A 7-year-old boy has persistent difficulty sitting still, often interrupts others, loses things frequently, is easily distracted, and these behaviors are present at both school and home for >6 months causing academic impairment. DSM-5 diagnosis of ADHD requires symptoms to be present in at least how many settings and from what age of onset?
- A Two settings; symptoms before age 12 years ✓
- B Two settings; symptoms before age 7 years
- C Three settings; symptoms before age 5 years
- D Any one setting; symptoms before age 10 years
Correct answer: A. Two settings; symptoms before age 12 years
Explanation
DSM-5 criteria for ADHD require that: several symptoms were present before age 12 years (changed from age 7 in DSM-IV), symptoms are present in two or more settings (school, home, work), symptoms cause clear functional impairment, and a minimum of 6 symptoms from inattention or hyperactivity-impulsivity domains (5 for ages 17+). The age of onset shift from 7 to 12 in DSM-5 is a commonly tested change.
Reference: Ghai Essential Pediatrics, 10th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.