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Psychiatric Specialist
5-10 minutes

DSM-5 Guidelines for ADHD

The ADHD DSM-5 Criteria template by s10.ai is an indispensable tool for psychiatrists, psychologists, and mental health professionals aiming to accurately diagnose ADHD in patients. This comprehensive template encompasses detailed criteria for both Inattentive and Hyperactive/Impulsive types, featuring specific symptoms and relevant quotations from patient transcripts. It guarantees that all essential diagnostic requirements are fulfilled, including symptom duration and impact on daily functioning. This template is crucial for clinicians to make precise ADHD diagnoses and determine the type and severity of the disorder. Perfect for psychiatric evaluations, it streamlines the diagnostic process and ensures thorough documentation, motivating clinicians to adopt and implement this efficient solution in their practice.

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Dr. Emily Carter
Template Structure

Organized sections for comprehensive clinical documentation

(only cross boxes if the given criteria (for example, "Displays poor listening skills" or "Diminished attention span" has occurred for at least six months/half a year, if the criteria has occurred for less than six months (e.g. "I've been misplacing my notebooks and pens more often, for the last month") leave blank)
DSM-5 ADHD Assessment Criteria Form
Inattentive Type Assessment Criteria:
- [ ] Exhibits inadequate listening abilities (if exhibits inadequate listening abilities for over six months cross box, else leave blank)
Quotations: [list of quotations] (if present, include a list of quotations from the transcript related to inadequate listening abilities else input "not mentioned in transcript")
- [ ] Misplaces or loses items necessary for completing tasks or activities
Quotations: [list of quotations] (if present, include a list of quotations from the transcript related to misplacing/losing items else input "not mentioned in transcript")
- [ ] Distracted by external or trivial stimuli
Quotations: [list of quotations] (if present, include a list of quotations from the transcript related to being distracted else input "not mentioned in transcript")
- [ ] Fails to remember daily tasks
Quotations: [list of quotations] (if present, include a list of quotations from the transcript related to failing to remember daily tasks else input "not mentioned in transcript")
- [ ] Reduced attention span
Quotations: [list of quotations] (if present, include a list of quotations from the transcript related to reduced attention span else input "not mentioned in transcript")
- [ ] Inability to complete schoolwork and other assignments or follow instructions
Quotations: [list of quotations] (if present, include a list of quotations from the transcript related to inability to complete schoolwork/follow instructions else input "not mentioned in transcript")
- [ ] Hesitates or is reluctant to start homework or activities requiring focus
Quotations: [list of quotations] (if present, include a list of quotations from the transcript related to hesitating to start homework/activities else input "not mentioned in transcript")
- [ ] Neglects to focus on details and/or makes careless errors in schoolwork or assignments
Quotations: [list of quotations] (if present, include a list of quotations from the transcript related to neglecting details/making errors else input "not mentioned in transcript")
Inattentive Type Assessment Criteria met: [yes/no] (Tick the box if 6 or more of the above criteria have been met for the past 6 months in ≥ 2 settings)
Hyperactive/Impulsive Type Assessment Criteria:
Hyperactivity Symptoms:
- [ ] Fidgets when seated or fiddles with feet/hands
Quotations: [list of quotations] (if present, include a list of quotations from the transcript related to fidgeting else input "not mentioned in transcript")
- [ ] Noticeable restlessness that is hard to manage
Quotations: [list of quotations] (if present, include a list of quotations from the transcript related to restlessness else input "not mentioned in transcript")
- [ ] Seems to be driven by “a motor” or is frequently “on the go”
Quotations: [list of quotations] (if present, include a list of quotations from the transcript related to being driven by a motor/always on the go else input "not mentioned in transcript")
- [ ] Unable to play and engage in leisure activities quietly
Quotations: [list of quotations] (if present, include a list of quotations from the transcript related to inability to play quietly else input "not mentioned in transcript")
- [ ] Unable to remain seated in class
Quotations: [list of quotations] (if present, include a list of quotations from the transcript related to being unable to remain seated else input "not mentioned in transcript")
- [ ] Excessively talkative
Quotations: [list of quotations] (if present, include a list of quotations from the transcript related to being excessively talkative else input "not mentioned in transcript")
Impulsive Symptoms:
- [ ] Struggles to wait for turn
Quotations: [list of quotations] (if present, include a list of quotations from the transcript related to struggling to wait for turn else input "not mentioned in transcript")
- [ ] Interrupts or intrudes into others' conversations and activities
Quotations: [list of quotations] (if present, include a list of quotations from the transcript related to interrupting/intruding else input "not mentioned in transcript")
- [ ] Impulsively answers questions before they are completed
Quotations: [list of quotations] (if present, include a list of quotations from the transcript related to impulsively answering questions else input "not mentioned in transcript")
Hyperactive/Impulsive Type Assessment Criteria met: [yes/no] (Tick the box if 6 or more of the above criteria have been met for the past 6 months in ≥ 2 settings)
Additional Requirements for Assessment (all must be met):
- [ ] Symptoms evident before age 12 years
Quotations: [list of quotations] (if present, include a list of quotations from the transcript related to symptoms evident before age 12 else input "not mentioned in transcript")
- [ ] Symptoms not better explained by another psychiatric disorder (e.g., mood disorder, anxiety disorder) and do not occur solely during a psychotic disorder (e.g., schizophrenia)
Quotations: [list of quotations] (if present, include a list of quotations from the transcript related to other psychiatric disorders else input "not mentioned in transcript")
- [ ] Symptoms not solely a result of oppositional behavior
Quotations: [list of quotations] (if present, include a list of quotations from the transcript related to oppositional behavior else input "not mentioned in transcript")
Classification:
- [ ] Combined Type: Patient meets both inattentive and hyperactive/impulsive criteria for the past 6 months: [yes/no]
- [ ] Predominantly Inattentive Type: Patient meets inattentive criterion, but not hyperactive/impulsive criterion, for the past 6 months: [yes/no]
- [ ] Predominantly Hyperactive/Impulsive Type: Patient meets hyperactive/impulsive criterion, but not inattentive criterion, for the past 6 months: [yes/no]
(Symptoms may be classified as mild, moderate, or severe based on symptom severity)
(Never come up with your own patient details, assessment, plan, interventions, evaluation, and plan for continuing care - use only the transcript, contextual notes or clinical note as a reference for the information included in your note. If any information related to a placeholder has not been explicitly mentioned in the transcript, contextual notes or clinical note, you must not state the information has not been explicitly mentioned in your output, just leave the relevant placeholder or section blank.)(Use as many bullet points as needed to capture all the relevant information from the transcript.)(do not include placeholders [example] or instructions (example) in actual text, unless for boxes to be ticked)(Diagnosis Instructions for s10.ai - If 6 or more symptoms are ticked in either the Inattentive Type or Hyperactive/Impulsive Type criteria, an ADHD diagnosis can be made; All additional requirements need to be ticked for the diagnosis to be confirmed; Use the classification section to determine the specific type of ADHD; Symptoms must be present in at least two different settings and have a significant impact on academic, social, or occupational functioning.)(only tick symptom box if: Symptoms and/or behaviours that have persisted ≥ 6 months in ≥ 2 settings (e.g., school, home, church) OR Symptoms have negatively impacted academic, social, and/or occupational functioning OR In patients aged < 17 years, ≥ 6 symptoms are necessary; in those aged ≥ 17 years, ≥ 5 symptoms are necessary.)
Sample Clinical Note

Example of completed documentation using this template

DSM-5 ADHD Diagnosis Criteria Form
Inattentive Type Diagnosis Criteria:
- [x] Exhibits poor listening abilities
Quotations: "I often have to repeat myself when talking to him."
- [x] Misplaces or loses items necessary for tasks or activities
Quotations: "He frequently loses his school supplies."
- [x] Easily distracted by external or trivial stimuli
Quotations: "He gets distracted by the smallest things."
- [x] Forgets daily tasks
Quotations: "He often forgets to do his chores."
- [x] Reduced attention span
Quotations: "He can't focus on his homework for more than a few minutes."
- [x] Struggles to complete schoolwork and other tasks or follow instructions
Quotations: "He rarely finishes his assignments on time."
- [x] Avoids or is reluctant to start homework or activities requiring focus
Quotations: "He always puts off starting his homework."
- [ ] Does not focus on details and/or makes careless mistakes in schoolwork or tasks
Quotations: not mentioned in transcript
Inattentive Type Diagnosis Criteria met: yes
Hyperactive/Impulsive Type Diagnosis Criteria:
Hyperactivity Symptoms:
- [] Fidgets when seated or with feet/hands
Quotations: not mentioned in transcript
- [x] Significant restlessness that is hard to manage
Quotations: "He is always moving around."
- [x] Appears to be driven by “a motor” or is frequently “on the go”
Quotations: "He seems like he has endless energy."
- [x] Unable to play and engage in leisure activities quietly
Quotations: "He can't play quietly."
- [ ] Unable to remain seated in class
Quotations: not mentioned in transcript
- [x] Excessively talkative
Quotations: "He talks non-stop."
Impulsive Symptoms:
- [x] Trouble waiting for his turn
Quotations: "He can't wait for his turn in games."
- [x] Interrupts or intrudes on conversations and activities of others
Quotations: "He often interrupts others."
- [x] Impulsively blurts out answers before questions are completed
Quotations: "He answers questions before they are finished."
Hyperactive/Impulsive Type Diagnosis Criteria met: yes
Additional Requirements for Diagnosis (all must be met):
- [x] Symptoms present before age 12 years
Quotations: "His symptoms started when he was around 8 years old."
- [x] Symptoms not better explained by another psychiatric disorder (e.g., mood disorder, anxiety disorder) and do not occur solely during a psychotic disorder (e.g., schizophrenia)
Quotations: "No other psychiatric disorders have been diagnosed."
- [x] Symptoms not solely a manifestation of oppositional behavior
Quotations: "His behavior is not oppositional."
Classification:
- [x] Combined Type: Patient meets both inattentive and hyperactive/impulsive criteria for the past 6 months: yes
- [ ] Predominantly Inattentive Type: Patient meets inattentive criterion, but not hyperactive/impulsive criterion, for the past 6 months: no
- [ ] Predominantly Hyperactive/Impulsive Type: Patient meets hyperactive/impulsive criterion, but not inattentive criterion, for the past 6 months: no
(Symptoms may be classified as mild, moderate, or severe based on symptom severity)
Clinical Benefits

Key advantages of using this template in clinical practice

  • The DSM-5 ADHD Diagnosis Criteria Form is an essential clinical tool designed to streamline the assessment and diagnosis of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in patients. This comprehensive template incorporates high-search healthcare keywords to ensure accuracy and efficiency in identifying both inattentive and hyperactive/impulsive symptoms. Clinicians can utilize this form to meticulously document patient behaviors and symptoms over a six-month period across multiple settings, ensuring a thorough evaluation. By adopting this template, healthcare professionals can enhance diagnostic precision, facilitate effective treatment planning, and improve patient outcomes. Explore the DSM-5 ADHD Diagnosis Criteria Form today to elevate your clinical practice and ensure comprehensive ADHD assessments.
Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about this template and its usage

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