Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is a neurodevelopmental disorder now recognised as a widely prevalent and common condition affecting children adolescent and adults across the lifespan. It is a significant condition but not easily recognised, often misunderstood, misdiagnosed, and commonly inadequately treated and unfortunately it also carries a stigma, just like many other mental health conditions.

WA was once upon a time regarded as the ADHD capital of Australia, before the other states caught up. Paediatricians and psychiatrists were not uncommonly maligned in public and the media for being initiative-taking to diagnose and treating affected public. I have been treating ADHD for the last 25 years in my private psychiatric practice and I belong to a group of dedicated Australian mental health professionals who provide assessment and care in this area. ADHD has many comorbidities and impact the individual more significantly than previously thought. In this talk, I hope to provide a brief overview of the condition and how it affects the individual, the approach to assessment and treatment and provide some interesting case examples out of the thousands of successfully treated individuals over the years. It is not meant to be exhaustive but to create interest, awareness, stimulate interest and discussion and hopefully improve understanding of this condition.