ADHD-ATTENTION DEFICIT HYPER-ACTIVITY DISORDER

ADHD-Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Tuere A. Evans Georgia Perimeter College

ADHD-ATTENTION DEFICIT HYPER-ACTIVITY DISORDER Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder also known as (ADHD) is a Developmental disorder featuring maladaptive levels of inattention, excessive activity, and impulsiveness. An article in Children101 (2011) states, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder(ADHD) is a condition that becomes apparent in some children in the preschool and early school years. It's hard for these children to control their behavior &/or pay attention. ADHD is among the most common

disorders of childhood. Polanczyk,de Lima, Horta, Biederman, & Rohde(as cited in Durand and Barlow, 2010, p.510) ADHD is estimated to occur in 3% to 7% of school-age children in the United States, and an important analysis of prevalence suggests that the disorder is found in about 5.2% of the child populations across all regions of the world. More and more children are being taken to health professionals for evaluation. Hechtman (as cited in Durand and Barlow, 2010, p.509) is one of the most common reasons children are referred for mental health services in the United States . ADHD has several characteristics. Durand and Barlow (2010, p.512) state, The primary characteristics of such people include pattern of inattention, such as not paying attention to school-or work related tasks, or of hyper-activity and impulsivity. These deficits can significantly disrupt academic efforts, as well as social relationships(p. 509). For decades ADHD was thought to involve brain damage, more research is starting to focus on the structure and function of the brain. There is a lot we do not know about the disorder. For several decades it was thought to involve brain damage, and that notion was reflected in the previous use of labels (Durand and Barlow,2010). Terminology Over a number of years there has been several different terminologies used to define this disorder. In an article found in (Children 101,2011) about Attention Deficit Hyper-activity Disorder, Health care professionals may use any of the following terms when describing a child (or an older person) who is overactive and has difficulty concentrating -attention deficit,

ADHD-ATTENTION DEFICIT HYPER-ACTIVITY DISORDER attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, hyper-kinetic disorder, hyperactivity.

There are three core features that define ADHD. Those features are Inattention,Impulsivity and Hyper-activity. At home home this condition will manifest itself in difficulty following simple rules at home. Some parents see signs of inattention,hyperactivity and impulsivity in their toddler long before the child enters school. The child may lose interest in playing a game or watching a TV show or may run around completely out of control(Children 101 2011). At school children will demonstrate lack of concentration, failure to follow class routines, and difficulty working independently. ADHD may be suspected by a parent or caretaker or may go unnoticed until the child runs into problems at school. Given that ADHD tends to affect functioning most strongly in school, sometimes the teacher is the first to recognize that a child is hyperactive or inattentive and may point it out to the parents &/or consult with the school psychologist(Children 101, 2011). Children with ADHD have problems with friends and are often avoided by others,provoke fights,call attention to themselves. Many children with ADHD suffer through a range of problems, from poor grades to poor relations with parents and teachers, and more than half have serious problems making friends(Children 101, 2011). Diagnostic Criteria According to DSM ADHD is defined by nine symptoms under the heading of Inattention,six under Hyperactivity, and three under Impulsive. As cited in Children 101(2011), According to the most recent version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders2(DSM-IV-TR), there are 3 patterns of behavior that indicate ADHD. People with ADHD may show several signs of being consistently inattentive. They may have a pattern of being hyperactive and impulsive far more than others of their age. Or they may show all three types of behavior. This means that there are 3 subtypes of ADHD recognized by professionals.

predominantly hyperactive-impulsive type(that doesn't show significant inattention) predominantly inattentive type(that doesn't show significant hyperactive-impulsive
behavior) sometimes called ADD: an outdated term for this entire disorder

combined type(that displays both inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive symptoms).

