Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. It often begins in childhood and can persist into adulthood. Symptoms can impact academic, occupational, and social functioning. Treatment typically involves a combination of medication, behavioral therapy, and support strategies tailored to the individual's needs.
8 Key excerpts on "Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder"
- Charles Hulme, Margaret J. Snowling(Authors)
- 2013(Publication Date)
- Wiley-Blackwell(Publisher)
...7 Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a chronic, debilitating condition that, as its name implies, affects an individual’s ability to control attention and behavior in an optimal and adaptive manner. The disorder often occurs together with the tendency to be overactive and impulsive and is frequently associated with educational underachievement, antisocial behavior, underperformance at work, and poor psychosocial adjustment. ADHD has often been portrayed negatively by the media and there are many misconceptions surrounding its nature and etiology; while some have asserted that ADHD is “on the increase,” others doubt its very existence. So unhelpful has this confusion been that a consortium of scientists signed an International Consensus Statement in 2001. According to this statement, “ADHD involves a serious deficiency in a set of psychological abilities and … these deficiencies pose serious harm to most individuals possessing the disorder” (Barkley, Edwards, Laneri, Fletcher, & Metevia, 2001, p. 89). Indeed, as children with ADHD grow up, they are more likely than their peers to experience teenage pregnancy, have multiple car accidents, and to suffer depression and personality disorders. Moreover, although psychological and pharmacological interventions are known to help the condition, less than half of those affected receive any form of treatment. We begin this chapter with a discussion of the nature and prevalence of ADHD and how it is usually assessed. We then outline what is known about how children learn to regulate their behavior and, within this framework, we consider theories of the possible causes of ADHD in which self-regulation appears to be lacking. In contrast to the other disorders considered in this book, progress in understanding ADHD has been heavily influenced by pharmacological studies, which have demonstrated the effectiveness of certain drugs for its treatment...
- Amy E. Wenzel(Author)
- 2017(Publication Date)
- SAGE Publications, Inc(Publisher)
...Stephen P. Hinshaw Stephen P. Hinshaw Hinshaw, Stephen P. Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder 327 331 Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a prevalent and impairing mental health disorder, with typical onset in childhood. Listed as a “neurodevelopmental disorder” in the fifth edition of the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), ADHD is defined by the presence of developmentally extreme and significantly impairing levels of (a) inattentive behavior patterns, (b) hyperactive-impulsive behavior patterns, or (c) both. Once believed to be restricted largely to middle-class boys in the United States, ADHD is now known to exist around the developed world in both males and females, in individuals spanning the socioeconomic spectrum, and in people from all racial/ethnic groups. Its impairments persist into adolescence and adulthood in a majority of instances. Exhibiting a substantial genetic liability, with additional roots in early-appearing biological risk factors (e.g., low birth weight, maternal substance use during pregnancy, and environmental toxins), ADHD is nonetheless shaped by contextual influences such as parenting practices, schooling, and cultural factors. It typically yields substantial impairment in academic and vocational performance, social relationships, and health-related outcomes. Current controversies surrounding this disorder include (a) the large increases in prevalence rates across the United States in the 21st century and (b) the increasing numbers of individuals treated with stimulant medications for attention-related problems. Some critics, in fact, contend that many who seek the diagnosis are attempting to gain a performance “edge” via accommodations or medication use...
eBook - ePubSleep and ADHD
An Evidence-Based Guide to Assessment and Treatment
- Harriet Hiscock, Emma Sciberras(Authors)
- 2019(Publication Date)
- Academic Press(Publisher)
...Chapter 1 Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder An Overview Daryl Efron 1, 2, 3, 1 Centre for Community Child Health, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia, 2 Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia, 3 General Medicine, The Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia Abstract Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is the most common neurodevelopmental disorder. It is a polygenic disorder with multifactorial etiology, including genetic and environmental factors. Onset occurs in childhood, but symptoms usually persist across developmental stages into adult life, at least to some extent. A range of cognitive deficits are seen in ADHD, underpinning the substantial functional difficulties experienced by individuals with the condition. Management includes both pharmacological and nonpharmacological interventions. Comorbidities such as sleep problems are common and contribute to the impairments. These need to be identified and addressed alongside ADHD symptoms. ADHD is associated with an increased risk of negative long-term outcomes however, with support many patients thrive and have successful lives. Keywords Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder; comorbidities; genetics; psychostimulant medication Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by developmentally inappropriate levels of hyperactivity, impulsivity, and/or inattention. Onset occurs in childhood, but persistence into adolescence and adult life is common. Heterogeneity in symptom profile, comorbidity mix, genetic and environmental risk factors, neurocognitive deficits, and response to treatment is a notable feature of ADHD. Furthermore, the presentation and functional difficulties associated with ADHD evolve across developmental stages as demands change (Cherkasova, Sulla, Dalena, Pondé, & Hechtman, 2013)...
