Hallowell and Ratey's Diagnostic Criteria for ADD in Adults

If you have ever found yourself putting the milk away in the cereal cupboard on a regular basis or reading a magazine in the lobby long after that meeting you were supposed to be at started and wondered whether you have ADD or ADHD or AD/HD or Hyper Kinesis or Minimal Brain Dysfunction or whatever they're calling it this year, you could do no better for yourself than to turn to Doctors Edward M. Hallowell and John J. Ratey for diagnosis.

I have long linked to their classic book on ADHD, "Driven to Distraction", on my site and have used their list of criteria as fodder for many articles. Their book explores the phenomenon of ADHD through the cases of Dr. Hallowell and provides in depth descriptions of the various aspects of this disorder. I found the book revelatory and insightful, even comforting. I especially found it useful in providing words for me to help explain myself better to my wife in the early years of our marriage. I am much more articulate now than I was then but I still find this book an irreplaceable reference to own.

For your convenience, I am listing their very comprehensive list of criteria here with links to my articles based on each point. For more information on each point, please refer to their book or follow the link to my article. If you find yourself within these twenty points I heartily recommend that you purchase their book or at least borrow it from the town library. I feel confident that you won't regret it. Please keep in mind, however, that ADHD traits mirror those found in everyday, average people. The difference is in their intensity and disfunction. Also keep in mind that this list tends to focus on the negative aspects of ADHD.


SUGGESTED DIAGNOSTIC CRITERIA FOR ATTENTION DEFICIT DISORDER IN ADULTS

NOTE: Consider a criterion met only if the behavior is considerably more frequent than that of most people of the same mental age.

A. A chronic disturbance in which at least fifteen of the following are present:


  1. A sense of underachievement, of not meeting one's goals (regardless of how much one has actually accomplished).
  2. Difficulty getting organized.
  3. Chronic procrastination or trouble getting started.
  4. Many projects going simultaneously; trouble with follow-through.
  5. Tendency to say what comes to mind without necessarily considering the timing or appropriateness of the remark.
  6. A frequent search for high stimulation.
  7. An intolerance of boredom.
  8. Easy distractibility, trouble focusing attention, tendency to tune out or drift away in the middle of a page or a conversation, often couple with an ability to hyperfocus at times.
  9. Often creative, inituitive, highly intelligent.
  10. Trouble in going through established channels, following "proper" procedure.
  11. Impatient; low tolerance for frustration.
  12. Impulsive, either verbally or in action, as in impulsive spending of money, changing plans, enacting new schemes or career plans, and the like.
  13. Tendency to worry needlessly, endlessly; tendency to scan the horizon looking for something to worry about, alternating with inattention to or disregard for actual dangers.
  14. Sense of insecurity.
  15. Mood swings, mood lability, especially when disengaged from a person or a project.
  16. Restlessness
  17. Tendency toward addictive behavior.
  18. Chronic problems with self-esteem.
  19. Inaccurate self-observation.
  20. Family history of ADD or manic-depressive illness or depression or substance abuse or other disorders of impulse control or mood.

B. Childhood history of ADD.
C. Situation not explained by other medical or psychiatric condition.






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Comments

Anonymous said…
Easy distractibility, trouble focusing attention, tendency to tune out or drift away in the middle of a page or a conversation, often couple with an ability to hyperfocus at times.

I tuned out in the middle of this sentence.
Claire said…
# A sense of underachievement, of not meeting one's goals (regardless of how much one has actually accomplished).
# Difficulty getting organized.
# Chronic procrastination or trouble getting started.
# Many projects going simultaneously; trouble with follow-through.
# Tendency to say what comes to mind without necessarily considering the timing or appropriateness of the remark.

# Easy distractibility, trouble focusing attention, tendency to tune out or drift away in the middle of a page or a conversation, often couple with an ability to hyperfocus at times.

# Trouble in going through established channels, following "proper" procedure.
# Impatient; low tolerance for frustration.
# Impulsive, either verbally or in action, as in impulsive spending of money, changing plans, enacting new schemes or career plans, and the like.
# Tendency to worry needlessly, endlessly; tendency to scan the horizon looking for something to worry about, alternating with inattention to or disregard for actual dangers.
# Sense of insecurity.
# Mood swings, mood lability, especially when disengaged from a person or a project.

# Chronic problems with self-esteem.
# Inaccurate self-observation.
# Family history of ADD or manic-depressive illness or depression or substance abuse or other disorders of impulse control or mood.

What I married, and am now figuring out how to live with on a daily basis (coupled with severe clinical depression, and a lousy attitude). It's nice to know I'm not alone. I want to read this guys new book "Delivered from Distraction", as I understand it offers hope for the weary.

Claire
D.R. Cootey said…
Leah ~ Oh dear. I guess there's no hope for you then. LOL

Claire ~ Of all the aspects of your husband that I am saddest about it is his poor attitude. But hang in there. He seems to be responding to his new therapist so that bodes well for the future. Change happens slow, despite what Hollywood would have us believe. :)

I have that book and plan on reviewing it here soon. No, I have Answers to Distraction which hasn't grabbed me the same way. "Delivered" is on my "must borrow from the Library" list. Let me know what you think of it if you get to it before I do.

~Douglas
Claire said…
Our new doctor is being shipped out to Iraq! Lord help us. He resigned from the military two years ago, after the last time he got called back (when he was only retired) with 8 days notice. This time they gave him eight weeks.

Ugh. Just when I thought we had some hope!
D.R. Cootey said…
That's certainly disheartening, Claire. See if he'd be willing to offer guidance via email while he's deployed. Tell him you don't want to lose momentum. He might be willing to go for it if he shares your concern for your husband. It won't ask too much of his time and he would maintain contact with you folks for his future practice when he returns. Good luck!
WolfRyder said…
with age some of these have become more managable. I actually can 'think' before speaking most of the time and have gotten into the habit of slapping my hand over my mouth before blurting out something that pops into the head.

Interesting I deal with about 7 of these issues constantly and not once have I ever been diagnosed.

I listened to the book (in audio) several months ago so I could understand what some of my friends are going through with their kids (ADD, ADHD w/all 4 of them).

Great book, well worth the effort for those who need/want to understand.
Anonymous said…
That's the best I've done on a test in a long time.

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