Why and how to look for impulsivity when evaluating for possible ADHD

The DSM®-5-TR (American Psychiatric Associations, 2013) diagnostic criteria for attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) start by summarizing it (along with many other criteria, qualifications, and details that are not discussed here) as follows (emphases added by us): “A persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that interferes with functioning or development…” Clinical implications 1. Note that, of…