Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder predominantly inattentive

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Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder predominantly inattentive (ADHD-PI), also called attention deficit disorder (ADD), is one of the two types of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The term was formally changed in 1994 in the new Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition (DSM-IV),[1][2] to "ADHD predominantly inattentive" (ADHD-PI or ADHD-I) -though the term attention deficit disorder is still widely used. 'Predominantly Inattentive' is similar to the other subtypes of ADHD except that it is characterized primarily by inattentive concentration or a deficit of sustained attention, such as procrastination, hesitation, and forgetfulness; it differs in having fewer or no typical symptoms of hyperactivity or impulsiveness. Lethargy/fatigue is sometimes reported but ADHD-PI is a separate condition from Sluggish cognitive tempo.

The three most popular ADHD medications in order are Amphetamine mixed salts for dopamine and norepinephrine basically balanced, Methylphenidate for a dopamine emphasis, and Atomoxetine for a norepinephrine emphasis.


ADHD-Predominantly Inattentive is an Attention Concentration Deficit that has everything in common with ADHD except that it has less hyperactivity or impulsivity symptoms and has more directed attention fatigue symptoms.[3]

Different countries have used different ways of diagnosing ADHD-PI. In the United Kingdom, diagnosis is based on quite a narrow set of symptoms, and about 0.5–1% of children are thought to have attention or hyperactivity problems. The United States used a much broader definition of the term ADHD. As a result, up to 10% of children in the U.S. were described as having ADHD. Current estimates suggest that ADHD is present throughout the world in about 1–5% of the population. About five times more boys than girls are diagnosed with ADHD.[citation needed]

Signs and symptoms[edit]

DSM-5 criteria[edit]

The DSM-5 allows for diagnosis of the predominantly inattentive subtype of ADHD (code 314.00) if the individual presents six or more of the following symptoms of inattention for at least six months to a point that is disruptive and inappropriate for developmental level:

  • Often has trouble keeping attention on tasks or play activities
  • Often does not seem to listen when spoken to directly.
  • Often has trouble organizing activities.
  • Often avoids, dislikes, or doesn't want to do things that take a lot of mental effort for a long period (such as schoolwork or homework).
  • Is often easily distracted.
  • Is often forgetful in daily activities.[4]

An ADD diagnosis is contingent upon the symptoms of impairment presenting themselves in two or more settings (e.g., at school or work and at home). There must also be clear evidence of clinically significant impairment in social, academic, or occupational functioning. Lastly, the symptoms must not occur exclusively during the course of a pervasive developmental disorder, schizophrenia, or other psychotic disorder, and are not better accounted for by another mental disorder (e.g., mood disorder, anxiety disorder, dissociative disorder, personality disorder).

Life Period Examples of Observed Symptoms
Children[citation needed] Failing to pay close attention to details or making careless mistakes when doing school-work or other activities
Trouble keeping attention focused during play or tasks
Appearing not to listen when spoken to (often being accused of "daydreaming")
Failing to follow instructions or finish tasks
Avoiding tasks that require a high amount of longer-term mental effort and organization, such as school projects
Excessive distractibility
Procrastination, inability to begin an activity
Adults[citation needed] Procrastination; delaying or avoiding starting projects that require vigilant mental effort
Difficulty sustaining concentration on conversations or briefly losing attention on someone speaking
Hesitation to sustain concentration in planning and organizing for the completion of tasks
Hesitative responses, doubt, and delayed execution due to inattention remembering information
Difficulty finishing projects or completing assignments because many tasks simultaneously on the go
Forgetting to complete tasks and details after temporary switches to more stimulating tasks
Difficulty finding misplaced tools after task switching due to bypassing adequate memory storage
Sustained information processing is slower than others causing information gaps that inhibit execution
Problems remembering appointments, obligations, or instructions
Difficulty learning new projects when concentration deficits cause desire to multitask or daydream
Distracted from persevering during work; difficulty holding onto a job for a significant amount of time
Change plans to the inconvenience of others due to forgetting or not fully aware of the bigger scenario
Maintaining excessive personal items such as storing old items of diminished usefulness
Obsessive behavior as compensation or coping mechanism for a perseverance deficit
Difficulty transitioning to new task or activity due to obsessive behavior
Higher rate of vigilant concentration fatigue after inhibiting many distractions from greater effort required


