetfulness in daily activities.

The symptoms of impulsivity/hyperactivity of which five should be present persistently for past six months are as following:

• Often seen fidgeting, tapping hands or squirming in seating position.
• Often leaves seat when required to be seated.
• Often exhibits restless behavior.
• Inability to engage in activities of leisure quietly.
• Always exhibit behavior as if "driven by a motor" or is " always on the go".
• Excessive talking habit.
• Unable to wait for the turn.
• Habit of blurting out answers.
• Often interrupts and intrudes others.

These symptoms should be analysed and assessed for diagnosing in combination or separately.