General information
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a disorder of the neuro-psychic development of children and adolescents, characterized by hyperactivity, impulsiveness, and inability to concentrate. This generally occurs before the age of 7. The syndrome has been described clinically and defined according to the diagnostic and therapeutic criteria especially by US psychiatrists and pediatricians. Specialists have based their definition on thousands of scientific publications, in the "Diagnostic and Statistic Manual of Mental Disorders". This manual published by the American Psychiatric Association, is used as a psychiatric reference internationally (DSM-IV).
Here, mental health specialists from The Meadowglade, a mental health rehabilitation center, based in Moorpark, CA, will share more about ADHD symptoms, causes and treatment.
Symptoms and Diagnosis
According to The Meadowglade mental health specialists, ADHD can be defined as a persistent state of inattention and / or hyperactivity and impulsivity, which are more frequent and severe than in children of the same developmental level.
These symptoms end up causing a state of discomfort and incapacity.
The Meadowglade mental health specialists share that the key symptoms of this condition are inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity. These symptoms should be present for at least 6 months and should appear before the age of seven.
The Meadowglade mental health specialists point out that children with ADHD usually:
- have difficulty completing any activity that requires concentration
- seem not to listen to anything they are told
- are excessively lively, run or climb, jump on chairs
- get distracted very easily
- talk all the time, replying impetuously before hearing the whole question
- cannot wait for their turn in a queue or in a workgroup
- can manifest serious learning difficulties that risk making them lag behind their classmates, with emotional damage
According to mental health specialists from The Meadowglade, the diagnosis of ADHD can be made in the presence of 6 or more of the 9 symptoms of inattention or of 6 or more of the 9 hyperactivity / impulsivity symptoms.
ADHD syndrome can be accompanied by other forms of discomfort: anxiety and depression, behavioral disorders, learning difficulties, development of nervous tics.
The causes
The causes that lead to the manifestation of ADHD syndrome are not unique, nor are they fully ascertained by doctors. Several researches suggest a genetic component in its transmission.
The Meadowglade mental health specialists indicate that some studies go in the direction of evaluating the effects of alcohol and smoking during pregnancy on the development of ADHD. From a neurophysiological point of view, studies carried out on some areas of the brain, have shown that these areas are actually more small in volume in children with ADHD, compared to other children that do not have the disorder. This same study indicates that the parameters taken into account are normalized in children who are undergoing treatment compared to those who are not undergoing any treatment. Other studies have instead highlighted a deficit in dopaminergic transmission.
The treatment
The Meadowglade mental health specialists indicate in their articles on Reedsy, that treatment of ADHD may require both a therapeutic approach, following a psycho-dynamic therapy, and a pharmacological one. The drug most indicated in drug treatment studies is methylphenidate (produced under the trade name of Ritalin®), along with several types of amphetamines. Specialists from the Meadowglade take pride in developing an individualized treatment for ADHD, depending on each individual case.
