Affirming but Concerning: Best Practice Recommendations for Co- occurring and Differential Diagnoses in ADHD Assessment for School- aged Children

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children is one of the most common presenting problems in clinical practice. ADHD assessment is based on observable behaviours: inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. However, this assessment can be complicated as approximately two thirds of children with ADHD have at least one co-occurring condition. This thesis established three recommendations for co-occurring diagnosis and 69 for differential diagnosis, addressing intellectual disability, autism, specific learning disorders, anxiety disorders, mood disorders, and trauma-related disorders.