Editorial: Uniformity Before Prediction: The Unfinished Science of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder...

A central ambition of medicine-particularly in the realm of chronic and developmental disorders-is not only to diagnose with precision, but also to anticipate the course of illness with foresight and nuance.¹ In psychiatry, this has historically been an elusive pursuit. Whereas other specialties have long relied on prognostic models to shape prevention and personalize care, mental health research has only more recently begun to systematically identify predictors of clinical trajectories and long-term outcomes.² This need is particularly relevant in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a condition with a highly variable course and often underestimated long-term impact. Once dismissed as a self-limited feature of childhood, ADHD is now firmly established as a condition that for many persists into adulthood-reshaping education, employment, relationships, and mental health.3,4 Yet the fundamental clinical question endures: which children with ADHD are most at risk for poor adult outcomes? Also, can we identify early indicators that genuinely alter the course of care?