Dr. Ratey's Diagnostic Questions for ADD

Date: Sun, 29 May 94 17:32:48 EDT
From: Alderc@aol.com (Alder Castanoli)

In the June issue of Wired, Evan I. Schwartz wrote an excellent article on ADD called "Interrupt-Driven", in which he lists 20 questions for determining the possibility of ADD, and states the questions are based on the clinical experience of Drs. Edward M. Hallowell and Dr. John J. Ratey. Mr. Schwartz also describes the experiences of one of Dr. Hallowell's ADD patients, and tells of Compuserve's 7,000 member ADD forum. I wrote to Mr. Schwartz and requested permission to quote his questions. He said yes, as long as I ascribed them to Drs. Hallowell and Ratey.

20 questions: A person with a chronic disturbance would answer 'yes' to at least fifteen of the following questions:

Do you have a sense of underachievement, of not meeting your goals, regardless of how much you have actually accomplished?
Do you have difficulty getting organized?
Are you a chronic procrastinator?
Do you often juggle many projects simultaneously, but balk at followthrough?
Do you have a tendency to say what comes to mind without necessarily considering the timing or appropriateness of the remark?
Do you find yourself in an ongoing, restive search for high stimulation?
Do you have a tendency to be easily bored?
Are you easily distractible, with trouble focusing attention and a tendency to tune out or drift away in the middle of a page or a conversation -- often coupled with an ability to hyperfocus?
Are you considered creative, intuitive, or highly intelligent?
Do you have trouble going through established channels or following proper procedure?
Are you impatient, with a low tolerance for frustration?
Are you impulsive, either verbally or in action -- as in impulsively spending money, changing plans, enacting new schemes, or altering career plans?
Do you have a tendency to worry needlessly, alternating with inattention to or disregard for actual dangers?
Do you have a sense of impending doom, insecurity, alternating with high risk taking?
Do you experience mood swings or depression, especially when disengaged from a person or a project?
Are you frequently restless, with lots of "nervous energy"?
Do you have a tendency toward addictive behavior, be it alcohol, caffeine, shopping, eating, or overwork?
Do you have a chronic problem with self-esteem?
Are you inaccurate at self-observation, often misjudging the impact you have on others?
Do you have a family history of ADD, manic-depressive illness, depression, substance abuse, or other disorders of impulse control?

Last Modified: Thursday, October 02, 1997 9:34:45 PM

Steven J. Foust, peregrin@enteract.com