Medifocus Guidebook on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurobehavioral disorder which affects between 3 and 12% of school-age children and up to 4% of adults. It is a chronic condition that is experienced over a lifetime in varying levels of severity. ADHD is characterized by three behavior patterns which were determined by the Diagnostic & Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR), published by the American Psychiatric Association:

• Inattentive - the child has difficulty paying attention to details, has poor organizational skills, and loses things. This type was formerly called ADD. Approximately 10-15% of children have this type of ADHD.
• Hyperactive-Impulsive - the child has difficulty sitting still and runs around, fidgets, talks excessively, acts without thinking ahead of consequences. Approximately 5% of children have this type of ADHD.
• Combination of Inattentive, and Hyperactive-Impulsive - this is the most common form and is thought to affect up to 80% of children with ADHD.

ADHD is the most common psychiatric disorder of childhood and its effects on the child can be seen in many areas of functional impairment, including:

• Difficulties in academic performance in school
• Peer-related social problems
• Higher risk of physical injury, traffic violations, and car accidents
• Higher risk of criminal, law-breaking activity
• Poor judgment
• Increased risk for substance abuse
• Conflict within the family
• Anti-social behavior
• Impaired vocational performance

In general, symptoms tend to be more overt and frequent in settings with high stimulation, such as a classroom or large gathering. The person with ADHD, regardless of age, typically works best in highly focused settings, such as one-on-one, as well as in settings which are structured and in which all instructions and expectations are clearly stated and defined.

The impact on the family of a child with ADHD is also significant and includes:

• Substantial financial cost (treatment, medical appointments, and consequences if ADHD is not treated)
• Family dysfunction
• Social isolation

Children with ADHD are also at higher risk for co-existence of other disorders such as generalized anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder, and learning disabilities. Although the mean age at diagnosis is 8-9 years old, symptoms of ADHD can appear in children as young as 3-4 years old. Many symptoms of ADHD tend to decline with age but functional impairment is typically a lifelong condition.

The goals of treatment for children, adolescents, and adults include:

• Controlling symptoms of ADHD, minimizing disability, and maximizing function
• Improving interpersonal relationships
• Enabling effective education in the classroom for children, adolescents, college students or employment opportunities and management for adults
• Preparing the child/adolescent for the next stages of life

• Signs and symptoms
• Diagnostic tests
• Treatment options
• New developments in the treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
• What's written in the latest medical literature
• Leading centers of clinical research and management
• Organizations that focus on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or related disorders