ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects attention, impulse control and activity levels. It's formally diagnosed and treated in the UK through the NHS and private specialist services, following NICE guideline NG87. This hub links to our full set of ADHD information pages — what it is, how it presents in adults, its symptoms, and the UK diagnosis and treatment pathway.
Where to start
If you're new to this topic, What Is ADHD? is the best starting point — it covers the three recognised presentations (inattentive, hyperactive-impulsive, and combined) and what's currently understood about what causes it. From there, ADHD Symptoms goes into the specific signs clinicians look for, and Adult ADHD covers how presentation and diagnosis differ for adults compared with children.
From recognising symptoms to getting treated
Recognising symptoms in yourself or someone else isn't the same as having a diagnosis — ADHD can only be formally diagnosed by a qualified specialist, following a structured assessment. Our ADHD Diagnosis UK guide walks through exactly how that works, covering both the NHS route and the private route, realistic timelines, and what the assessment itself involves.
Once diagnosed, treatment in the UK typically combines medication (where appropriate) with non-drug support, all under specialist oversight before transitioning to routine GP-managed prescribing. Our ADHD Treatment UK guide covers that full pathway, and our separate ADHD Medication UK hub goes into detail on the specific medicines UK clinicians prescribe.