ADHD in Adulthood: A Guide to Current Theory, Diagnosis, and Treatment

by Margaret Weiss MD PhD, Lily Trokenberg Hechtman MDCM, Gabrielle Weiss MDCM

Overview

How does ADHD manifest itself in adult life? In general, the authors write, hyperactivity tends to diminish with age, impulsivity changes quality, and attention problems remain the same although they may become more disabling as organizational demands increase. The authors carefully answer the questions often posed by professionals and patients about these symptoms and other issues. They describe the diagnostic interview and the use of rating scales and include examples of the scales. They also provide a well-balanced review of associated psychiatric conditions, such as mood and anxiety disorders, Tourette's syndrome, oppositional and conduct problems, and substance abuse. Descriptions of all the primary approaches to treatment—medication, psychological therapies, and environmental restructuring—include vivid case examples.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780801861413
Publisher:	Johns Hopkins University Press
Publication date:	04/26/1999
Series:	A Johns Hopkins Press Health Book
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	376
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 1.13(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Margaret Weiss, M.D., Ph.D., is the director of research for the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the Children's and Women's Health Centre in British Columbia. Lily Trokenberg Hechtman, M.D.C.M., is a professor of psychiatry and pediatrics and director of research for the Division of Child Psychiatry at McGill University. Gabrielle Weiss, M.D.C.M., is a professor of psychiatry and a staff psychiatrist at the Children's and Women's Health Centre in British Columbia.

Table of Contents

Contents:



Preface Acknowledgments

CHAPTER 1 ADHD in Adulthood: An Introduction

CHAPTER 2 The Assessment

CHAPTER 3 ADHD and Other Disorders: Differential Diagnosis and Comorbidity

CHAPTER 4 Difficult Diagnoses

CHAPTER 5 The Psychoeducational Approach

CHAPTER 6 Medication for ADHD CHAPTER 7 Medication for ADHD with Comorbid Conditions

CHAPTER 8 Psychological Therapies

CHAPTER 9 Environmental Restructuring: School and Work

CHAPTER 10 ADHD in the Family and in the Community

CHAPTER 11 Living with ADHD: A Family Looks at Itself

CHAPTER 12 Future Directions, Future Challenges

APPENDIX 1 Adult Self-Report Inventory-4

APPENDIX 2 Adult Inventory-4

APPENDIX 3 Domains of Impairment Summary Form

Index

Editorial Reviews

Reviewer: Michael Schrift, DO (University of Washington School of Medicine)
Description: This book covers a clinically relevant and important area: attention deficit disorder in adults. Written as a guide for clinicians, it is a valuable contribution to clinical psychiatry.
Purpose: The purpose, according to the editors, is to help physicians and other healthcare professionals (as well as patients and their families) understand and cope with the disorder. The editors point out that attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) was once considered a childhood disorder disappearing in adulthood. It is now known that the disorder can continue into adulthood, but until recently was frequently unrecognized. The editors have succeeded in producing a readable and comprehensive review of this disorder.
Audience: The intended audience, as mentioned above, is physicians, healthcare workers who work with ADHD patients, and their families. Psychiatry residents would also benefit.
Features: Topics covered include ADHD in adults, assessment, differential diagnosis and comorbidity, psychoeducational approach, medication, psychological therapies, environmental restructuring, family and community issues, and future directions. Included are three useful diagnostic tools. Each chapter is referenced with up-to-date citations and there is a useful index at the back of the book. Three appendixes and an index section are included.
Assessment: This is an excellent book on adult ADHD. It is a welcome contribution to the field and will be useful as a reference for clinicians in psychiatry.

Doody's Review Service

A sensible book, well referenced and up-to-date, it should be on the shelf of any clinic that sees adults with self-regulatory disorders.

Child Psychology and Psychiatry Review

This book, the first on adult ADHD for professionals since 1995, is an excellent resource . . . [it] provides comprehensive, accessible information both for clinicians and for informed lay persons.

Bulletin of the Menninger Clinic

The three authors have extensive experience treating both children and adults with ADHD. Although this textbook discusses problems and issues relating to adult patients, it will help anyone to understand the full scope of the disorder. This is an excellent textbook for understanding ADHD both in childhood and in adult life and, thus, it should be useful to both the pediatrician and the family practitioner.

Pediatric and Child Health

"This volume will serve as an excellent introduction to the topic for those who find themselves consulted increasingly by patients themselves or by their physicins, as awareness of the persistence of ADHD into adulthood continues to burgeon. It is worthwhile reading for any clinician with an interest in human behavior."

Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences

"A comprehensive and authoritative text on the subject of [ADHD in adulthood] that combines a scholarly command of the literature and the extensive clinical experience of the authors into a masterful synthesis of the current state of knowledge. The book will be invaluable for both clinicians and researchers."

American Journal of Psychiatry

3 Stars from Doody

This book covers a clinically relevant and important area: attention deficit disorder in adults. Written as a guide for clinicians, it is a valuable contribution to clinical psychiatry. The purpose, according to the editors, is to help physicians and other healthcare professionals (as well as patients and their families) understand and cope with the disorder. The editors point out that attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) was once considered a childhood disorder disappearing in adulthood. It is now known that the disorder can continue into adulthood, but until recently was frequently unrecognized. The editors have succeeded in producing a readable and comprehensive review of this disorder. The intended audience, as mentioned above, is physicians, healthcare workers who work with ADHD patients, and their families. Psychiatry residents would also benefit. Topics covered include ADHD in adults, assessment, differential diagnosis and comorbidity, psychoeducational approach, medication, psychological therapies, environmental restructuring, family and community issues, and future directions. Included are three useful diagnostic tools. Each chapter is referenced with up-to-date citations and there is a useful index at the back of the book. Three appendixes and an index section are included. This is an excellent book on adult ADHD. It is a welcome contribution to the field and will be useful as a reference for clinicians in psychiatry.

Michael J. Schrift

This account of how attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder manifests itself in adult life covers assessment; differential diagnosis and comorbidity; difficult diagnoses; the psychoeducational approach; medication; psychological therapies; environmental restructuring; ADHD in the family and the community; living with the disorder; and future directions. Appendices include an adult self-report inventory, adult inventory, and domains of impairment summary form. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Booknews

A comprehensive and authoritative text on the subject of [ADHD in adulthood] that combines a scholarly command of the literature and the extensive clinical experience of the authors into a masterful synthesis of the current state of knowledge. The book will be invaluable for both clinicians and researchers.
—American Journal of Psychiatry

A sensible book, well referenced and up-to-date, it should be on the shelf of any clinic that sees adults with self-regulatory disorders.
—Child Psychology and Psychiatry Review

The three authors have extensive experience treating both children and adults with ADHD. Although this textbook discusses problems and issues relating to adult patients, it will help anyone to understand the full scope of the disorder. This is an excellent textbook for understanding ADHD both in childhood and in adult life and, thus, it should be useful to both the pediatrician and the family practitioner.
—Pediatric and Child Health

This volume will serve as an excellent introduction to the topic for those who find themselves consulted increasingly by patients themselves or by their physicins, as awareness of the persistence of ADHD into adulthood continues to burgeon. It is worthwhile reading for any clinician with an interest in human behavior.
—Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences

This book, the first on adult ADHD for professionals since 1995, is an excellent resource . . . [it] provides comprehensive, accessible information both for clinicians and for informed lay persons.
—Bulletin of the Menninger Clinic

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