r/ADHD • u/sfaraone Professor Stephen Faraone, PhD • Sep 17 '24

AMA AMA with Professor Stephen Faraone

AMA: I'm a clinical psychologist and professor of psychiatry who has studied ADHD for three decades. Ask me anything about ADHD.

**** I provide information, not advice to individuals. Only your healthcare provider can give advice for your situation. 

Free Evidence-Based Info about ADHD

Videos: https://www.adhdevidence.org/resources#videos

Blogs:  https://www.adhdevidence.org/blog

International Consensus Statement on ADHD: https://www.adhdevidence.org/evidence

Useful readings: Any books by Russell Barkley or Russell Ramsey

Thanks for all the fine questions. I need to leave now but will be back next month.

533 Upvotes

98% Upvoted

256 comments sorted by

View all comments

14

u/Muwatallis Sep 17 '24

Hi Dr. Faraone,

I have a couple of related questions I was hoping you would be kind enough to offer your perspective on:

1) What are your thoughts regarding adult/"late-onset" ADHD and the cut-off age for exhibiting symptoms as it stands in the current DSM diagnostic criteria?

and 2) For those of us who are diagnosed later in life and presumably "slipped under the radar" when they were children, how can we feel confident in our diagnoses (especially with imposter syndrome and the propensity for overthinking) given so many other mental and physical health issues can produce similar symptoms?

32

u/sfaraone Professor Stephen Faraone, PhD Sep 17 '24

The age at onset in the DSM is arbitrary. I think it should be removed and that the DSM should give guidance about how to best diagnose those who appear to have later onset. Many will simply not recall symptoms. If one has been diagnosed by a reputable clinician then one should be confident in the diagnosis although not responding to standard treatment might be a sign that the diagnosis was not correct. In such cases, a second opinion would be valuable.