Is ADHD a psychiatric disorder is one of the most asked questions on our blogs and something that we encounter on almost every mental health blog that we release. Here we are addressing this question for our readers far and wide!
If you were wondering about the condition, worry not, we will provide you with an elaborate definition on both ADHD and psychiatric disorders. This will help diffuse any confusion that you may have developed reading other blogs on the internet.
Let us dive right into the blog, read till the end to know all about the treatment options.
What is ADHD? Is it different from psychiatric disorders?
ADHD or Attention deficit/Hyperactivity disorder is one of the most common mental disorders that affect children. This condition can develop in children as young as 5 years old, or it can be masked under misconception and unearth years later.
ADHD can cause a lot of issues in the patient that can show up as physical or developmental symptoms. The condition is also known to cause poor self-worth, self-esteem that decreases and an increase in self-criticism.
There are different ways to diagnose the condition in an individual. The type of ADHD helps in categorizing the symptoms. However, the following signs also help in identifying it:
- Impulsivity
- Inattentiveness
- Impulsivity
- Hyperactivity
All of these appear more often in people with ADHD and this is one of the primary marks of this condition. Another way to identify ADHD in an individual is through seeing if the above-listed signs appear more severely or do they subside on their own after a short while?
One of the blaring signs that an individual has a mental health issue is when the symptoms start interrupting their day-to-day life. Similarly, if the symptoms of ADHD (those listed above) become so severe that the individual cannot function at work, school or any social setting, then it is a cause of concern.
Other symptoms to know its ADHD include:
- Being easily distracted
- Trouble focusing on something
- Issue sitting still
- Forgetfulness and difficulty concentrating on tasks at hand
- Interrupting others
Types of ADHD
There are mainly three types of ADHD that are usually found within society. These may be:
- Inattentive type or predominantly inattentive type
- Hyperactive/impulsive type or predominantly this type of presentation
- Combination of 1 and 2.
1. Inattentive or predominantly inattentive type
This is one of the most common ADHD types that are found in individuals from different age groups that are under risk. This behavior can make it hard for a person to pay attention to their environment. They also stay unorganized due to this difficulty.
These behavior or characteristics can make it difficult for the individual to focus on one activity. There may also be difficulty in controlling behaviors and impulses. The common traits that they exhibit are:
- Staying careless about the mistakes or job tasks they attempt to complete.
- Problem staying focused on activities or tasks especially those that require constant focus.
- Does not seem to pay attention when they are spoken to.
- Difficulty following instruction and completing a task as instructed
- Poor time management which leads to difficulty organizing tasks and work as needed.
- They may dislike tasks that require constant attention and focus.
- Misses daily tasks such as running errands and doing chores. Older adults or teens with Inattentive ADHD can face issues with keeping appointments, returning calls and paying bills.
2. Hyperactive/Impulsive or Predominantly hyperactive/impulsive presentation
In this type of ADHD, the individual is characterized based on behaviors or impulsivity or hyperactivity. The people with this type of ADHD have few or no symptoms of inattention. On other hand, the individual also has a lot of energy that does not allow them to sit still. They are seen to indulge in fidgeting, being talkative. These characteristics describe hyperactivity.
Impulsivity is when a person takes a decision or completes an action without putting much thought into the consequences. The characteristic features of this ADHD type are:
- Fidgeting or tapping hands and feet. Squirming in seat
- Unable to sit still in class or workplace
- Running about or climbing in inappropriate places
- Unable to participate in leisure activities quietly
- Always staying ‘on the go’ mode
- Excessive talking
- Finding it difficult to wait for their turn
- Interrupting or intruding people’s spaces. Older teens and adults can take over the things others are doing.
All these signs will help you identify the condition.
3. Combined type ADHD
This is when both the criteria for inattentiveness and impulsivity/hyperactivity meet. The diagnosis of ADHD majorly involves the expertise of a mental health expert, or a primary care provider.
Diagnosis of ADHD
Before we find out is ADHD a psychiatric disorder, we must first know how it is diagnosed.
A psychiatric evaluation helps in receiving a proper diagnosis of the condition. There are also other ways to diagnose the condition, i.e., through:
- Scales and questionnaires
- Psychiatric and medical evaluation of the history
- Information about the patient’s environment, education, and upbringing
- Medical evaluation to dismiss the presence of other medical conditions.
