Practice Standards for the Assessment of ADHD: A Synthesis of Recommendations From Eight International Guidelines

Popular awareness of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)appears to have grown significantly in recent years, resulting in a growingdemand for diagnostic services. Coupled with the shortage of traineddiagnosticians both locally and internationally, there has been increasingpressure on services to provide faster, easier and more equitable access to care.In this context, concerns have grown that that quicker routes to diagnosis willresult in poorer quality assessments, and therefore poorer outcomes. This papersynthesizes recommendations from eight international consensus guidelines onADHD diagnosis, aiming to identify the minimum safe practice standards fordiagnostic assessments. Using content analysis, key themes were extracted,focusing on the need for diagnosis by qualified specialists, comprehensive andculturally sensitive assessments, and adherence to established diagnostic criteriasuch as DSM-5 and ICD-11. The study emphasizes the importance of asystematic approach to ruling out differential diagnoses and assessingimpairment across multiple settings. Additionally, best practicerecommendations include a multidisciplinary approach, the incorporation of alongitudinal assessment, and the involvement of families in the diagnosticprocess. The findings highlight the alignment of international guidelines on theessential elements of ADHD diagnosis and underscore the need for rigorous,patient-centred, and culturally sensitive approaches.