Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Pediatric

BASICS

BASICS

BASICS

DESCRIPTION

DESCRIPTION

DESCRIPTION

  • Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that manifests in early childhood characterized by distractibility, impulsivity, hyperactivity, and/or inattention.
  • Three subsets: predominantly hyperactivity (ADHD-H), predominantly inattentive (ADHD-I), or combined (ADHD-C)
  • System(s) affected: nervous

EPIDEMIOLOGY

EPIDEMIOLOGY

EPIDEMIOLOGY

  • Predominant age: onset <12 years; lasts into adolescence and adulthood
  • Predominant gender: assigned male at birth > assigned female at birth (2:1); ADHD-I is more common in patients assigned female at birth.

Prevalence

Prevalence

Prevalence

9–15% of children aged 4 to 17 years

ETIOLOGY AND PATHOPHYSIOLOGY

ETIOLOGY AND PATHOPHYSIOLOGY

ETIOLOGY AND PATHOPHYSIOLOGY

Not definitive—suggested pathogenesis includes imbalance of catecholamine metabolism and structural brain differences. Environmental influences are controversial.

RISK FACTORS

RISK FACTORS

RISK FACTORS

  • Family history (genetic component)
  • Medical causes (affecting brain development)—including prenatal tobacco exposure and prematurity

COMMONLY ASSOCIATED CONDITIONS

COMMONLY ASSOCIATED CONDITIONS

COMMONLY ASSOCIATED CONDITIONS

  • Mood disorders—depression, anxiety
  • Behavior disorders—oppositional defiant disorder, conduct disorder
  • Autism spectrum disorder
  • Physiologic disorders—sleep disorders, tics
  • Learning disabilities, developmental coordination syndrome, language disorder
  • Substance use disorders

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