eBook - ePubChild and Adolescent Psychopathology
Theoretical and Clinical Implications
- Cecilia A. Essau, Cecilia A. Essau(Authors)
- 2012(Publication Date)
- Routledge(Publisher)
...3 Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Daniel A. Waschbusch, Brendan F. Andrade, and Sara King Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a serious mental health problem of childhood characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. The term ADD, which later became ADHD, was first coined in the mid 1980s as part of the development of the Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM) by the American Psychiatric Association (APA, 1980, 1987, 1994, 2000). There is a common sentiment among lay audiences and some health professionals that ADHD is a creation of the late twentieth century. However, ADHD actually has a long history. In the late 1700s Dr. Alexander Crichton identified individuals who had problems with “mental restlessness,” which he then described as having characteristics that we currently refer to as ADHD (Palmer and Finger, 2001). Similarly, in the early 1900s Dr. George Still described a group of children who had poor inhibition, a lack of self control, excessive activity, high distractibility, and difficulty sustaining attention (Barkley, 1990). In each of these writings, the features of ADHD are clearly present despite the fact that the term ADHD was not applied. This same theme re-emerges throughout the twentieth century: problems with inattention, hyperactivity, and/or impulsivity have been referred to as brain damage, minimal brain damage, minimal brain dysfunction in the 1940s and 1950s; hyperkinetic, hyperkinesis, hyperactive in the 1960s and 1970s; attention-deficit, attention-deficit disorder with or without hyperactivity, and attention deficit/ hyperactive disorder in the 1970s through the present time...
eBook - ePub- Lisa L. Weyandt(Author)
- 2017(Publication Date)
- Routledge(Publisher)
...CHAPTER 1 Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder—What Is It? He never sits still; he is constantly in motion. She never pays attention, and she talks incessantly. He cannot hold down a job. She is not doing well in school. The teachers say she is lazy. He does not follow through on anything, and he loses everything. He is so disorganized! She has been this way as long as I can remember. Description Although these statements can be true of most children, adolescents, and adults at some point in their lives, they are typical concerns expressed by parents, teachers, spouses, and siblings about individuals with attention-deficit/hyperac-tivity disorder (ADHD). ADHD, as it is currently defined by the American Psychiatric Association (2000), is characterized by persistent and developmentally inappropriate problems with attention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity that cause impairment in one’s life. The presence, absence, or combination of these three symptoms reflects the severity and subtype of ADHD. Research findings indicate that ADHD is a lifelong condition that impacts an individual’s educational, social, and occupational life. Does ADHD Exist? In the year 2000, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) released a consensus statement concerning the diagnosis and treatment of ADHD (National Institutes of Health, 2000) and indicated that “despite the progress in assessment, diagnosis and treatment of children and adults with ADHD, the disorder has remained controversial.... The controversy raises questions concerning the literal existence of the disorder” (p. 182)...
