Anatom3D
ENCZDE
Download

ADHD

Perturbatio attentionis cum hyperactivitate

What it is

A neurodevelopmental disorder of attention, activity and impulse control.

Symptoms & signs

  • Distractibility
  • impulsivity
  • restlessness
  • poor time sense
  • emotional dysregulation
  • task paralysis

🚩 Get help if…

  • call 112 / 911 now Thoughts of suicide or self-harm
  • see a doctor soon Chest pain, fainting or racing heart on stimulant medicine
  • see a doctor soon Repeated accidents, injuries or risky driving
  • see a doctor soon Heavy drinking or drug use

Where it strikes

Medical treatment

  • Methylphenidate and lisdexamfetamine — clear short-term symptom control; an advantage over no drug beyond a year or two has never been shown mixed evidence
  • Atomoxetine, guanfacine mixed evidence
  • Behavioural coaching trials support
  • Structure at work and school trials support
  • Trigeminal nerve stimulation (Monarch eTNS) — FDA-cleared 2019 for ages 7–12, on one small sham-controlled trial
  • EndeavorRx video game — FDA-authorised 2020 for ages 8–12; it improved an attention-test score, not parent-rated symptoms

Natural & lifestyle

  • Exercise
  • sleep regularity
  • protein-forward breakfast
  • external structure (timers, lists)
  • omega-3 (modest)

Emerging & experimental

  • Neurofeedback

Alternative, off-label & anecdotal

Approaches used outside the guidelines, with what their supporters report and what testing has found so far.

  • Few-foods elimination diet — trials show benefit in a subset mixed evidence
  • Saffron — a small trial comparable to methylphenidate early / small studies
  • 'Green time' outdoors — small studies, better attention early / small studies
  • Cutting out sugar — trials found sugar does not cause hyperactivity not confirmed in trials

ICD codes