The Story of ADHD: Prevalence, Course, Symptoms and Treatment Colin Gibson Heritage College Sean Scott Abnormal Psychology Wednesday, April 12, 2017 ADHD is a psychological disorder that affects 7.5% (American Psychiatric Association, 2013) of North Americans in a given year. Recently, it has been theorized that the disorder is on the rise, worldwide. It is hypothesized that the final cause of ADHD is neurological. Persons diagnosed with ADHD tend to be inattentive, hyperactive-impulsive or a combination of the two, depending on which variation they live with. ADHD can affect people's relationships and their ability to deal with everyday tasks. This paper will outline the prevalence, course of illness, symptoms and treatments …show more content…
Though, most of the evidence points to other factors that explain the increase in prevalence. First, part of the increase in diagnosis is due to a change in the criteria for diagnosing ADHD (Polanczyk et al., 2014). Second, the increase may also be due to more access to mental healthcare and mental health awareness (Thomas et al., 2015). Third, changes to the DSM-V have made it clear that the symptoms seen in patients must “interfere with, or reduce the quality of functioning”; this was not the case in DSM-IV (Thomas et al., 2015). Furthermore, the DSM change may also affect the rate of prevalence in years to come. More research is needed to determine whether there is an increase in the true prevalence of ADHD. Course of Illness The course of ADHD changes as diagnosed children enter adulthood. Additionally, it is widely believed that innate (beginning with gene expression) neurological factors greatly contribute to the symptoms and may be …show more content…
(2017). Subcortical brain volume differences in participants with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children and adults: a cross-sectional mega-analysis, 4(4), 310-319. Retrieved April 10, 2017, from http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215-0366(17)30049-4/fulltext MA, E. M. S., & BA, K. L. D. (2013). Developmental course of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and its predictors. J Can Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry, 22(1), 47. Nakao, T., Radua, J., Rubia, K., & Mataix-Cols, D. (2011). Gray matter volume abnormalities in ADHD: voxel-based meta-analysis exploring the effects of age and stimulant medication. American Journal of Psychiatry, 168(11), 1154-1163. Polanczyk, G. V., Willcutt, E. G., Salum, G. A., Kieling, C., & Rohde, L. A. (2014). ADHD prevalence estimates across three decades: an updated systematic review and meta-regression analysis. International journal of epidemiology, 43(2), 434-442. Rubia, K., Norman, L., Lukito, S., Alegria, A., & Wulff, M. (2016). Neuroimaging of ADHD: From matter over mind to mind over matter. Thomas, R., Sanders, S., Doust, J., Beller, E., & Glasziou, P. (2015). Prevalence of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Pediatrics, 135(4),
Analysis of parent-reported data from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) 2011–2013 found that 10% of children ages 4–17 years were diagnosed with ADHD (Pastor et al. 2015) Boys (13.3%) are twice more affected by ADHD than girls (5.6%)(Pastor et al. 2015). A similar study found that the prevalence rate of ADHD diagnosis increased from 7.0% in 1997–1999 to 10.2% in 2012–2014(ADHD General Prevalence. (2014).
Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder has a complicated and interesting history and because of that it is important to understands this disorders implications and comorbidity to better treat and diagnose it. Research done by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that 11% of the US population between the ages of 4-17 are affected with ADHD; that’s 6.4 million children and the prevalence of diagnosis is only increasing (2016). It was generally assumed that ADHD was something children would grow out of but new studies show that approximately 4% of the adult population in the US are still suffering from ADHD or have developed ADHD (Breyer, J. L., Lee, S., Winters, K. C., August, G. J., & Realmuto, G. M. 2014). ADHD is
According to the American Psychiatric Association (2004) cited by Heward (2013) states, 3% to 7% of school age children that is 5.4 million children ages 4 to 17 (9.5 %) diagnose as having ADHD. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder Institute (2016) noted that there is no world agreement because of diverse widespread of ADHD on number of issues like: 1. Adhd does not continue when the individual become an adult. 2. Now find 50 to 66% have ADHD from child to adult. 3. More are reported to have ADHD are in the male population. Control for Disease control (2016) shows in 2011 near 6.4 million children from age 4 to 17 have ADHD and differs from state to state. In addition, more are taking ADHD medication from 4.8% in 2007 to 6.1% in 2011. Plus, as of 2011, an increase numbers of children receive adhd treatment than of 2007: however, not all receive medication or mental health counseling in 2011and a report of non-fatal injuries increase of 4.5% by the parents of children with adhd versus 2.5% of healthy
In recent years, the number of cases diagnosed with ADHD skyrocketed from 4 million per year to 10.4 million in children (King, 2013).
