Why do doctors ask about family history for ADHD? What are they looking for?

Clinicians ask about family history because ADHD is heritable in population studies, so diagnosed or suspected ADHD, learning difficulties, or related patterns in relatives can be supporting context. Lack of diagnosed relatives does not rule ADHD out. Underdiagnosis has been common, especially historically in women, so a negative family tree may only mean nobody was assessed. FasTreat also offers private online ADHD assessment and ongoing care, depending on your needs and clinical assessment. Related reading: https://www.fastreat.com/en/adhd-faq References: https://www.caddra.ca/wp-content/uploads/Canadian-ADHD-Practice-Guidelines-4.1-January-6-2021.pdf https://www.camh.ca/en/professionals/treating-conditions-and-disorders/adult-adhd/adult-adhd---treatment/adult-adhd---pharmacotherapy https://www.caddra.ca/guideline-overview/

My clinic asked about relatives and I had almost nothing useful to say. Nobody had a diagnosis. I left feeling like I had failed a family quiz. Later my mum said school had been a disaster for her too, just never named. I still do not know what that means. I told the clinician I was the first one asking. They did not treat it as a veto. This is only my family, not a pattern I would put on anyone else.