Breaking Down the ADHD Construct: Examining Diagnostic Validity and Reliability in DSM-5-TR Criteria

This article critically examines the DSM-5-TR diagnostic criteria for ADHD, identifying substantial problems including arbitrariness, vagueness, redundancy, and context-dependent normality that undermine diagnostic validity and reliability. The authors argue that these definitional weaknesses compromise the precision of ADHD research, clinical decision-making, and treatment effectiveness, necessitating a comprehensive reconstruction of the diagnostic framework.