ADHD
26 min read
Written by Saya Des Marais
Published: May 3, 2024
Medically Reviewed by Dr. Geralyn Dexter
Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental condition that causes symptoms like distractedness, hyperactivity, disorganization, and more. If you live with ADHD, you may be looking for ways to better understand your brain and your symptoms. Learning about the 7 types of ADHD, defined by Dr. Daniel G. Amen, may help your self-discovery.
In this article, we discuss Dr. Amen’s 7 types of ADHD theory and how they compare with current ADHD research.
ADHD is treatable. If you live with ADHD symptoms, getting the right diagnosis is the first step to treatment. Find an ADHD provider on Klarity Health today for treatment, including medication and therapy.
ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects around 5% of U.S. adults and up to 10% of children. ADHD causes people to have difficulty with things like concentration, organization, and impulse control. It’s categorized as a mental health condition, but it’s also a form of neurodiversity, which is when the human brain works differently than it typically does.
There are 3 types of ADHD accepted in the scientific community. When people talk about the 7 types of ADHD, they’re referring to the work of Dr. Daniel G. Amen, a psychiatrist and ADHD expert.
According to Dr. Amen, brain imaging shows that ADHD is more complex than once believed; he contends that there are 7 distinct types of the condition, each with brain differences that can be seen in single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) brain scans.
Most experts say that Dr. Amen’s brain imaging techniques don’t show variations in ADHD symptoms and that there are no quantifiable biomarkers for ADHD. Evidence also shows SPECT scans are only 50% accurate for ADHD diagnosis.
Yet while Dr. Amen’s work isn’t supported by peer-reviewed evidence, many people find it helpful to dig into his 7 types of ADHD to understand the different, lesser-known ways that ADHD may present itself.
When you get an assessment and diagnosis for ADHD, your provider will most likely be taking the 3 recognized types of ADHD into account and not Dr. Amen’s proposed 7 types.
Here, we cover all 10 types of ADHD: the 3 types recognized by the scientific community and Dr. Amen’s 7 types of ADHD.
Official clinical guidelines, including the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM), the standard that mental health professionals use to make diagnoses, state that there are 3 forms of ADHD:
People who live with the predominantly inattentive type of ADHD have issues with distractedness, forgetfulness, and attention. They don’t usually have hyperactive symptoms. This type of ADHD used to be called “ADD” (attention deficit disorder).
According to the DSM, the symptoms of the predominantly inattentive type of ADHD include:
People with predominantly hyperactive-impulsive ADHD have difficulty controlling their energy and impulses. In the media, children with ADHD are often depicted as running around and bouncing off the walls — the classic image of a child with hyperactive-impulsive ADHD.
According to the DSM, the symptoms of the predominantly hyperactive-impulsive type of ADHD include:
Some people with ADHD have both inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive symptoms. These people are diagnosed with combined-type ADHD.
People with combination ADHD have some symptoms from each of both the inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive symptoms types of ADHD. The combination of symptoms and how they manifest may vary from person to person. People are usually diagnosed with this type of ADHD when they have at least 6 symptoms in both individual types of ADHD.
The most effective treatment for all 3 recognized types of ADHD symptoms, regardless of the specific type, is medication, specifically stimulant medications. Some effective medications approved to treat inattentive ADHD include the stimulant medications Ritalin (methylphenidate) and Adderall (amphetamine). In addition, a non-stimulant vs stimulant medication called Strattera (atomoxetine) can be effective for people with ADHD.
Some types of therapy, including cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), are also helpful for people with all types of ADHD, especially when used in conjunction with medication.
Dr. Amen describes 7 types of ADHD. He says these types have been identified by thousands of SPECT brain scans his clinics have conducted. The 7 types of ADHD he describes are:
According to Dr. Amen, all 7 types of ADHD have unique symptoms in addition to the core symptoms of all types of ADHD. These core symptoms of ADHD include:
Note: In his books and website, Dr. Amen uses the outdated term for ADHD, ADD. He states that this is because many of the 7 types of ADHD don’t include hyperactivity symptoms. However, in this article, we use the medically approved term, ADHD.
Dr. Amen’s classic ADHD type has many commonalities with the officially recognized predominantly hyperactive-impulsive type of ADHD. According to Dr. Amen, classic ADHD is the most common among the 7 types of ADHD, and the easiest to recognize.
