Related topics: children , adhd
Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder
hideAttention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD or AD/HD) is a neurobehavioral developmental disorder. [Requires registration] ADHD is defined as a “persistent pattern of inattention or hyperactivity—impulsivity that is more frequently displayed and more severe than is typically observed in individuals at a comparable level of development.” While symptoms may appear to be innocent and merely annoying nuisances to observers, "if left untreated, the persistent and pervasive effects of ADHD symptoms can insidiously and severely interfere with one's ability to get the most out of education, fulfill one's potential in the workplace, establish and maintain interpersonal relationships, and maintain a generally positive sense of self.":p.2
ADHD is the most commonly studied and diagnosed psychiatric disorder in children, affecting about 3 to 5% of children globally with symptoms starting before seven years of age. ADHD is a common chronic disorder in children with 30 to 50% of those individuals diagnosed in childhood continuing to have symptoms into adulthood. Adolescents and adults with ADHD tend to develop coping mechanisms to compensate for some or all of their impairments. However, many aspects of daily life that most people take for granted are rendered more difficult by the symptoms of ADHD.[clarification needed]
Though previously regarded as a childhood diagnosis, ADHD can continue throughout adulthood. 4.7 percent of American adults are estimated to live with ADHD. ADHD is diagnosed twice to four times as frequently in boys as in girls, though studies suggest this discrepancy may be due to subjective bias of referring teachers. ADHD management usually involves some combination of medications, behavior modifications, lifestyle changes, and counseling. Its symptoms can be difficult to differentiate from other psychiatric or other disorders, increasing the likelihood that the diagnosis of ADHD will be missed. Additionally, most clinicians have not received formal training in the assessment and treatment of ADHD, particularly in adult patients.
ADHD and its diagnosis and treatment have been considered controversial since the 1970s. The controversies have involved clinicians, teachers, policymakers, parents and the media. Opinions regarding ADHD range from not believing it exists at all to believing there are genetic and physiological bases for the condition as well as disagreement about the use of stimulant medications in treatment. Most healthcare providers accept that ADHD is a genuine disorder with debate in the scientific community centering mainly around how it is diagnosed and treated.
For more information about Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, read the full article at
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News tagged with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
Common plastics chemicals linked to ADHD symptoms
Medicine & Health / Psychology & Psychiatry
Nov 19, 2009 |
4.4 / 5 (5) |
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Phthalates are important components of many consumer products, including toys, cleaning materials, plastics, and personal care items. Studies to date on phthalates have been inconsistent, with some linking exposure to these ...
National survey tracks rates of common mental disorders among American youth
Medicine & Health / Psychology & Psychiatry
Dec 14, 2009 |
4 / 5 (1) |
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Only about half of American children and teenagers who have certain mental disorders receive professional services, according to a nationally representative survey funded in part by the National Institute of Mental Health ...
Scientists find emotion-like behaviors, regulated by dopamine, in fruit flies
Medicine & Health / Neuroscience
Nov 25, 2009 |
5 / 5 (3) |
1
Scientists at the California Institute of Technology have uncovered evidence of a primitive emotion-like behavior in the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster. Their findings, which may be relevant to the relationship betwee ...
Kids with ADHD need to fidget, study says
May 26, 2009 |
4 / 5 (11) |
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If you've got a kid with ADHD, you've probably spent countless hours pleading with him to sit still. Well, stop it.
Deficits in brain's reward system observed in ADHD patients
Medicine & Health / Neuroscience
Sep 08, 2009 |
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A brain-imaging study conducted at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory provides the first definitive evidence that patients suffering from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have ...
Deep brain stimulation may be effective treatment for Tourette's syndrome
Medicine & Health / Neuroscience
Oct 27, 2009 |
4 / 5 (1) |
1
Deep brain stimulation may be a safe and effective treatment for Tourette syndrome, according to research published in the October 27, 2009, print issue of Neurology.
Brain wave patterns can predict blunders, new study finds
Mar 23, 2009 |
4.3 / 5 (9) |
3
From spilling a cup of coffee to failing to notice a stop sign, everyone makes an occasional error due to lack of attention. Now a team led by a researcher at the University of California, Davis, in collaboration ...
New study aims at early diagnosis for ADHD and Parkinson's disease
Jul 13, 2009 |
not rated yet |
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Eye movement tests developed by Queen's University researchers to aid in understanding childhood brain development and healthy aging may also help in the diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and detecting ...
ADHD genes found, known to play roles in neurodevelopment
Jun 23, 2009 |
5 / 5 (2) |
2
Pediatric researchers have identified hundreds of gene variations that occur more frequently in children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) than in children without ADHD. Many of those genes were already ...
Narcolepsy Drug Being Used to Improve Cognitive Performance Affects Brain Dopamine Activity
Mar 17, 2009 |
5 / 5 (1) |
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Preliminary research in healthy men suggests that the narcolepsy drug modafinil, increasingly being used to enhance cognitive abilities, affects the activity of dopamine in the brain in a way that may create ...
Inconsistent performance speed among children with ADHD may underlie how well they use memory
Mar 24, 2009 |
5 / 5 (2) |
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(SACRAMENTO, Calif.) — Children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) show more variable or inconsistent responses during on 'working' or short-term, memory tasks when compared with typically developing peers, ...
Tourette syndrome misconceptions only one battle for patients
Apr 15, 2009 |
not rated yet |
0
The most disabling aspect of Tourette syndrome is that in 90% of cases, it exists in conjunction with another disorder. The most frequent co-occurring condition in people with Tourette is attention deficit ...
Faulty body clock may make kids bipolar
Medicine & Health / Psychology & Psychiatry
Nov 12, 2009 |
4 / 5 (1) |
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Malfunctioning circadian clock genes may be responsible for bipolar disorder in children. Researchers writing in the open access journal BMC Psychiatry found four versions of the regulatory gene RORB that were associated with p ...
Studies examine genetic determinants of ADHD
Jan 07, 2009 |
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A special issue of American Journal of Medical Genetics (AJMG): Part B: Neuropsychiatric Genetics presents a comprehensive overview of the latest progress in genetic research of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) ...
Research Identifies Link Between Childhood ADHD and Adult Crime
Other Sciences / Social Sciences
Oct 19, 2009 |
2 / 5 (1) |
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(PhysOrg.com) -- Schoolchildren with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder are substantially more likely to engage in many types of criminal activity such as burglary, theft and drug dealing as they grow ...
