Though attention deficit disorder and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have been heavily diagnosed in school-aged children in recent years, many adults are unaware that the symptoms of this disorder can continue into adulthood, or may not even appear until adulthood. Many adults mistake the symptoms of ADHD for laziness, depression, anxiety, or simple "lack of focus" in themselves or their loved ones. Adult attention deficit disorder is characterized in many patients by severe indecision, procrastination, difficulty multitasking or focusing for long periods, and difficulty initiating tasks or managing time effectively. Many, though not all, adults diagnosed with ADHD have been found to have other mental health issues coinciding with or caused by their ADHD symptoms, such as depression, anger management problems, or substance abuse. Obviously, many individuals present these symptoms at some point in their lives, but ADHD is characterized by the persistence of these damaging symptoms, and by ongoing problems with everyday life functions due to their effects. Difficulties with focusing or initiating tasks can lead many individuals with attention deficit disorder to have great difficulty in school or in the workplace, and problems with time management or following through on tasks often lead to issues in or dissolution of romantic, friendly, or family relationships. There is a great deal of debate among scientists and medical researchers as to the causes of attention deficit disorder. It is, however, now viewed almost exclusively as a neurological issue, and is thought by many to be caused by dysfunction of chemicals in the brain which lead to difficulty with executive functioning in the frontal lobes. ADHD is also fairly widely recognized as being linked to genetics, and many individuals diagnosed with the disorder have relatives who also suffer from it. Treatments for adults with attention deficit disorder have shown great improvements in recent years, with the outlook improving for those diagnosed. Treatment with prescription stimulants has proven most effective for the majority of adult ADHD sufferers. Clinical therapy along with medication is the typical treatment for adults with ADHD, and doctors generally prefer to avoid treating patients with medication alone. Counseling for those with attention deficit disorder has proven far more effective than for adults than for children, and can help patients learn focusing and time management techniques, as well as ways to improve interpersonal relationships and to cope with the stress, low self-esteem, and depression that can often occur with ADHD.