What is ADHD?

ADHD is attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, a complex brain disorder that affects approximately 11% of children and almost 5% of adults in the United States1. Neuroscience, brain imaging and research The clinic tells us some important things: ADHD is not a behavioral disorder ADHD is not a mental illness. ADHD is not a specific learning disability.

ADHD, on the other hand, is a deterioration of the development of the brain self-management system: its executive functions. Common symptoms of ADHD include:

  • inattention
  • lack of concentration
  • poor time management
  • weak pulse control
  • exaggerated emotions
  • hyperfocus
  • hyperactivity
  • and executive dysfunction

What causes ADHD?

The causes of ADHD remain unclear. Is ADHD genetic? Research suggests that genetics and inheritance play an important role in determining the recipient of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder2. However, scientists are still studying whether certain genes, particularly those related to the neurotransmitter dopamine, play a role. defined in the development of ADHD. Additional research suggests that exposure to toxins and chemicals may increase the risk of developing ADHD in children.

It is more common in boys than in girls. It is usually discovered at the beginning of school, when a child begins to have attention problems.

Adults with ADHD may have difficulty managing their time, getting organized, setting goals and keeping a job. They may also have problems with relationships, self-esteem and addiction.

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It is not clear exactly what causes ADHD, although some factors may increase the chances of developing the disease. Although researchers have not identified a specific gene for ADHD, many studies have shown a genetic link. It is quite common for a person diagnosed with ADHD to have at least one close relative with the disease. Environmental factors can also play a role. These include exposure to pesticides and lead, brain injuries, premature birth or low birth weight.

ADHD is not caused by bad parenting, too much sugar or too much video games. ADHD is a biological disorder based on the brain. Brain imaging studies and other research show many physiological differences in the brains of people with ADHD.

What are the 3 subtypes of ADHD?

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) 5 has previously identified three types of ADHD:

  • Primarily hyperactive-impulsive type
  • Primarily inattentive type (formerly called ADD)
  • Mainly combined type

People with a hyperactive-impulsive ADHD subtype act “as if driven by a motor” with poor impulse control: move, twist and talk even at the most inappropriate times. They are impulsive, impatient and interrupt others.

People with the inattentive subtype of ADHD are easily distracted and forgotten. They can be dreamers who regularly lose track of homework, mobile phones and conversations.

People with ADHD combined have a mixture of all the symptoms described above.

These subtypes are now considered “presentations” in the most recent DSM version, the DSM-V. Researchers have determined that people often move from one subtype to another. For example, a child may present himself as being predominantly hyperactive-impulsive in preschool age and lose much of the hyperactivation in adolescence to fit the generally unattended presentation. In middle school and in adulthood, the same individual can switch to a combined presentation.

Subtypes were mainly based on obvious behavioral symptoms and ignored less visible symptoms such as emotional dysregulation, cognitive patterns, and sleep difficulties. Behavioral symptoms imperfectly capture the defining characteristics of ADHD. Non-behavioral characteristics are increasingly recognized in research and diagnosis.

What are the symptoms of ADHD?

The symptoms of ADHD are detailed in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V), which lists nine symptoms suggestive of ADHD, mainly inattention and nine suggesting predominantly hyperactive / impulsive ADHD. ADHD can only be diagnosed in a child if he or she has at least six of the nine symptoms listed below and these symptoms have been seen for at least six months in two or more settings, such as at home and at school . In addition, the symptoms must interfere with the child’s functioning or development and at least some of the symptoms must be apparent before the age of 126 years. Teens and older adults may need to consistently demonstrate only five of these symptoms in multiple settings.

Treat ADHD

There is no cure for ADHD. But the condition can be treated in children and adults with medication and therapy. The National Institute of Mental Health says that for the best results, a combination of medications and behavioral therapy should be used.

 

What types of drugs are used for ADHD?

Two types of medications are approved to treat ADHD: stimulants and non-stimulants.

 

Stimulants Stimulants are the most commonly used medications to treat ADHD. Stimulants act by increasing chemicals in the brain, including dopamine, which are essential for the transmission of messages between neurons in the brain. In children, 70 to 80% show an improvement in symptoms within two hours of taking the medication. In adults, 70% report a significant improvement in stimulants a few hours after using the medication.

 

 

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