Essentials of ADHD Assessment for Children and Adolescents

A comprehensive approach to accurate ADHD diagnosis

In Essentials of ADHD Assessment in Children and Adolescents, the authors provide a clear and informative road map for practitioners seeking to conduct state-of-the-art assessments for one of the most common disorders of childhood. Drawing upon years of experience in conducting diagnostic evaluations of ADHD following best-practice standards, they emphasise the importance of a comprehensive evaluation, incorporating data from multiple sources, using multiple methods, and interpreting findings within the appropriate developmental and cultural contexts. The major components of an ADHD evaluation (interviews, rating scales, cognitive testing, observation, record review) are reviewed in detail.

Expert guidance is provided for resolving the most common challenges in assessing ADHD, including differentiating symptoms from normal development, dealing with discrepant data, differential diagnosis, and considering comorbidity. The latest scholarly literature is integrated with the authors' practical recommendations to provide clinicians with the concepts and tools needed for effective and accurate assessment of ADHD, addressing such topics as:

• When inattention is ADHD, and when it may be emotional or neurological
• Which disorders may masquerade as or present with ADHD
• The elements of accurate ADHD testing and the reasons behind them
• Integrating results of a multi-modal approach into an ADHD assessment

An indispensable professional resource for practising clinicians, Essentials of ADHD Assessment for Children and Adolescents is a reader-friendly guide to providing a thorough, responsible ADHD evaluation.

Table of Contents

Foreword xi

Series Preface xiii

Preface xv

Acknowledgments xix

One Understanding ADHD 1

• Historical Perspective 2
• Overarching Principles 8
• Core Features 11
• Associated Features and Comorbidity 14
• Etiology 20
• Epidemiology 25
• Summary 30
• Test Yourself 30
• References 32

Two What the DSM-5 Says About ADHD 45

• Organization of the DSM-5 46
• DSM-5 Criteria for ADHD 49
• How Do I Know if It Is DSM-5 ADHD? 64
• Summary 64
• Test Yourself 65
• References 67

Three Assessing ADHD: Goals and Guiding Principles 69

• Goals 70
• Guiding Principles 78
• Summary 99
• Test Yourself 100
• References 102

Four Components of ADHD Assessment 107

• Sequence of Evaluation Components 109
• Record Review 111
• Interview 113
• Clinical Observation 125
• Rating Scales 128
• Cognitive Testing 133
• Summary 148
• Test Yourself 149
• References 150

Five Putting It All Together: Integrating Findings and Drawing Conclusions 154

• Clinical Application of the DSM-5 Criteria for ADHD 155
• Differential Diagnosis and Comorbidity 163
• Dealing with Discrepant Data 179
• Beyond Diagnosis 183
• Summary 186
• Test Yourself 187
• References 189

Six Illustrative Case Reports 191

• Psychological Evaluation 194
• ADHD Evaluation Report 223
• Neuropsychological Evaluation 245

Annotated Bibliography 275

About the Authors 277

Index 279

"Far and away the best guide to ADHD assessment and diagnosis ever done."
- Stephen P. Hinshaw, Ph.D. Professor, Department of Psychology, University of California, Berkeley; Editor, Psychological Bulletin; co-author of The ADHD Explosion