the PMHNP Podcast: ADHD

the PMHNP Podcast: ADHD

From the PMHNP Podcast by Dr. John Rossi

September 8, 2025 · 1h 16m · Episode 35

About this episode

This episode focuses on equipping future PMHNPs with the knowledge and tools to diagnose and treat ADHD effectively.

Practice questions for this Podcast are available at https://pmhnpstudentportal.com/podcast-practice-qs As future PMHNPs, you’re equipping yourselves to make a real difference for children, adolescents, and adults with ADHD, and this Podcast was designed to give you the tools to excel—both on the PMHNP-BC certification exam and in clinical practice. Let’s recap the journey, highlight the core lessons, and look forward to how you’ll apply this knowledge to empower your patients. We began with the DSM-5 criteria, laying the foundation for diagnosing ADHD. You learned that inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity must be present before age 12, across two or more settings, causing significant impairment. For kids, it’s six symptoms per domain; for those older, five. This framework is your diagnostic compass, and for the exam, expect to differentiate ADHD presentations—combined, inattentive, or hyperactive-impulsive—through case scenarios. Next, we tackled differential diagnoses, a critical skill for ruling out mimics like anxiety, mood disorders, or learning disabilities. You learned to focus on onset, context, and co-occurring symptoms, using tools like clinical interviews and…

People in this episode

Host: Dr. John Rossi

Topics covered

  • ADHD
  • diagnosis
  • clinical practice
  • PMHNP-BC certification
  • differential diagnoses
  • neurobiological roots

Keywords

  • ADHD
  • diagnosis
  • PMHNP
  • DSM-5 criteria
  • differential diagnoses
  • neurobiology
  • clinical practice

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: PMHNP Student Portal

Books & works: DSM-5

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