DSM-5 ADHD Diagnosis Criteria Form

Inattentive Type Diagnosis Criteria

• "Demonstrates poor listening skills"
  • Quotations: "Often seems in his own world when spoken to directly over the past year." "Mother reports having to repeat his name three or four times before he registers she is speaking."
• "Loses or misplaces items required for activities or tasks"
  • Quotations: "Constantly loses school jumpers, stationary, and lunchboxes; this has been ongoing for the last 12 months."
• "Diverted by external or irrelevant stimuli"
  • Quotations: "Any noise outside the classroom window immediately pulls his focus away from his desk." "Easily side-tracked by background noise at home since starting Year 3."
• "Forgets everyday activities"
  • Quotations: "Forgets daily routines like packing his bag or brushing teeth unless prompted every single morning for the past year."
• "Reduced attention span"
  • Quotations: "Struggles to sustain focus on reading or board games for more than 5 minutes over the past 8 months."
• "Cannot complete schoolwork or other assignments or follow instructions"
  • Quotations: "Follows the first step of a multi-step instruction and forgets the rest, leaving worksheets half-finished all year."
• "Avoids or is reluctant to start homework or tasks requiring concentration"
  • Quotations: "Meltdowns every afternoon for the past 9 months when asked to sit down and complete 15 minutes of homework."
• "Overlooks details or makes careless errors in schoolwork or assignments"
  • Quotations: "Rushes through maths sheets, missing operational signs and skipping questions despite knowing the material, noted across the last two school terms."

Inattentive Type Diagnosis Criteria met: Yes, 8 out of 9 criteria met for > 6 months.

Hyperactive/Impulsive Type Diagnosis Criteria

Hyperactivity Symptoms

• "Squirms while seated or fidgets with feet/hands"
  • Quotations: "Constantly tapping pencils, swinging on chair legs, and fidgeting with uniform during class over the last year."
• "Pronounced restlessness that is difficult to manage"
  • Quotations: "Parents note occasional restlessness on long car trips, though manageable."
• "Seems driven by "a motor" or is frequently "on the go""
  • Quotations: "Normal energy levels reported during weekend sports and home play."
• "Cannot play or participate in leisure activities quietly"
  • Quotations: "Able to build Lego and read comics quietly in his room."
• "Cannot remain seated in class"
  • Quotations: "Teacher reports he gets up from his desk multiple times an hour to wander the classroom, ongoing for the past 6 months."
• "Talks excessively"
  • Quotations: "Chatty with friends, but does not talk excessively in structured settings."

Impulsive Symptoms

• "Struggles to wait for their turn"
  • Quotations: "Generally waits his turn well during board games and group sports."
• "Interrupts or intrudes on others' conversations or activities"
  • Quotations: "Frequently butts into parents' conversations and interrupts sibling's games over the past year."
• "Impulsively calls out answers before questions are finished"
  • Quotations: "Raises hand appropriately in class most of the time."

Hyperactive/Impulsive Type Diagnosis Criteria met: No, only 3 out of 9 criteria met for > 6 months.

Additional Requirements for Diagnosis (all must be met)

• "Symptoms present before age 12"
  • Quotations: "Patient is currently 8 years old; symptoms first noticed by kindergarten teachers at age 5."
• "Symptoms not better explained by another psychiatric disorder, such as a mood or anxiety disorder, and not occurring solely during a psychotic disorder such as schizophrenia"
  • Quotations: "Screenings for GAD, MDD, and psychotic disorders are negative; presentation is not attributable to another mental disorder."
• "Symptoms not solely a manifestation of oppositional behaviour"
  • Quotations: "Child is eager to please and cooperative when tasks do not require sustained mental effort; no evidence of ODD."

Classification

• "Combined Type: patient meets both inattentive and hyperactive/impulsive criteria for the previous six months"
• "Predominantly Inattentive Type: patient meets inattentive criteria but not hyperactive/impulsive criteria for the previous six months"
• "Predominantly Hyperactive/Impulsive Type: patient meets hyperactive/impulsive criteria but not inattentive criteria for the previous six months"