Although ADHD has most often been treated with medication, medications do not cure ADHD; they are used solely to treat the symptoms associated with this disorder and the symptoms will come back once the medication stops.[5]



Stimulants are typically formulated in fast and slow-acting as well as short and long-acting formulations. The fast-acting amphetamine mixed salts (Adderall) and its derivatives, with short and long-acting formulations produce reuptake inhibition of dopamine and norepinephrine and also increase the release of these neurotransmitters into the synaptic cleft.[6] They may have a better cardiovascular disease profile than methylphenidate and potentially better tolerated.[7]

The fast-acting methylphenidate (Ritalin), with short and long-acting formulations produce dopamine, and to a lesser extent, norepinephrine reuptake inhibition. In the short term, methylphenidate is well tolerated. However, long term studies have not been conducted in adults and concerns about increases in blood pressure have not been established.[8]

The slow and long-acting stimulant atomoxetine (Strattera), is primarily a norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor and, to a lesser extent, a dopamine reuptake inhibitor. It may be more effective for those with predominantly inattentive concentration.[9] It is sometimes prescribed in adults who do not get enough vigilant concentration response from mixed amphetamine salts (Adderall) or get too much side effect.[10] It is also approved for ADHD by the US Food and Drug Administration.

Alternative or adjunctive therapies of Histaminergic and Cholinergic medications are much less common and researched.[11][12][13][14] Histamine promoting medications to reduce sedation such as Modafinil and Acetylcholine promoting to sustain concentration such as Galantamine or Varenicline would be off label use for ADHD.[15][16][17] New nicotinic cholinergic medications in development for ADHD are Pozanicline,[18][19] ABT-418,[20] and ABT-894.[21]


In some cases, children who enjoy learning may develop a sense of fear when faced with structured or planned work, especially long or group-based that requires extended focus, even if they thoroughly understand the topic. Children with ADD may be at greater risk of academic failures and early withdrawal from school.[22] Teachers and parents may make incorrect assumptions about the behaviours and attitudes of a child with ADHD-PI, and may provide them with frequent and erroneous negative feedback (e.g. "careless", "you're irresponsible", "you're immature", "you're lazy", "you don't care/show any effort", "you just aren't trying", etc.).[23]


It has been suggested[3] that some of the symptoms of ADHD present in childhood appear to be less overt in adulthood. This is likely due to an adult's ability to make cognitive adjustments and develop compensating or coping skills to minimize the impact of inattentive or hyperactive symptoms. However, the core problems of ADHD do not disappear with age.[22] Some researchers have suggested that individuals with reduced or less overt hyperactivity symptoms should receive the ADHD-combined diagnosis. Hallowell and Ratey (2005) suggest[24] that the manifestation of hyperactivity simply changes with adolescence and adulthood, becoming a more generalized restlessness or tendency to fidget.

A meta-analysis of 37 studies on cognitive differences between those with ADHD-Inattentive type and ADHD-Combined type found that "the ADHD/C subtype performed better than the ADHD/I subtype in the areas of processing speed, attention, performance IQ, memory, and fluency. The ADHD/I subtype performed better than the ADHD/C group on measures of flexibility, working memory, visual/spatial ability, motor ability, and language. Both the ADHD/C and ADHD/I groups were found to perform more poorly than the control group on measures of inhibition, however, there was no difference found between the two groups. Furthermore the ADHD/C and ADHD/I subtypes did not differ on measures of sustained attention."[25]


It is difficult to say exactly how many children worldwide have ADHD because different countries have used different ways of diagnosing it, while some do not diagnose it at all. In the UK, diagnosis is based on quite a narrow set of symptoms, and about 0.5–1% of children are thought to have attention or hyperactivity problems. In comparison, until recently, professionals in the U.S. used a much broader definition of the term ADHD.[citation needed] As a result, up to 10% of children in the U.S. were described as having ADHD. Current estimates suggest that ADHD is present throughout the world in about 1–5% of the population.[citation needed] About five times more boys than girls are diagnosed with ADHD. Boys are seen as the prototypical ADHD child, therefore they are more often overdiagnosed with ADHD than girls.[26] This may be partly because of the particular ways they express their difficulties. Boys and girls both have attention problems, but boys are more likely to be overactive and difficult to manage.[citation needed] Children from all cultures and social groups are diagnosed with ADHD. However, children from certain backgrounds may be particularly likely to be diagnosed with ADHD, because of different expectations about how they should behave.[citation needed] It is therefore important to ensure that a child's cultural background is understood and taken into account as part of the assessment.


