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.
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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 ...
Scientists find emotion-like behaviors, regulated by dopamine, in fruit flies
Medicine & Health / Neuroscience
Nov 25, 2009 |
5 / 5 (3) |
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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 ...
Faulty body clock may make kids bipolar
Medicine & Health / Psychology & Psychiatry
Nov 12, 2009 |
4 / 5 (1) |
1
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 ...
Research Finds Ritalin's Benefits in Treating Children with Autism
Nov 19, 2009 |
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(PhysOrg.com) -- UA researchers present evidence that the Ritalin is effective in treating preschoolers with Autism in a first-ever clinical trial to test the medication's efficacy with children with the disorder.
Search results for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
Study: Can meditation sharpen our attention?
Medicine & Health / Neuroscience
Nov 13, 2009 |
4.2 / 5 (12) |
5
(PhysOrg.com) -- A new study at the University of Wisconsin-Madison suggests that people can train their minds to stay focused.
Teens' mental health affects how long they stay in school, new study shows
Other Sciences / Social Sciences
Nov 12, 2009 |
3 / 5 (2) |
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Queen's University researcher Steven Lehrer has won a prestigious international award in recognition of his contributions to health economics.
New Down syndrome treatment suggested by study in mice
Nov 18, 2009 |
4.6 / 5 (5) |
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At birth, children with Down syndrome aren't developmentally delayed. But as they age, these kids fall behind. Memory deficits inherent in Down syndrome hinder learning, making it hard for the brain to collect experiences ...
Clinical tests begin on medication to correct Fragile X defect
Medicine & Health / Neuroscience
Nov 02, 2009 |
4.5 / 5 (2) |
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NIH-supported scientists at Seaside Therapeutics in Cambridge, Mass., are beginning a clinical trial of a potential medication designed to correct a central neurochemical defect underlying Fragile X syndrome, the most common ...
First Step To Success steps up in Albuquerque schools
Medicine & Health / Psychology & Psychiatry
18 hours ago |
5 / 5 (1) |
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A school-based behavioral intervention program developed under a federal grant in the mid-1990s at the University of Oregon, already in widespread use, now has shown real value on a complex stage, scoring ...
Study examines challenges of diagnosing neurofibromatosis type 1-like syndrome
Nov 17, 2009 |
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An analysis of patients with a syndrome similar to the genetic disorder, neurofibromatosis type 1, indicates that diagnosis may be difficult because of shared clinical findings, such as certain pigmentary characteristics, ...
Depression as deadly as smoking, but anxiety may be good for you
Medicine & Health / Psychology & Psychiatry
Nov 17, 2009 |
3.6 / 5 (5) |
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A study by researchers at the University of Bergen, Norway, and the Institute of Psychiatry (IoP) at King's College London has found that depression is as much of a risk factor for mortality as smoking.
Full recovery now possible for an 'untreatable' mental illness
Nov 19, 2009 |
3 / 5 (1) |
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Patients coping with the chaos and misery of Borderline Personality Disorder now have reason for strong confidence in making major life changes through a new treatment, Schema Therapy. For the first time, three major outcome ...
Early intervention for toddlers with autism highly effective, study finds
Nov 30, 2009 |
5 / 5 (1) |
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A novel early intervention program for very young children with autism - some as young as 18 months - is effective for improving IQ, language ability, and social interaction, a comprehensive new study has found.
Theory about long and short-term memory questioned
Medicine & Health / Neuroscience
Nov 09, 2009 |
4.7 / 5 (6) |
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The long-held theory that our brains use different mechanisms for forming long-term and short-term memories has been challenged by new research from UCL, published today in PNAS.
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