Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

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Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a development disorder that is displayed by three clusters of symptoms: inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity (Barlow & Durand, 2012). ADHD leads to people having trouble concentrating, not being able to finish tasks and having poor academic performance (Barlow & Durand, 2012). The treatments available for ADHD are based on biological and psychosocial interventions or a combination of both. This writing will try to explain why psychosocial interventions combined with biological treatment are preferable and is a better form of treatment compared to biological treatments for people with ADHD or solely psychosocial interventions alone. In this section, the different pharmaceutical treatments will be discussed. First and foremost, what is ADHD? In recent years, ADHD has emerged as one of the most common psychiatric disorders in the child-to-adolescent population (Ferrin et al., 2012). Drug treatment, a form of biological intervention, has proven effective for the management of ADHD; however it doesn’t cure but reduce the symptoms (Barlow & Durand, 2012). The most common type of medication used for treating ADHD is called a "stimulant” which comes in 3 forms: short acting (immediate-release), intermediate-acting, and long-acting forms (NIMH, n.d.). A study done by Fox, Tharp, & Fox, (2005) showed that “20% of childhood ADHD patients have no effect to stimulant medication” (Wegrzyn, Hearrington, Martin & Randolph, 2012) and have to search for substitute treatments. For many children, ADHD medications help to reduce the symptoms but a one-size-fits-all approach does not apply for all children (NIMH, n.d.). Any child taking medications must be monitored closely and carefully by care... ... middle of paper ... ...s, S. H. (2008). ADHD, substance use disorders, and psychostimulant treatment current literature and treatment guidelines. Journal of Attention Disorders, 12(2), 115-125. NIMH. (n.d.). Retrieved on 1st February, 2014: from: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-adhd/index.shtml Samuels, C. A. (2005). Attention seekers. Education Week, 24(43), 36. Wegrzyn, S. C., Hearrington, D., Martin, T., & Randolph, A. B. (2012). Brain Games as a Potential Nonpharmaceutical Alternative for the Treatment of ADHD. Journal Of Research On Technology In Education, 45(2), 107-130 Wilens, T. E. (2003). Does the medicating ADHD increase or decrease the risk for later substance abuse?. Revista Brasileira de Psiquiatria, 25(3), 127-128. Quinn, P. (2012) Retrieved on 1st February, 2014, from: http://www.webmd.com/add-adhd/guide/adhd-stimulant-therapy

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