Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder is a neurodevelopmental condition involving persistent patterns of inattention, hyperactivity or impulsivity that interfere with functioning at school, work or home.

Symptoms begin in childhood and often continue into adulthood, although hyperactivity tends to fade while difficulties with focus, organization and impulse control persist. Presentations are described as predominantly inattentive, predominantly hyperactive-impulsive or combined. The condition runs strongly in families, and differences in brain networks involved in attention and reward have been observed.

There is no single test; clinicians rely on detailed developmental history, standardized rating scales from parents, teachers or partners, and careful exclusion of conditions such as anxiety, sleep disorders and learning disabilities. Established care includes behavioral strategies, educational support and medication. Cannabidiol-specific evidence for ADHD is insufficient, and findings from general cannabis studies cannot be extended to it.