ADHD-ATTENTION DEFICIT HYPER-ACTIVITY DISORDER Prevalence As in other childhood disorders , ADHD diagnosis is extremely subjective and is mostly based on parent and teacher report. Gender differences especially problematic when diagnosed at school, as females usually fall within the inattentive type,

Girls with the "combined type" of ADHD (those with both inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity) were most likely to have adolescent bulimia nervosa symptoms, relative to girls with the "inattentive type" of ADHD (those with inattention only) and girls without ADHD. Girls with both types of ADHD were more likely to be overweight, to have experienced harsh/critical parenting in childhood, and to have been peer-rejected than girls without ADHD. Mikami said she believes these factors could contribute to the bulimia nervosa symptoms(Children101,2011). Girls are less likely to show comorbid oppositional and conduct disorders; as well as hyper-activity. Several factors contribute to the co morbidity of ADHD with epilepsy, including the underlying brain pathology, genetic predisposition, noradrenergic system dysregulation, chronic effects of seizures, effects of anti-epileptic drugs, effects of stimulants, and psychosocial factor(Department of Psychiatry and Pediatrics,2011). Family Aggregation of ADHD/Behavior Genetics There has been growing evidence that shows ADHD runs in families. According to (Children 101,2011), Attention disorders often run in families, so there are likely to be genetic influences. Studies indicate that 25% of the close relatives in the families of ADHD children also have ADHD, whereas the rate is about 5% in the general population. Many studies of twins now show that a strong genetic influence exists in the disorder. Waldman & Gizer as cited in (Durand and Barlow 2010,p.511) As with many other disorders,with ADHD we are at a period when important information related to genetics is beginning to be uncovered. ADHD has been highly influenced by genetics with a relatively small role played by environmental influences(Durand and Barlow 2010,p.511). Numerous studies have documented an association between ADHD in children and family adversity. Poor

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parenting is also a contributer to ADHD in children. Angry and controlling parents lead to lack of compliance in child. Negative responses by parents,teachers,and peers to the affected child's impulsivity and hyper-activity may contribute to feelings of low self-esteem,espically in children who are also depressed(Durand and Barlow,2010,p.512). Environmental Risk Factors Treatment for ADHD has proceeded on two fronts:biological and psychosocial interventions. Not getting ADHD treated properly can cause major setbacks. In The Journal of Family Practice(2011,p.60) its reported, Untreated attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can have serious academic, social, and psychological consequences, both for young patients and their parents. Diagnosis is based on criteria detailed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders, Fourth Edition Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR), with observations of the childs behavior obtained from more than one setting. Conclusion There are several drugs used to treat ADHD. According to Departments of Psychiatry and Pediatrics(2011), This disorder is being treated by various health professionals, including pediatricians, psychiatrists, neurologists, internists, and general practitioners. Commonly used medications are stimulants, such as methylphenidate, amphetamine, and the non stimulant drug atomoxetine. Carbamazepine and clonidine are used as nonFDA approved off-label medications for ADHD in children and adolescents as an alternative to stimulants. There is a considerable overlap with learning disorders and CD/ODD. In the future it will be important to show ADHD in its pure and independent form of co-morbidity and that they provide more information than the co-morbid diagnosis alone. In contrast to the previous study, maternal rates of APD, depression and anxiety were not signicantly associated with co-morbid CD or ODD. The differences between these two studies highlights the importance of assessing both parents, as there may be multiple risk factors present within the same family(Child Psychiatry Human Development ,2010).

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References

Attention-Deficit Hyper-Activity Disorder. Children101. http://children101.tripod.com/id47.html .

Deault, L. C. (2009, September 19). A Systematic Review of Parenting in Relation to the Development of Comorbidities and Functional Impairments in Children with AttentionDecit/ Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD. Retrieved from

http://content.ebscohost.com.wf2dnvr6.webfeat.org/pdf23_24/pdf/2010/CPH/01Apr10/47924361. pdfT=P&P=AN&K=47924361&S=R&D=a9h&EbscoContent=dGJyMMvl7ESep684yOvqOLCmr 0mepq5Sr6u4S7GWxWXS& Durand, V.M. & Barlow, D.H. (2010). Essentials of abnormal psychology. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.
Kattimani, S., & Mahadevan, S. (n.d.). Treating children with attention- deficit/hyperactivity disorder and co-morbid epilepsy. Departments of Psychiatry and Pediatrics. http://content.ebscohost.com.wf2dnvr6.webfeat.org/pdf25_26/pdf/2011259F/01Mar1 1/595 Withrow, L., Hash, P., & Holten, K. (201). Managing ADHD in children: Are you doing enough?The Journal of Family Practice,60(4).http://content.ebscohost.comwf2dnvr6. Webfeat.org/pdf25_26/pdf2011/jJFP/01Apr11/59857837.pdf?T=P&P=AN&K=59857

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