Since the symptoms of ADHD are common to many other medical conditions and psychiatric disorders, as well as certain environmental stressors, adults should never self-diagnosis ADHD, but rather, should seek a comprehensive evaluation from qualified professionals. A team of clinicians with expertise in ADHD and related conditions should perform a comprehensive evaluation. This team should include a clinical psychologist and a psychiatrist and/or a behavioral neurologist. The evaluation should include a detailed clinical interview covering past and present ADHD symptoms, as well as one's developmental history, school and work history, and personal and family psychiatric history. Importantly, this interview should not be a brief, surface-level exam, but at a minimum, should involve one to two hours with a clinician. In addition, the evaluation should obtain information from one's significant other and/or parents, if possible, and should evaluate behavior in multiple settings (e.g., work, home, school). Furthermore, it is important for clinicians to use neuropsychological and personality testing to clarify whether other disorders may be present that may help explain the symptoms one is reporting (e.g., anxiety, depression, memory problems, and/or learning disorders).
A comprehensive evaluation is needed to:
• Establish an accurate diagnosis of each disorder that may be present
• Avoid over diagnosis and the risk/expense of unnecessary treatment
• Evaluate possible coexisting learning or cognitive problems
• Rule out medical explanations for the patient's symptoms