In the DSM-III, sluggishness, drowsiness, and daydreaming were listed as characteristics of ADD without hyperactivity. These symptoms were removed from the ADHD criteria in DSM-IV even though many of those with ADHD were found to have these symptoms along with hyperactive symptoms. These distinct symptoms in the absence of hyperactivity though were described in a separate category called sluggish cognitive tempo.


  1. ^ "Correspondence between DSM-III-R and DSM-IV attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder". HighBeam Business. Retrieved 25 December 2013. 
  2. ^ Lange KW, Reichl S, Lange KM, Tucha L, Tucha O (2010). "The history of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder". Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders 2 (4): 241–55. doi:10.1007/s12402-010-0045-8. PMC 3000907. PMID 21258430. 
  3. ^ a b Quinn, Patricia (1994). ADD and the College Student: A Guide for High School and College Students with Attention Deficit Disorder. New York, NY: Magination Press. pp. 2–3. ISBN 1-55798-663-0. 
  4. ^ "Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder". BehaveNet. Retrieved 17 April 2013. 
  5. ^ "Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder". National Institute of Mental health. Retrieved 9 January 2013. 
  6. ^ Retz W, Retz-Junginger P, Thome J, Rösler M (September 2011). "Pharmacological treatment of adult ADHD in Europe". World J. Biol. Psychiatry. 12 Suppl 1: 89–94. doi:10.3109/15622975.2011.603229. PMID 21906003. 
  7. ^ Kolar D; Keller A; Golfinopoulos M; Cumyn L; Syer C; Hechtman L (April 2008). "Treatment of adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder". Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat 4 (2): 389–403. PMC 2518387. PMID 18728745. 
  8. ^ Godfrey J (May 2008). "Safety of therapeutic methylphenidate in adults: a systematic review of the evidence". J. Psychopharmacol. (Oxford) 23 (2): 194–205. doi:10.1177/0269881108089809. PMID 18515459. 
  9. ^ Simpson D, Plosker GL (2004). "Spotlight on atomoxetine in adults with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder". CNS Drugs 18 (6): 397–401. doi:10.2165/00023210-200418060-00011. PMID 15089111. 
  10. ^ "Primarily Inattentive ADD: The Best Medicine for Inattentive ADHD". Primarily Inattentive ADHD. Retrieved 25 December 2013. 
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  22. ^ a b c Triolo, Santo (1998). Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in Adulthood: A Practitioner's Handbook. Philadelphia, PA: Brunner-Routledge. pp. 65–69. ISBN 0-87630-890-6. 
  23. ^ Ramundo, Peggy (2006). You Mean I'm Not Lazy, Stupid or Crazy?! The Classic Self-Help Book For Adults with Attention Deficit Disorder. New York, NY: Scribner. pp. 11–12. ISBN 0-7432-6448-7. 
  24. ^ Hallowell, Edward M.; John J. Ratey (2005). Delivered from Distraction: Getting the Most out of Life with Attention Deficit Disorder. New York: Ballantine Books. pp. 253–5. ISBN 0-345-44231-8. 
  25. ^ Lane, B. (2004). The differential neuropsychological/cognitive profiles of ADHD subtypes: A meta-analysis. Dissertation Abstracts International, 64, Retrieved from PsycINFO database.
  26. ^ Bruchmuller, Katrin; Margraf, Schneider (2012). "Is ADHD diagnosed in accord with diagnostic criteria? Overdiagnosis and influence of client gender on diagnosis". Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 80: 128–138. doi:10.1037/a0026582. Retrieved 17 April 2013. 

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