There are several issues that can mimic ADHD and confuse the individual as well as the parents/guardian. Some of the common medical conditions that mimic the signs of ADHD are:
- Substance use
- Anxiety
- Mood disorders
- Learning disorders
- Thyroid conditions
- Head injuries
- Thyroid conditions
Alternatively, ADHD can co-exist with other mental health conditions that makes it difficult to diagnose ADHD. This is because the signs of ADHD can be masked. Some of the conditions that can co-exist with ADHD:
- Anxiety disorders
- Learning disorders
- Conduct disorder
- Oppositional defiant disorder
A complete psychiatric evaluation helps in determining if there are underlying mental health issues that are coexisting. Moreover, other psychological testing can also benefit in determining the condition, such as psychoeducational testing and neuropsychological testing.
Unlike medical conditions, ADHD cannot be diagnosed with the help of blood tests or routine imaging tests. This further decreases the chances of prompt diagnosis and treatment.
What Is a Psychiatric Disorder?
A psychiatric disorder is the medical term for issues that pertain to the issues that are owing to the change in mental or behavioral pattern. This change can cause a lot of distress for the individual experiencing the symptoms.
A psychiatric disorder is also known as mental disorder or a mental health condition. This can be of various types and can have different presentations in each case. For example, a person with depression, which is a mood disorder, can show signs such as prolonged sadness or feeling of emptiness.
A psychiatric disorder can show up across different age groups. They can experience the condition quite differently than how someone with ADHD will. How does the question arise then? The question is ADHD a psychiatric disorder?
The question arises owing to a stereotype that someone with ADHD is “not in their right sense.” However, with the signs that were described above just now, you’ll see that there are distinct signs for ADHD. Those that do not generalize ADHD with other mental health conditions.
What Now?
Thus, answering the question is ADHD a psychiatric disorder, requires diving deeper into the psychiatric disorders that are different than ADHD. Moreover, firstly, it is important to understand that ADHD is a mental disorder where the mental functioning of the individual with the condition becomes severely impaired.
This does not happen with all the psychiatric disorders that exist. Mental disorders or psychiatric disorders show distinct differences with ADHD. This is also scientifically proven with the help of strong evidence that shows brain differences in a person with ADHD and other psychiatric disorders.
The existing evidence suggests a clear difference between ADHD and other psychological disorders as there are distinct psychological disorders that may co-exist with ADHD. But they are not similar. For example, a study found that in children with ADHD, the pre-frontal cortex showed differences than other brain areas.
| Is ADHD a psychiatric disorder? This confusion has made ADHD one of the most frequently misdiagnosed conditions in humans. So much so, that it also becomes undiagnosed in adults. |
The other areas control activities such as impulses, paying attention, executive functioning such as planning, evaluating ideas and reflecting on our actions. Due to the difference in these areas, a person with ADHD shows the different signs that were discussed in a section above.
The confusion also includes thinking ADHD is a learning disorder such as dyslexia. However, ADHD does not determine how well a child performs at school. Instead, a child with ADHD has trouble paying attention in class, cannot follow commands and other broad areas.
This points to one of the most important aspects – proper diagnostic criteria for mental disorders. Research should focus on the ability of the physician to differentiate between ADHD and other disorders such as mood, and anxiety.
Broad Take On The Question
Is ADHD a psychiatric disorder see a divided crowd. I would take the example of a recent study I came across. This study highlights how ADHD is a brain disorder more than a psychiatric disorder.
By going through the different articles on the impact of supplements on mental health, it was found that ADHD is classified into a psychiatric disorder due to the characteristics it shares with mental illness.
In addition, ADHD also qualifies as a brain disorder, due to the changes in brain areas that bring about the symptoms in an individual.
Conclusion
Thus, is ADHD a psychiatric disorder has somewhat found its answer between the condition being a mental illness and a brain disorder. There are several studies that explore the treatment for and characteristics of people with ADHD. However, more evidence is needed to know how ADHD is different from a psychiatric disorder.
This article is an attempt to answer this question as justifiably as possible. The evidence has been gathered through independent research, which makes it subject to change.
Have any questions for us? Let us know in the comments below.
