Inattentive Type (formerly ADD)
Predominantly Inattentive Presentation (per DSM-5 / DSM-5-TR)
✅ This is the official name for the Inattentive Type (formerly ADD).
Therefore, it’s the same thing—the name simply changed to align with modern diagnostic approaches. ❤️
🔹 Detailed explanation:
1️⃣ ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder)
- A term used in the past (DSM-III era, before 1994)
- Referred to people who had attention problems but did not show hyperactivity or impulsivity
- e.g., forgetful, spacey, unfocused, but not fidgety or overactive
At that time, the terms were divided as:
- “ADD with hyperactivity” → equivalent to hyperactive ADHD
- “ADD without hyperactivity” → equivalent to predominantly inattentive
But in 1994 with the release of DSM-IV, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) eliminated the term “ADD” and placed everything under a single umbrella:
ADHD – Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
2️⃣ Predominantly Inattentive Presentation (per DSM-5-TR, 2022)
- This is the current name for what used to be called “ADD.” 🩵
📖 Why the name changed:
Because research shows that even when some people are not hyperactive, the underlying brain mechanisms and neurotransmitter dysregulation are similar to those with hyperactivity.
Therefore, they should be grouped under the same ADHD category—the difference lies only in the mode of expression (presentation).
🔹 Today the DSM uses the word “presentation” instead of “type”
This conveys that a person’s symptoms can change across life stages or contexts, for example:
- A child may be Combined → later become Inattentive in adulthood
- Or someone may receive treatment so that hyperactive–impulsive symptoms improve, leaving mostly inattention
3️⃣ Names across eras (summary)
| Era / Manual | Term Used | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| DSM-III (1980s) | ADD (with / without hyperactivity) | “ADD” was explicitly separated |
| DSM-IV (1994) | ADHD – Inattentive Type | ADD and ADHD were consolidated |
| DSM-5 (2013) / DSM-5-TR (2022) | ADHD – Predominantly Inattentive Presentation | Current official term |
💬 Easiest way to understand
| Old name | New (current) name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ADD | ADHD – Predominantly Inattentive Presentation | A person with inattentive symptoms without hyperactivity |
🧩 Additional clinical context
- In medical or psychiatric reports today, the term “ADD” is not used because it’s considered outdated.
- However, it may still appear in conversation or public-facing media for simplicity, e.g.:
- “I’m the ADD type” → people generally understand this to mean ADHD without hyperactivity.
- In research or official documents, the correct term is:
“ADHD – Predominantly Inattentive Presentation.”
📚 References
- American Psychiatric Association. (2022). DSM-5-TR: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
- Barkley, R. A. (2015). Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A Handbook for Diagnosis and Treatment.
- NIMH (2023). Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Adults.
- Faraone, S. V. et al. (2021). The World Federation of ADHD Consensus Statement.
🏷️ Hashtags
#InattentiveADHD #ADD #ADHDPresentation #ADHDTerminology #ADHDEducation #NeuroNerdSociety
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