What is ADHD, and what causes it?
ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) is a condition that affects a person’s behaviour and normally appears during childhood.
It is relatively common, although it is difficult to judge exactly how many people are affected as the figures vary, not least because awareness of ADHD is increasing.
People with ADHD generally have difficulty focusing, concentrating, and are impulsive.
They can also struggle to manage their emotions and feel a constant sense of restlessness or in some cases can be hyperactive.
The latest research suggests that ADHD arises because of an imbalance in a person’s neurotransmitters, (the chemicals through which your brain cells talk to each other).
Imaging studies have also shown some structural changes in the brain.
Hidden ADHD
As an adult psychiatrist, by the time I see someone with ADHD they have often developed ways of coping with or hiding their difficulties.
Sometimes these strategies work well and at other times they do not. Some people might gravitate to the type of work that suits them best, which might involve a constant sense of novelty and creative problem-solving, or they move from one thing to the next.
I have assessed and treated a large variety of men and women with ADHD, including company executives, professionals in law and medicine, and those who have found themselves constantly in trouble and have been in and out of prison. There isn’t a type.
ADHD, when correctly diagnosed, is highly treatable and many adults who experience this condition can learn to manage it successfully and lead fulfilling lives.

