Not All Inattention Is ADHD: A Practical Framework for PCPs

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What this episode covers

Evaluating ADHD in adults can feel unclear, especially when patients present with new concerns about focus and attention. This episode provides a practical starting point for assessing adult ADHD in outpatient care, including how to differentiate it from other causes of inattention and how to begin a structured evaluation.

  • How to approach adult ADHD complaints without rushing to diagnose
  • What raises concern for ADHD vs other causes of inattention
  • How to use simple screeners to structure your assessment

Learning Objectives

  1. Not all inattention is ADHD—start with a broad differential
  2. ADHD typically requires symptoms starting in childhood
  3. New-onset attention problems should prompt evaluation for alternative causes
  4. Use ASRS (current symptoms) and WURS (childhood symptoms) together
  5. You don’t need to diagnose in one visit—spacing evaluation improves accuracy
  6. Functional impairment matters more than symptom count alone
  7. When the picture is unclear, it’s reasonable to slow down rather than commit early

Listen now

Prefer to listen on the go? This podcast is available for free on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your podcasts–just search Collaborative Psychiatry QuickTakes.

Screeners you can use in clinic

These are simple tools to help structure your initial ADHD assessment.

Adult ADHD Self Report Scale (ASRS)

Screens for current symptoms of ADHD. A useful first-pass tool to identify patterns of inattention and hyperactivity in adulthood.

Wender Utah Rating Scale for ADHD

Screens for childhood symptoms, which helps determine whether attentional issues were present before age 12.

Use these tools in clinic

These are quick-reference tools designed for use in clinic.
Downloadable versions are available to free members.

Create free account to download tools

Evaluating Adult ADHD in Primary Care

Quick-reference sheet reviewing clinical pearls regarding evaluation of ADHD in adults.

ADHD vs Other Causes of Inattention

Quick review of differential for complaints of inattentiveness, including key features of each and how to differentiate between them.

Patient Handout – How to Improve Focus Without Medication

Patient handout detailing techniques we can all employ to improve our ability to focus throughout the day.

Continue the framework

This episode introduces how to approach ADHD evaluation. For a treatment framework that focuses on medication selection, titration and adjustment, take a look at our ADHD Pharmacology Course, or try a clinical walkthrough as a first step.