- Bruce B. Frey(Author)
- 2018(Publication Date)
- SAGE Publications, Inc(Publisher)
...Patricia Teague Ashton Patricia Teague Ashton Ashton, Patricia Teague Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder 134 137 Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the term designated by the American Psychiatric Association in the fifth edition of its Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) to refer to the set of three core psychological symptoms—inattention, excessive activity, and impulsivity—when those symptoms begin by age 12, persist for at least 6 months, and interfere with individuals’ development and ability to perform the tasks of everyday living. This entry further describes ADHD and discusses its prevalence, the development of the understanding of ADHD and diagnostic criteria for the disorder, risk and protective factors, treatments for ADHD, measurement issues in the evaluation of ADHD, and promising advances in diagnosis and treatment of ADHD from a neuroscience perspective. For individuals with severe symptoms, the effects of ADHD can have lifelong negative effects on all aspects of cognitive, emotional, and social development, leading to difficulties in learning to read, poor memory, academic failure and dropping out of school, problems at work, alcohol and drug abuse, disruptive relationships with parents, friends, and coworkers, and criminal behavior. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 6.4 million children aged between 4 and 17 years, or about 11% of children in that age range, had received a diagnosis of ADHD as of 2011. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates show that boys are more than twice as likely as girls to have the diagnosis...
eBook - ePubThe Effective Teacher's Guide to Behavioural and Emotional Disorders
Disruptive Behaviour Disorders, Anxiety Disorders, Depressive Disorders, and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
- Michael Farrell(Author)
- 2010(Publication Date)
- Routledge(Publisher)
...Furthermore, some of the points raised by critics of the ADHD label require careful consideration. One concern is that the label may lead to shifting of responsibility for parents and schools. Another is that cultural influences such as mass media, limited opportunities for active play, and higher expectations of younger children may be influential. They may be contributing to a general increase in behaviour that is less compatible with the usual requirements of education and an over-identification of apparent ADHD. ADHD may be over-diagnosed, suggesting more careful assessment and a greater awareness of contributory factors. Some children do seem to experience very severe difficulties that cannot be explained away sociologically or by postmodern discourses. These can be identified by the category of ADHD with potentially helpful implications for provision for the child. At the same time it is possible the supposed condition is over-diagnosed. The challenge is to refine and be more robust about identification after seriously considering alternative explanations and approaches for elements of the behaviour associated with ADHD. Definitions Several disorders relate to difficulties concerning over-activity, impulsivity and problems sustaining attention. Among terms that have been used for these are: • attention deficit disorder • hyperkinetic disorder • minimal brain dysfunction • hyperkinesis • minimal brain damage • disorder of attention motor control and perception. Currently the most widely used term is ADHD. This term emerged from attempts to describe inattentive, overactive and impulsive behaviour. The DSM-IV-TR (American Psychiatric Association, 2000, pp...
eBook - ePubChild and Adolescent Behavioral Health
A Resource for Advanced Practice Psychiatric and Primary Care Practitioners in Nursing
- Edilma L. Yearwood, Geraldine S. Pearson, Jamesetta A. Newland, Edilma L. Yearwood, Geraldine S. Pearson, Jamesetta A. Newland(Authors)
- 2021(Publication Date)
- Wiley-Blackwell(Publisher)
...Household chaos does not cause ADHD since it is a brain‐based disorder that can be mediated by environmental factors but is not directly caused by such factors. Implications for Adulthood It is likely that children and adolescents with ADHD continue to show symptoms of the disorder into adulthood and may require pharmacological and psychosocial treatment interventions throughout their lives. The key to adult psychopathology seems to be in identifying comorbid disorders that accompany the ADHD symptomatology along with a degree of impairment that may extend into adulthood. Adults with a history of ADHD as children tend to have a higher rate of antisocial behavior, injuries and accidents, and employment and marital difficulties (Barkley 2004 ; Biederman et al. 2006). ADHD symptoms that carry into adulthood have implications for parenting effectiveness and family stability. Assessment of parental history of diagnosed and undiagnosed ADHD should routinely occur when assessing a child for the disorder. ADHD is a disorder whose etiology and presentation are influenced by a complex interplay between genetic and environmental factors. It has a clear influence on adult vocational and social functioning. Presenting Signs and Symptoms of ADHD A diagnosis of ADHD is made after careful assessment of the child and family, and determination that inattention, or impulsivity and hyperactivity, or both, is impairing functioning on multiple domains of the child's life for at least 6 months. When diagnosing a child with ADHD it is essential to consider other disorders, including learning disabilities, disruptive behavior disorders, substance abuse disorder, and Tourette's disorder (Pliszka et al. 2007). The child's level of maturity, developmental history, family situation, and physical health, including history of concussion and traumatic brain injury must all be considered...
