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Date

2025

Abstract

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is increasingly recognized as a condition that persists into adulthood, yet primary care providers often feel uncertain about diagnosing it due to symptom overlap with other psychiatric conditions and the absence of standardized tools. This project, conducted at New Fairfield Family Practice, aimed to improve provider comfort with adult ADHD diagnosis by introducing the World Health Organization’s Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS-v1.1), an internationally validated screening tool. An educational intervention consisting of a slide presentation and integration of the ASRS-v1.1 into the electronic medical record was delivered to providers. Effectiveness was assessed with pre- and post-surveys measuring provider willingness to use the tool. Results demonstrated an increase in willingness from an average score of 0 (SD=0) pre-intervention to 9.5 (SD=0.71) post-intervention. This project underscores the value of integrating validated screening tools into primary care to address underdiagnosis of adult ADHD. Future directions include expanding provider education, creating accessible handouts for clinicians and staff, and strengthening referral pathways to behavioral health resources. These are small steps to address the significant personal and societal burden of untreated ADHD in adults.

Clinical Site

New Fairfield Family Practice

Keywords

ADHD, Behavioral Health, Mental Health, Primary Care, Screening, Psychiatry

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Disciplines

Medical Education | Primary Care

Screening for Adult ADHD in a Primary Care Setting

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