Introduction Adult AHDH is a valid disorder. The present clinicians define ADHD as a developmental disorder of childhood onset. Children who have ADHD normally have poor school performance (Deley, 2006). Adult who have ADHD have a high rate of psychiatric co-morbidity, particularly substance abuse (Mannuzza Klein & Bessler, 1998; Weiss, Hechtman, Milroy & Perlman, 1985). The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual 4th edition (DSM-IV, APA, 1994) illustrates certain clinical criteria for diagnosis of ADHD. It defines three subtypes of ADHD, an inattentive subtype, a hyperactive-impulsive subtype and a combined subtype (APA, 1994). These categories emphasize the deficits in the regulation of cognitive function. Studies of adult ADHD have clearly showed the syndrome of inattention, impulsivity and hyperactivity (Downey et al., 1997). It also demonstrated that 3-5% of children and about 1-3% of the adult population in the world had ADHD (Fayyad et al., 2007). A mate-analysis of follow-up studies also shows that up to 65% of children with ADHD symptoms and impairments may persist into adulthood (Biederman et al., 2006). However, although ADHD as a valid adult diagnosis, it does not support that ADHD arises de novo in adulthood (Faraone et al., 2000). This essay will show the validity of adult ADHD from prevalence rate, clinical view, family study and treatment response. Prevalence of adult ADHD The prevalence of adult ADHD is estimated differently by several studies. But all these studies seem to demonstrate adult ADHD is a valid disorder. The World Mental Health (WMH) Survey Initiative studies tend to show the prevalence of ADHD by using DSM-IV diagnosis; they invite 60463 mental disorders adults from 14 countries. They have defined that AD... ... middle of paper ... ... ADHD, it is not identical with child ADHD. The rate of substance use and gender difference are different between child ADHD and adult ADHD. But these two differences do not affect the validity of adult ADHD; it instead provides more evidence. Based on the fact that genes affect human’s susceptibility to ADHD, parents of ADHD children are more likely to have ADHD than parents of non-ADHD children. Genes also influence the persistence of ADHD from childhood to adulthood. Therefore, due to the stability of gene, ADHD children should also have ADHD in their adulthood. The treatment response is also similar between children, adolescent and adult patients. Both the ADHD children and adults show significant response to methylphenidate and DMI. However, there is not a consistent diagnosis. Thus, the future study needs to form a consistent and effective diagnosis for ADHD.
Nine percent of children who are between the ages of five and seventeen are diagnosed with ADHD in the United States (CDC). About 3 million kids that are on ADHD medication are prescribed Ritalin or Adderall. Most people and psychologists see ADHD as a true disorder, then theres those who think the complete opposite. Are children being overmedicated and over diagnosed for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder?
“Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).” Tish Davidson, AM., Teresa G. Odle., and Laura Jean Cataldo, RN, Ed.D. The Gale Encyclopedia of Genetic Disorders. 3rd Edition. 2010.
Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), once called hyperkinesis or minimal brain dysfunction, is one of the most common mental disorders among children. (Elia, Ambrosini, Rapoport, 1999) It affects 3 to 5 percent of all children, with approximately 60% to 80% of these children experiencing persistence of symptoms into adolescence and adulthood, causing a lifetime of frustrated dreams and emotional pain. There are two types of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: an inattentive type and a combined type. The symptoms of ADHD can be classified into three categories: inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. This behaviour stops ADHD sufferers from focussing deliberately on organising and completing a specific task that they may not enjoy, learning new skills or information is proved to be impossible. An example of such behaviour is recognised by the report written by the National Institute of Mental Health where one of the subjects under study was unable to pass schooling examinations due to her inattentive behaviour. Such behaviour can damage the person's relationships with others in addition to disrupting their daily life, consuming energy, and diminishing self-esteem. (National Institute of Mental Health 1999) There are also secondary symptoms which are associated with ADHD, such as learning disorders, anxiety, depression and other mood disorders, tic disorders, and conduct disorders. (Spencer, Biederman, and Wilens 1999 in Monastra V, Monastra D, George, 2002)
Stolzer, PhD, J. M. (2007). The ADHD Epidemic in America. Ethical Human Psychology and Psychiatry, 9, 109-116.
What can we do with this information that tells us that ADHD is in fact, a real problem, but that it is being over diagnosed? We must change the education system to allow for more flexibility for students who do not fit the traditional mold. Most importantly, we must prompt others around us to think seriously about the causes and effects of ADHD on one’s life.
Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder, otherwise known as ADHD, is the most common psychiatric condition effecting 9.5% of school-aged children in the United States (intuniv, 2013). If the disorder goes untreated, it will cause more long-term side effects and difficulties for the individual as an adult. Adults who have this condition face several adversities in every day life, such as impulsive behavior, low self-esteem and poor work performance. People are not aware of the complications that come with ADHD in adults. Not knowing the symptoms of the disease can cause people to not be sympathetic when they are interacting with someone with disorder.
