Clinical and basic research on ADHD has increased dramatically over the past decade with more than 3,000 articles being published in English in scientific journals alone during the past 6 years. Capturing and briefly summarizing what is known about ADHD given so vast an archive of research is a difficult undertaking but it is one that I believe has been quite successfully accomplished in this volume entirely dedicated to the topic. This is a remarkable collection of papers on ADHD ranging from genetics to forensics, from ethics to therapeutics, from epidemiology to parent support and from neuroimaging to classroom teaching strategies, with much more as well. The range of authorships includes many of the international leaders in the field and the wide array of topics clearly reflects how vibrant the field of research and clinical practice remains. It is a pleasure to endorse such a representative and cutting edge volume such as this that will help to not only bring the reader up to date on trends within this field but also dispel many of the myths about ADHD and even improve both professional and public understanding of such a complex condition. Although the journal is aimed at general practitioners and trainees, a wide range of people, including parents, teachers, nurses, psychologists and consultant psychiatrists, are likely to find it of interest, not only because of the broad range of topics covered but also because of the succinct approach and clarity of expression that characterise so many of the papers.
It is both a great honour and a privilege for me to welcome you to the wealth of knowledge and wisdom in these pages.
Russell A. Barkley, Ph.D.
Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, USA.