According to Dr. Amen, symptoms of classic ADHD include:
These symptoms are similar to the DSM diagnostic guidelines for hyperactive-impulsive ADHD.
Although Dr. Amen isn’t opposed to treating ADHD with medications and recognizes that they can be life-changing, he prefers a holistic approach to ADHD treatment. In addition to medication when needed, he states the best interventions for the classic type of ADHD include:
Dr. Amen’s described symptoms of inattentive ADHD look almost identical to the formally recognized symptoms of the predominantly inattentive type of ADHD.
According to Dr. Amen, symptoms of inattentive ADHD include:
Dr. Amen recommends behavioral therapy for inattentive ADHD, which research also shows to be effective, especially for children and teens. He also that learning important skills like breaking down tasks into smaller steps can be productive for people with this type of ADHD.
Amen’s third type of ADHD, over-focused ADHD, is where Dr. Amen’s 7 types of ADHD start to differ from the formally recognized types. According to Dr. Amen, people with the over-focused type of ADHD have a hard time shifting their attention. He states that this type of ADHD is often mistaken for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
According to Dr. Amen, symptoms of over-focused ADHD include:
According to Amen, the difference between OCD and overfocused ADHD is that people with overfocused ADHD struggle with impulsivity, while people with OCD don’t.
Studies show though that many people with OCD have impulsive behaviors. If you think you may have ADHD or OCD, it’s important to get a formal assessment and diagnosis instead of self-diagnosing yourself. Although ADHD and OCD are different conditions, some people have both.
Amen states that one of the best interventions for over-focused ADHD is physical exercise, which has been shown in scientific research to improve symptoms of ADHD. He also claims that natural supplements, like St. John’s wort and L-tyrosine, can help.
People with temporal lobe ADHD have the symptoms of classic ADHD in addition to learning problems or difficulty controlling their tempers. Amen named this type after a region in the brain called the temporal lobe, because he says that his brain scans of people with this type have found “either increased or decreased blood flow in their temporal lobes.”
According to Dr. Amen, symptoms of temporal lobe ADHD include:
Amen recommends exercise and breathing techniques to counteract symptoms of temporal lobe ADHD. He also states that physical exercise can help with temporal lobe ADHD; research supports the effectiveness of exercise for all types of ADHD.
The symptoms that Amen gives for limbic ADHD are similar to the officially recognized symptoms of major depressive disorder (MDD) Amen says that limbic ADHD is often mistaken for depression. But it’s important to note that up to a third of people with ADHD have co-occurring depression. If you live with both ADHD and depression, it’s critical to receive treatment for both.
Dr. Amen states that the symptoms of limbic ADHD include:
For limbic ADHD, Amen recommends learning how to “structure your thoughts and actions,” such as avoiding an all-or-nothing thinking approach. This is a common cognitive-behavioral technique, and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is shown to help both ADHD and depression.
According to Amen, ring of fire ADHD type is differentiated by oppositional behaviors and racing thoughts. Amen gave this type of ADHD this name because he claims that a “ring of hyperactivity around the brain” appears on SPECT scans.
According to Dr. Amen, symptoms of ring of fire ADHD include:
Amen says that ADHD medication can make the symptoms of ring of fire ADHD worse; a claim isn’t substantiated by research. Evidence shows that stimulant medication is effective for most people with ADHD; it can have side effects, such as irritability, mood changes, or changes in appetite or sleeping patterns, but it doesn’t make ADHD symptoms themselves worse. Don’t stop taking your prescribed medication without talking to your healthcare provider.
Amen also recommends physical exercise and cognitive behavioral therapy techniques (like challenging automatic negative thoughts) for ring of fire ADHD.
The last of Amen’s 7 types of ADHD is anxious ADHD. He states that people with this type of ADHD have constant anxiety. He differentiates this type of ADHD vs anxiety, stating that people with anxiety disorders tend to have ebbs and flows in their symptoms while people with anxious ADHD have constant symptoms.
However, by definition, people with anxiety disorders experience symptoms almost constantly, which get worse over time. In addition, ADHD and anxiety disorders frequently appear together. If you think you may live with an anxiety disorder, it’s important to get the right treatment.
