ADHD, Predominantly Hyperactive / Impulsive Subtype

This video describes the Predominantly Hyperactive / Impulsive Subtype of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). ADHD is characterized by symptoms of inattention and/or hyperactivity including impulsivity, fidgeting, irritability, forgetfulness, anxiety, mood swings, limited attention span, trouble focusing, excitability, and boredom. ADHD has three subtypes: Predominantly Inattentive Presentation, Predominantly Hyperactive/Impulsive Presentation, and Combined Presentation. The Predominantly Hyperactive / Impulsive Subtype has nine symptom criteria: fidgeting, leaves when sitting is expected, run and climbs when inappropriate (feeling restless in adults), unable to play quietly (unable to engage in leisure activities quietly in adults), on the go as if driven by a motor, talks excessively, answers questions before completed, difficulty waiting for one’s turn, often interrupts. Several symptoms need to be present before the age of 12 to qualify for the diagnosis. Clear evidence that the symptoms interfere with functioning is required.
Subtypes are mutually exclusive and jointly (collectively) exhaustive. If an individual has a mental health diagnosis that contains subtypes, they would be assigned one and only one subtype. Only one subtype can ever be assigned (mutually exclusive, having one rules out the others) and one subtype must be assigned (jointly exhaustive, the subtypes cover all of the possible presentations). The term “specify whether” indicates a subtype is required. Specifiers may be mutually exclusive, but are not always. The may also be jointly exhaustive, however, they are not in every case. Specifiers usually provide more information about course (e.g. in remission), severity (e.g. mild, moderate, severe, extreme), or descriptive features (e.g. in a controlled environment). The terms “specify if” or “specify” are used to indicate a specifier may be assigned.