Neuropsychological Aspects of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th edition) (DSM-IV) (American Psychiatric Association, 1994), major diagnostic criteria of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) include persistent patterns of inattentiveness, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. In comparison with other children of the same mental age, children with ADHD exhibit these symptoms in varying degrees of excess. The prevalence of ADHD is estimated at between 3 and 5% of all school-age children. Although data on prevalence in adolescence and adulthood are limited, it is thought that the percentages remain relatively stable through early adolescence. In a majority of cases, symptoms abate during late adolescence and adulthood. However, a lesser number of individuals continue to experience the entire array of symptoms associated with ADHD into midadulthood.