A mental illness known as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) typically first manifests in childhood and persists into adulthood. The two behaviors that define ADHD are hyperactive and inattentive. Depending on whether behavior set is prevalent, there are three forms of ADHD, according to the American Psychiatric Association^[1*] These are the following:

Let’s explore the symptoms, causes, and treatment options of the primarily inattentive type in this post.

What Contributes to ADHD’s Inattentive Form?

Attention deficit disorder (ADD) is another name for inattentive ADHD. Before the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, or DSM-5, was released, this was really the official name for ADHD.

While hyperactivity causes restlessness and hype focus, inattentiveness makes it challenging for a patient to concentrate for a prolonged amount of time. Mental health practitioners use the DSM-5, which is the standards of the American Psychiatric Association, to diagnose ADHD. It states that adult ADD symptoms come in nine different forms:

Mental health professionals must use additional DSM-5 criteria in addition to the aforementioned recommendation to prevent misdiagnosis. In order for a psychiatrist to diagnose ADD, the following conditions need to be met:

Adult Inattentive ADHD Causes.

Although the exact etiology of ADD is unknown, experts are still researching the disorder and currently think that most cases of ADD are inherited from one’s parents. According to studies, there is a 57% probability that a parent with ADHD will have an ADHD kid. The likelihood that one of the parents has the illness is roughly 55%.

Other possible causes of ADHD, according to scientists, are:

According to scientists, there is insufficient data to support the idea that a person’s upbringing and parenting style might cause ADHD. However, these things can exacerbate symptoms.

Typical signs of inattentive ADHD

Adults with Inattentive ADHD: Important Information

Childhood is when ADD first manifests itself, not adults. A psychiatrist must therefore confirm that some symptoms existed prior to the age of twelve. If not, the symptoms can point to a connected mental illness, such anxiousness. But in addition to their illness, individuals with ADD often experience anxiety and sadness.

The inattentive symptoms of ADHD present a number of difficulties in day-to-day living, such as:

A little bit of key forgetting is typical, but it does not indicate attention deficit disorder (ADD). The 11th version of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD^[4*]) states that an individual with attention deficit disorder (ADD) must have a continuous pattern of inattention that interferes with social, intellectual, and professional functioning.

In addition, the symptoms need to exceed the range of typical behavioral deviations for the individual’s age group.

Thankfully, this does not preclude persons with ADD from leading regular lives. Even though there is no known cure for ADD, there are ways to manage the disorder.

Treatment for ADD

The majority of ADHD therapies are comparable for the three subtypes. First, a professional psychiatrist must make a diagnosis. In addition to conducting an interview, the mental health professional could speak with the patient’s parents or spouse. Next, the physician examines the medical history of the family to rule out the possibility of hereditary ADHD.

Further testing is required to rule out other illnesses that present with similar symptoms. When there is sufficient proof that an individual has ADHD, medical intervention is required.

The most effective treatment for inattentive ADHD is a medication and behavior therapy combo. Medication provides short-term relief from symptoms, while talk therapy offers longer-term advantages. Regular communication with a therapist is part of behavior therapy, which aims to enhance good behavior patterns and lessen negative ones.

Some of the following medications are prescribed as part of medical therapy for ADD:

In brief

Adult ADHD diagnosis is not often straightforward. This is due to the fact that symptoms of ADHD may be confused with those of bipolar disorder, autism, depression, anxiety, and learning disabilities. However, once the proper diagnosis has been established, suitable therapy may be found.

Adult ADD patients’ regular lives might be severely disrupted if treatment is not received. So, for an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan, see a mental health professional. Even though inattentive ADHD in adults may cause difficulties in many areas of life, the disorder can be managed with the aid of good treatment or medication.