(HealthScoutNews) -- A steady rise in the number of children diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) over the past decade is due to a number of reasons.

So says Jeff Epstein, an assistant professor in the department of psychology and behavioral sciences at Duke University Medical Center.

"There appear to be more and more diagnosed each year. The reasons for that are probably because there is a greater understanding of the disorder among the population, and the new criteria, DSM IV (Diagnostic Manual of Mental Disorders -- Fourth Edition) are a little bit more inclusive," Epstein says.

Those new criteria help distinguish between ADHD and more generalized anxiety disorders.

"One of the things we know about anxiety disorders is that some of their symptoms can mimic ADHD or overlap with ADHD. Many people with anxiety disorders have trouble with inattention and concentration. The way we usually pull that out is by looking at the course of the anxiety problems and the course of the ADHD symptoms, in order to find out what may be the presenting, underlying problem that the child or adult is having," Epstein says.

The most common ADHD symptoms are an inability to sustain attention and impulsive, hyperactive behavior. ADHD can be treated with medications or other therapies, and any treatment needs to be a team effort.

"It should be the parents in collaboration with the physician that determines whether the child should be on any type of medical or psycho-social treatment. That should be a collaborative decision," Epstein says.

"But teachers need to also be part of the process, letting parents and physicians know how the child is responding to the medication or other intervention. Rating scales that the teacher fills out, frequent phone calls to the teacher to find out how the child is doing -- these are very important to determine efficacy."

More information

The National Institute of Mental Health has more on ADHD.

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