ADHD is known as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Many of the symptoms of adult ADHD are similar to the symptoms of child ADHD. Those who suffer with ADHD struggle with the inability to control their daily lives. ADHD not only affects the individual who has it, but it also affects everyone around them. Extensive research has been conducted on ADHD and to date there are still no definite answers as to what exactly causes this disorder.
The purpose of this research was to describe and understand Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and the most effective treatment options that are available today. ADHD is a mental health disorder that affects 3-9% of the population in ways that, if left untreated, can wreak havoc on the mind of the sufferer. It makes concentration difficult, large tasks seem insurmountable, and causes impulsive and hyperactive tendencies. Fortunately, research and experiments have led to new and effective treatments to help those who suffer from this disorder (Dupaul 8). This research examined journal articles and internet sources on the topic to help unlock the complexities of the disorder through scientific research. It also was a way to separate the myths of the disorder from the truths, while discovering the causes, diagnosis methods, and best treatment alternatives to battle this prevalent disorder.
Chandler, C. (2011). The Science of ADHD: A Guide for Parents and Professionals. New York:
According to Dr. Robert Epstein, Medco’s chief medical officer, seventeen percent of total drug cost spending last year was for behavior medicines; compared with sixteen percent for both asthma and antibiotics, eleven percent for skin disorders and six percent for allergy medicines. There was also a 369% increase in spending on ADHD drugs for kids under the age of five. A lot of children have been diagnosed with ADHD, and many of their parents have opted to give them behavioral drugs. Some parents give the drugs because they are not aware of the long term effects or the psychological dependency, and lastly because they are not aware of the alternatives. As parents we have to be more cognizant of what these disorders are and how they affect the child. Drugs are not always the only solution.
Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, more commonly referred to as simply ADHD, is the most commonly diagnosed disorder among American children today. According to the National Institute on Mental Health an estimated 3 to 5 percent of school age children are affected by this disorder. (1) There are more diagnosed cases of ADHD of in the United States than there are anywhere in the world. The main symptoms of ADHD include "developmentally inappropriate levels of attention, concentration, activity, distractibility, and impulsivity." (1) While the number of people diagnosed with ADHD increases dramatically every year, there is still much about the disorder that is not understood. While scientists have deduced that ADHD originates in the brain, they still have many questions about the nature of it. The classification of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder has become quite a controversial topic in American society today. There are some who believe that by recognizing the symptoms associated with the disorder as ADHD; science is simply putting a band-aid on a problem that could be otherwise corrected with behavior modification.
Park, A. (2013, April 2). Understanding the Rise in ADHD Diagnoses: 11% of U.S. Children
Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is very commonly known. Today, ADHD is one of the most common mental disorders among children. The NIMH (The national institute of mental health) predicts that it affecting 3 to 5 percent of all children(AACAP), with an approximate amount of 30% to 65% of these children experiencing persistence of symptoms into adolescence and adulthood (AACAP).There are three types of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive Type, Predominantly Inattentive Type, and Combination Type(ehow.com). The symptoms of ADHD can be classified into three main categories; hyperactivity, inattention, and impulsivity. These behaviors can interfere with ADHD sufferers’ ability to focus deliberately on organizing and completing a specific task that they may not enjoy. A case of this kind of behavior is recognized in a report written by the National Institute of Mental Health where one of the subjects under study was unable to pass schooling examinations due to her inattentive behavior (clinicaltrials.gov) These kinds of behaviors can damage the person's relationships with others in addition to disrupting their daily life, consuming energy, and diminishing self-esteem, depending on severity of their symptoms (adhd.com). In this paper, the multiple factors of how ADHD affects, and is handled, of those who undergo this disorder, are shown.
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is broadly described as a neurobehavioral disorder where a person has difficulty paying attention and complying with basic commands. On a biological level, ADHD is hereditary, where a parent passes the disorder to their offspring through genes, while on a cellular level, ADHD affects cell functions such as cellular respiration, more specifically, glucose metabolism (Zimmer, 2009). The public’s perception is clear; ADHD has an over diagnosing problem at a systemic level, where doctors in the United States over diagnose children with ADHD. However, a review of the evidence for and against the argument of ADHD over diagnosing suggest that the disorder does not suffer from an over diagnosing problem. Finally, while there are several methods used to treat ADHD, including medication and behavioral correction therapy, an
Researchers in this study decided to focus on families affected by ADHD for several reasons. The first reason is the prevalence of ADHD, for “ADHD in the general population is approximately 3% to 8%” (Lench, Levine, & Whalen, 141). Additionally, parents who report ADHD symptoms a...