What is Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder?
ADD, ADHD

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most commonly diagnosed mental disorders among children, and may be diagnosed in adults, where it is often referred to as Adult attention-deficit disorder (AADD) if symptoms were present in childhood. Current theory holds that approximately 30% of children diagnosed retain the disorder as adults.

ADHD psychosis (or ADD psychosis), on the other hand, is a distinctive form of psychosis, identified by Leopold Bellak and his colleagues, which co-occurs with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and tends to be treatable with typical ADHD medication such as stimulants (or some antidepressants), but not with conventional or atypical antipsychotic medication.

The exact cause(s) of ADHD are not conclusively known. Scientific evidence suggests most strongly that, in many cases, the disorder is genetically transmitted and is caused by an imbalance or deficiency in certain chemicals that regulate the efficiency with which the brain controls behavior.
A 1990 study at the National Institute of Mental Health correlated ADHD with a series of metabolic abnormalities in the brain, providing further evidence that ADHD is a neurological disorder. While heredity is often indicated, some believe that problems in prenatal development, birth complications, or later neurological damage may contribute to ADHD.

Causes under investigation include, but are not limited to:
Brain differences: Brain scan technology has revealed differences in the size, symmetry, metabolism, and chemistry of the brain in those who have ADHD; however, it should be noted that there is yet no clear determination of the source of these differences.

Genetic factors: It has been demonstrated that children who have at least one parent diagnosed with ADHD are more likely to be diagnosed as having ADHD themselves. Current research is examining which genes may be involved in ADHD. This investigative path also suggests an associated hypothesis that environmental factors, handed down from generation to generation, may trigger the symptoms associated with ADHD. There also exists a possibility that a family with one diagnosed member may have a heightened awareness of the disorder, along with a willingness to seek formal diagnosis, which would make detection and diagnosis more likely, thus skewing the data on heritability. Brain development in utero and during the first year of life, possibly related to drug use during pregnancy or environmental toxins.

It has also been suggested that ADHD may result from a poor diet and other external factors rather than from any physiological source. Studies of changes in diets of children provide some anecdotal and scientific evidence for this, but current majority opinion seems to be that the available evidence is insufficient to either prove or disprove this. However, it has been noticed that a large portion of children with ADHD seem to be addicted to milk. It has been proposed by Norwegian and British scientists that this is due to the casomorphins, peptides formed by incomplete digestion of the whey protein.

Research is ongoing in many studies.

Resources:
Click Here! for an all-natural ADHD remedy.

Lisa Angelettie, M.S.W., is a psychotherapist, author, and life coach. She has been helping people make smarter life choices since 1998. Get more free tips like this when you subscribe to the GirlShrink newsletter .

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Do I Have Adult Attention Deficit Disorder?

Do you think you or that high strung spouse of yours has Adult Deficit Disorder (Adult-ADD)? Well, you may be right. Many adults were simply misdiagnosed, mislabeled, or ignored when they exhibited ADD symptoms in their youth. So here’s your chance to see if your mess of a life – is a symptom of something else.

1. You scheduled your annual OB-GYN physical. There’s nothing pressing – but you need to go. Hey, you only go once a year. But you forget all about your appointment, and this isn’t the first time. You’ve rescheduled this appointment 3 times. Does this happen to you some of the time, a lot of the time, or all the time? You could be exhibiting a symptom consistent with ADD.
2. You have a project that is not due right away at work – but in a few weeks. It’s pretty detailed oriented, so you know that you better get to it to soon to give it the attention it deserves. But you put it off – because you know it is going to require a major amount of your thought and attention. And you just can’t concentrate on that right now, so you’ll get back to it. Does this happen to you some of the time, a lot of the time, or all the time? You could be exhibiting a symptom consistent with ADD.

3. You are planning an event that requires a lot of organization such as a garage sale one Saturday. But the key to execution is organizing all the items to be sold, placing price tags, tacking up flyers, finding something for the kids to do while you are selling – its a lot. But you want to hold the sale – and you are having a very difficult time getting things organized for the sale. You’re overwhelmed. Does this happen to you some of the time, a lot of the time, or all the time? You could be exhibiting a symptom consistent with ADD.

4. You wake up one Saturday after a long week at work. You wanted to sleep in, but you feel like there is something driving you to get up and get moving. So you unpack, sort, wash, and hang up your winter clothes in the closet. It’s August. Does this happen to you some of the time, a lot of the time, or all the time? You could be exhibiting a symptom consistent with ADD.

5. You are in the longest meeting of your life. You go to the movies with your boyfriend. You listen to you mom’s 20 minute speech on the phone about saving your plastic grocery bags or something like that. During each of these activities you were tapping your feet or fiddling with your hands. Does this happen to you some of the time, a lot of the time, or all the time? You could be exhibiting a symptom consistent with ADD.

6. There’s a leak from your bathroom into your living room. The plumber comes to fix the leak, but you still have to clean, plaster, and paint where the leak was in your living room ceiling. What’s worse is that you’ve got about 5 of these types of similar half-finished projects left to do around the house. Does this happen to you some of the time, a lot of the time, or all the time? You could be exhibiting a symptom consistent with ADD.

The bottom line is if you believe that you or someone you love has trouble finishing things, is restless, is disorganized, and is often distracted — then he or she could possible suffer from Adult ADD. A visit to a medical professional will verify a diagnosis and treatment plan.

Why Get Treated For Adult ADD?

I’m sure people that suffer from Adult-ADD feel that this is just the way they are, and that perhaps they just don’t have enough interest in what they were doing so they ditch it. But that’s because they know no other way. There is another way of living. Of being able to finish what you start. Of relaxing. Of being able to focus. And for people with Adult-ADD, drug therapy can change all that.
Related Resources:
Get The Number #1 Guide On ADD/ADHD
Get Your Get Your FREE Custom ADHD Report – And Finally Help Your Child!

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Lisa Angelettie, M.S.W., is a psychotherapist, author, and life coach. She has been helping people make smarter life choices since 1998. Get more free tips like this when you subscribe to the GirlShrink newsletter .

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What is Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder?