[ARainyDawn]

I'm a little confused now. My diagnosis was ADHD NOS. I always interpreted is as "I don't have ADHD," but I've recently been told that it indicated an ADHD type disorder that is not quite ADHD? Could anyone shed some light on this?

[psychiatric1]

DSM IV states, "This category is for disorders with prominent symptoms of inattention or hyperactivity-impulsivity that do not meet criteria for Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. Examples Include:

1. Individuals whose symptoms and impairment meet the criteria for Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Predominantly Inattentive type, but whose age at onset is 7 years or after.

2. Individuals with clinically significant impairment who present with inattention and whose symptoms pattern does not meet the full criteria for the disorder but have a behavioral pattern marked by sluggishness, daydreaming, and hypoactivity."

From what I've gathered, it seems like some doctors may treat it with medication, while many won't. Therapy is recommended too. The NOS category is kind of a gray-area, where the clinician recognizes that psychopathology exists, but it doesn't quite fit into any of the diagnostic categories.

In my opinion, all forms of treatment should be available to ADHD NOS, as the DSM clearly states that the symptoms are "clinically significant."