Reference

ADHD glossary

A plain-English guide to the language you are likely to encounter around ADHD assessment, treatment and NHS pathways.

For Adults & familiesReading time 5 min readLast reviewed 5 October 2026

Short answer

If a term is being used to sell you a service, it is worth understanding exactly what it means — and what it does not mean.

A–Z

Common terms

ASRS

Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale — a screening questionnaire, not a standalone diagnostic test.

Collateral information

Information from someone who knows the person well, or from records such as school reports, that helps add developmental context.

Controlled drug

A medicine subject to additional legal controls. Methylphenidate and amphetamine-based ADHD medicines are controlled drugs.

DIVA-5

A structured diagnostic interview for ADHD in adults. It supports assessment but does not replace wider clinical judgement.

Executive function

Mental processes involved in planning, organising, working memory, inhibition, time management and goal-directed behaviour.

ICB

Integrated Care Board — an NHS organisation responsible for planning and commissioning many services for its population.

Independent prescriber

A regulated healthcare professional with an appropriate prescribing qualification and authority to prescribe within their competence.

Modified release

A formulation designed to release medication over an extended period rather than all at once.

Right to Choose

In England, legal rights that may allow a patient to choose an eligible clinically appropriate provider at the point of referral.

Shared care

An arrangement in which responsibilities are agreed between specialist and primary care teams. It is not automatic.

Titration

The process of adjusting treatment over time to find an effective and tolerated regimen.

YMYL

“Your Money or Your Life” — a search-quality term often used for topics such as health where inaccurate information can cause harm.