Dr. Amen states the symptoms of anxious ADHD include
Dr. Amen recommends relaxation and stress management techniques to manage anxious ADHD.
There are no peer-reviewed studies that back up Dr. Amen’s types of ADHD. Amen’s categories are based on the SPECT brain scans that his clinic conducts. However, these brain scans aren’t evidence-based, and other experts have expressed doubts about the ability of these scans to accurately measure the complex ways in which ADHD affects the brain.
Some of Dr. Amen’s claims may pose risks to people who have ADHD. For example, he claims that stimulant medications can make some types of ADHD worse, which isn’t based on evidence. This could prevent people with ADHD from getting the treatment they need. Working with a provider who understands your symptoms and how they affect your life can help you decide on the best treatment plan.
The proponents of Dr. Amen’s work stress the importance of holistic mental health treatment. They state that understanding ADHD in this way can help people understand alternative treatment methods, especially those who have not been helped by or do not want to take medication. Many of the recommendations that Dr. Amen makes for ADHD, including exercise, nutritional changes, and stress management techniques, are shown by research to be effective for people with ADHD as well as all people.
Holistic mental health treatment methods can be a valuable addition to more traditional treatment plans, but shouldn’t be used alone without the guidance of a mental health practitioner. Talk to your healthcare provider before starting or stopping any treatment for ADHD, even if it’s a natural treatment like herbal supplements.
ADHD can be difficult to live with, but it’s treatable. The first step to living better with ADHD is to receive an assessment and official diagnosis by a licensed mental health provider. Once you’re diagnosed, you get effective ADHD treatment whether it’s therapy and/or medication.
Keep in mind that although any licensed mental health professional can provide a diagnosis, only medical providers, such as psychiatrists, physician’s assistants/associates, or nurse practitioners, can prescribe medication.
In addition to medication and therapy, lifestyle habits can help you cope with ADHD regardless of what type you live with. These include:
Many ADHD medications are effective for helping people manage symptoms of ADHD.
Research shows that the most effective treatment for ADHD is stimulant medication. The 2 FDA-approved stimulant medications for the treatment of ADHD are:
For those who choose not to take stimulants, effective non-stimulant ADHD medication options include:
For Dr. Amen’s ADHD types that appear to mimic other mental health conditions, like depression (limbic ADHD), OCD (over-focused ADHD), or anxiety (anxious ADHD), other medications may be needed to manage symptoms.
If you live with both ADHD and another mental health condition, it’s essential to get an accurate diagnosis and that the symptoms of both be treated.
Dr. Amen’s 7 types of ADHD aren’t backed by peer-reviewed research. Officially, only 3 types of ADHD are recognized: predominantly hyperactive-impulsive ADHD, predominantly inattentive ADHD, and combined-type ADHD.
However, Amen’s 7 types theory presents an alternative way of understanding your ADHD symptoms and introduces holistic treatment methods for those who don’t want to take medications. Research shows that medication is the most effective treatment method for ADHD.
ADHD is highly treatable; getting the right diagnosis is the first step. Find an ADHD provider on Klarity Health today for a diagnosis and to start treatment.
*Appointments are generally available within 24 hours. Free initial consultations are available only with select providers. Prescriptions, particularly for controlled substances, may require an in-person evaluation depending on the state of residence and current federal regulations.
The information provided in this article is for educational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. Controlled substances may not be appropriate for all patients and any mention of these medications is for educational purposes only, not for marketing or encouraging self-diagnosis. Always seek the guidance of a qualified healthcare professional with any questions or concerns you have regarding your health. Providers on Klarity Health are independent practitioners with clinical autonomy. Nothing in this article is intended to diagnose or treat any condition, including guaranteeing prescription medication of any kind or dosage. Not all providers on Klarity Health prescribe all medications, particularly medications that are controlled substances.
If you’re having a mental health crisis or experiencing a psychiatric emergency, it’s crucial to seek immediate help from a mental healthcare professional, such as a psychiatrist, psychologist, or therapist. You can also call your local emergency services, visit your nearest emergency room, or contact a crisis hotline, such as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, by calling or texting 988 or dialing the Lifeline’s previous phone number, 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255) in the U.S.
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