In adulthood, symptoms may be hidden by compensation rather than “absent.” Gaps between DSM-5 framing and clinic realities can add detection delay.
Shift from a pure “willpower” frame toward underdiagnosis as a possibility. Information only—not a diagnostic verdict.
Adult ADHD can affect work, relationships, and daily routines; strain may stack across domains.
Beyond symptom checklists, note which life areas repeatedly fail—this grounds clinical conversation.
Note: This is not a clinical instrument—only a way to organise functional context before visits.
- Step 1: Heavy advance control to prevent mistakes/omissions
- Step 2: Short-term performance holds while cognitive cost rises
- Step 3: Slow recovery, executive strain, emotional depletion
- Step 4: Repeated “held it together, then collapsed” cycles
Pair symptom questions with impairment questions; start with 1–2 priority domains (work, relationships, routines). Combine medication and non-medication strategies with risk, comorbidity, and misuse context.
Card 04 (2025 axis candidate): DOI/PMID not final—no strong numeric claims; not a sole primary source for core claims.
Source #6 is a Rapid Review/summary. Head-to-head evidence is thin in places; misuse/diversion risk may favour non-stimulant contexts. Not an absolute guideline benchmark.
Card 05: identifiers pending—supplementary only; avoid numeric over-read.
- Which impairment domain should we prioritise first in my pattern?
- How do you assess symptoms masked by compensation?
- What risk factors guide medication vs non-medication choices for me?
- What should we track at 4–8 weeks after assessment?
- How should I monitor worsening burnout signals?
| Card | Source | ID |
|---|---|---|
| 001 | Adult ADHD review (2023) | PMID: 36743427 |
| 002 | J Attn Disord · impairment | DOI: 10.1177/10870547231158572 |
| 003 | CADTH Rapid Review (Bookshelf) | NBK610422 · Rapid Review (not guideline) |
| 004 | 2025 axis candidate | DOI/PMID pending (E-1) |
| 005 | Supplementary review | DOI/PMID pending (E-5) |
- 📋 Rapid Review: Card 003 and the medication section are not absolute guidelines.
- ⚠️ E-1/E-5: Identifiers pending—auxiliary/preliminary use only; no strong numeric claims.
- 📋 Burnout cycle: Explanatory frame, not a diagnostic instrument.
- 🎯 No self-diagnosis push: Observation notes support visits, not screening tools.