More than half of major clinical trials testing treatments for adult ADHD did not adequately verify that participants actually had the condition, raising serious concerns about the reliability of the evidence underpinning current care. This new study was published in European Psychiatry. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) was originally described as a childhood condition, defined by observable behaviors that parents and teachers could report, such as excessive running, an inability to sit still, or constant interruption. However, in recent decades, ADHD diagnoses in adults have risen sharply. This surge has prompted growing concern among researchers and clinicians about whether the diagnostic criteria—originally tailored for children—are fit for purpose when applied to adults. The challenge is significant. To be diagnosed, adults must reflect on and self-report their own internal experiences (such as feeling distracted or restless) and recall childhood behaviors that occurred decades earlier. Many symptoms of adult ADHD can also be caused by depression, trauma, anxiety, and other mental health conditions. Without carefully ruling out these alternatives through a thorough, differential psychiatric assessment, misdiagnosis can easily occur. …