Learn more about ADHD treatment

Genetics

If family members have ADHD or another mental health condition, the risk is higher.

Environmental factors

An example is exposure to lead at a young age.

Premature birth

Maternal substance abuse

This includes drug and alcohol usage during pregnancy.

Difficulty paying attention (inattention)

This refers to having difficulty staying organized and sustaining focus to finish specific tasks.

Being overactive (hyperactivity)

This is characterized by constantly moving about, excessively fidgeting, or talking. In adults, hyperactivity may present as extreme restlessness or excessive talking.

Acting without thinking (impulsivity)

This refers to having difficulty with self-control.

A mental health professional will determine if a patient suffers from ADHD according to the criteria as defined in the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Fifth edition (also known as DSM-5), and the guideline requires at least five symptoms of inattention and/or hyperactivity and impulsivity for diagnosing adult ADHD (note that only a mental health professional can diagnose ADHD).

ADHD can progress into adulthood and affect children and adults differently. Of the three key symptoms of ADHD, hyperactivity is expressed and experienced differently between an adult and a child. A child with hyperactivity can readily express it by performing actions in situations when he/she shouldn't. For example, running around when they should be sitting down and focusing on a task. An adult with hyperactivity may have more impulse control than a kid and express it differently. It may be more of a feeling of restlessness and impatience. As a result, the adult can find it uncomfortable sitting down for a long time, and will tend to pace and walk around. The individual can also seek lifestyles and jobs that are highly active to satisfy the hyperactivity impulses.

Stimulant medication

This is the most common type of medication that is prescribed for treating ADHD. Stimulant medications work by increasing dopamine and norepinephrine production in the brain. These two neurochemicals are thought to play essential roles in thinking and attention.

Please note: PlushCare cannot prescribe controlled substances including many of the medications listed above, see below for more info.

Non-stimulant medication

These medications are prescribed when a patient is not responding to the stimulant medications or is unable to cope with the side effects brought about by the stimulant medications. Non-stimulant medications typically take longer to start working than the stimulant medications.

*Medications are prescribed at the sole discretion of a PlushCare physician. Prescriptions for non-controlled substances can only be written after a medical evaluation. Scheduling an appointment does not guarantee that a medication can or will be prescribed.

Anxiety

A person suffering from ADHD can also be suffering from anxiety disorder. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, around half of adults with ADHD also have anxiety disorder. People with anxiety disorder feel intense anxiety or fear persistently in their daily lives, which impedes their daily normal functioning.

Mood disorders

According to CHADD (Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder), approximately 38% of adult ADHD patients also suffer from mood disorder. Mood disorders are characterized by extreme mood swings, and can include depression and bipolar disorder.

Other mental health conditions

ADHD often coexists with other mental disorders. These include:

• Autism spectrum disorder

• Eating disorders

• Oppositional defiant disorder

• Sleep disorders

• Tourette's syndrome

Learning disabilities

According to CHADD (Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder), children with an ADHD diagnosis tend to have a higher probability of developing learning disorders than children without ADHD. Specifically, approximately half of the children with ADHD have learning disorders, and about 5% of children without ADHD have learning disorders. Common learning disorders are dyslexia and dyscalculia.