It was found that frontal lobe gray matter volume peaks at around 9.5 years in girls and 10.5 years in boys. The caudate nucleus peaks at 10.5 in girls and at 14 years in boys. By adulthood, a number of areas of the brain are larger in women than in men. This includes the frontal lobes and hippocampus. Early neuroimaging studies of ADHD have identified extensive cortical and subcortical volumetric decreases, including hindered cortical maturation, among school-aged children with ADHD. A recent analysis of neuroimaging in ADHD found that only 20% of participants were female and only 50% of the ADHD samples included females. More recent brain mapping studies of ADHD suggest a more understated pattern of neuroanatomical differences among girls that appears to correspond the earlier reduction in externalizing
Leung and Chan (2017) reviewed that the meta-analysis from Faraone et. al. determined that two-third of children who had ADHD continue to have impairing levels of ADHD as adults, along with the psychiatric disorders. Two main aims that were important was to estimate the prevalence of ADHD among new psychiatric outpatient clinics and to understand the correlates and co-morbidities of ADHD among a population (Leung and Chang, 2017).
Despite the fact that ADHD is constantly in the news for one reason or another, there is no consensus on what it
This article is focused on the outcomes of children with ADHD with special focus on academic success. It is unfortunate that they end their study with the quote, “ We remain ill informed about
Many may ask what the causes of attention-deficit/hyperactive disorders are but the cause of ADHD is not completely understood yet. People suggest that there may be biological abnormalities, hereditary factors, and environmental factors for those who suffer from ADHD. Individuals with attention-deficit/hyperactive disorders may have biological abnormalities such as brain structure abnormalities or abnormal biochemical levels (Comer, 2016). Brain structural abnormalities tend to occur in the frontostriatal network of the brain. The frontostriatal network “involves the lateral prefrontal cortex, the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex, and the caudate nucleus and putamen” (Curatolo, 2010). It has been shown that patients with ADHD have
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most frequently diagnosed neuro-developmental disorder [1] The percentage of children between the ages of 4 and 17 years, diagnosed with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has consistently risen from 7.8% in 2003 to 9.5% in 2007. As of 2011 11.0% (6.4 million) have been diagnosed with ADHD. When comparing 2003 to 2011 data this indicates that the proportion of children having a history of (ADHD) increased by 42% in less than a decade. Suggesting an increase of 2 million additional U.S. children/adolescents aged 4 to 17 years had been diagnosed with ADHD in 2011 in the United States alone. There are gender differences with boys (13.2%) more likely to obtain a diagnosis when
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (“ADHD”) is a common childhood disorder that represents developmentally inappropriate levels of inattention, impulsivity and overactivity. It occurs in 3% to 5% of the school age population as stated by (Craighead, Craighead, Kazdin & Mahoney, 1994). Another author (Barkley, 1981) stated that ADHD occurs in at least one child in every classroom. As a result of these statistics, ADHD has become one of the most commonly referred and heavily studied psychological disorders of childhood. Studies show that about 50-60% of children with ADHD in the age range of five to seven years are hostile and defiant. By the
To the dismay of a large population in society, there is a stigma pertaining to mental illnesses and their credibility. People are under the impression that since these diseases are not physically seen, they aren’t real. Despite that, most mental illnesses have been accredited as real health concerns, but there is still speculation surrounding Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). There are some, including the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), who are adamant in the fact that ADHD is a true illness, however there are other outside sources who argue there is not enough credible evidence to define ADHD as a mental disorder. This very argument has fueled psychologists to put their full efforts into finding
There are many negatives involved in ADHD, but what’s often overlooked, are the positives. One of these positives is the fact that this disorder is very manageable and treatable. We have an extended amount of knowledge from numerous studies that have been done since the disorder was discovered. From these studies we now know that this disorder can affect people in many ways and be a burden on someone if not treated properly.
It serves as the brain’s command center, that helps with "editing" behavior, resisting distractions, and developing awareness (NIMH, 1996). The caudate nucleus and globus pallidus, which are more commonly known as the basal ganglia, are located near the middle of the brain. They are "at least two of the clusters of nerve cells deep in the brain" (Barkley, 1998). The caudate nucleus and globus pallidus translate the commands, given by the prefrontal cortex, into action (NIMH, 1996). Researchers have found that these parts of the brain, which are in the right hemisphere of the brain, are smaller in children with ADHD than in children without this disorder (Barkley, 1998). The right hemisphere of the brain is normally larger than the left hemisphere, but some researchers have thought that due to this abnormality in ADHD children that this could be a cause of the disorder (Barkley, 1998).
ADHD is an abbreviation for attention deficit/hyper activity disorder. It is commonly referred to as a psychiatric disorder in need of therapy. The origination of the disease is in the neuro-physiological brain construct, and the main cause of the disorder is considered to be genetic (Wilson, 2012). Many children with ADHD struggle with impulsivity, hyperactivity, and inattention (Unnever, Cullen, & Pratt, 2003). According to McNamara, Vervaeke, and Willoughby (2008), “attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder is the most commonly diagnosed behavioral disorder among children and adolescents. It affects between 3% and 5% of school age children” (p. 38). In a