Disorders originating in infancy/childhood

Reactive attachment disorder: This disorder results from severe neglect or trauma in early childhood, especially deprivation of maternal love and care or frequent changes in caregivers. As a result, the child may show failure to thrive and developmental delay. The child becomes socially detached and may not survive. Affected children neither seek nor respond to comfort when distressed, may be irritable, and may later show high-risk sexual behaviors, substance abuse, and criminality as adults. Treatment is psychotherapy.
Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is marked by an ongoing pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that interferes with functioning or development. Symptoms must occur in more than one setting (e.g., home, school, or work; with friends or relatives). For diagnosis, 6 or more symptoms from inattention and 6 or more symptoms from hyperactivity/impulsivity should be present for <16 year olds, and 5 or more symptoms in each category for >16 year olds. These symptoms should be present for at least 6 months.

Inattention means the person wanders off task, lacks persistence, has difficulty sustaining focus, and is disorganized. These problems are not due to defiance or lack of comprehension. Examples include making careless mistakes in schoolwork or at work; not seeming to listen when spoken to directly; not following through on instructions and failing to finish schoolwork; and often losing things like pencils, books, etc.
Hyperactivity means the person seems to move about constantly, including in situations where it is not appropriate, or excessively fidgets, taps, or talks. In adults, it may appear as extreme restlessness or wearing others out with constant activity.
Impulsivity means the person makes hasty actions in the moment without first thinking them through. These actions may have a high potential for harm, reflect a desire for immediate rewards, or show an inability to delay gratification. An impulsive person may be socially intrusive, excessively interrupt others, or make important decisions without considering long-term consequences.

Reactive attachment disorder: This disorder results from severe neglect or trauma in early childhood, especially deprivation of maternal love and care or frequent changes in caregivers. As a result, the child may show failure to thrive and developmental delay. The child becomes socially detached and may not survive. Affected children neither seek nor respond to comfort when distressed, may be irritable, and may later show high-risk sexual behaviors, substance abuse, and criminality as adults. Treatment is psychotherapy.
Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is marked by an ongoing pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that interferes with functioning or development. Symptoms must occur in more than one setting (e.g., home, school, or work; with friends or relatives). For diagnosis, 6 or more symptoms from inattention and 6 or more symptoms from hyperactivity/impulsivity should be present for <16 year olds, and 5 or more symptoms in each category for >16 year olds. These symptoms should be present for at least 6 months.

Inattention means the person wanders off task, lacks persistence, has difficulty sustaining focus, and is disorganized. These problems are not due to defiance or lack of comprehension. Examples include making careless mistakes in schoolwork or at work; not seeming to listen when spoken to directly; not following through on instructions and failing to finish schoolwork; and often losing things like pencils, books, etc.
Hyperactivity means the person seems to move about constantly, including in situations where it is not appropriate, or excessively fidgets, taps, or talks. In adults, it may appear as extreme restlessness or wearing others out with constant activity.
Impulsivity means the person makes hasty actions in the moment without first thinking them through. These actions may have a high potential for harm, reflect a desire for immediate rewards, or show an inability to delay gratification. An impulsive person may be socially intrusive, excessively interrupt others, or make important decisions without considering long-term consequences.