...ADHD: To Medicate or Not Timothy Pettigrew COM 172 June 8, 2015 Peter Conrad ADHD: To Medicate or Not When many of us think of ADHD, we think of hyper children the medication Ritalin. While there has been many other medications to stem off of Ritalin, did you know that there are also other options and choices to treating ADHD other than just medication? Most of the ADHD medications are stimulant based, therefore a lot of parents are reluctant to use them. I am going to discuss some of the other treatment options for ADHD. Some of them are cognitive behavior therapy, biofeedback or even just removing sugar from your child’s diet can help with the treatment of ADHD. Treatment with medication is the option that most people choose. This seems to be the quickest way to address the issues of the ADHD individual, whether it be a child, adolescent, or even adult. However, with most of the medications being stimulant based, a lot of parents are reluctant to put their children on medication without exploring other options first. There are however, other drugs that are non-stimulant that work in the same way, but these medications take longer to build up in the body and notice the effects of the medication. This can cause some frustration with parents and patients the same, sometimes even causing them to give up on treatment. Another alternative to medication is cognitive behavioral therapy. This is where the patient undergoes therapy with a certified...
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...PAPER ON ADHD Abstract Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) is a neurobehavioral development disorder among children. In the United States there are at least 2 million grade school children that are diagnosed with the disorder (Dupper, 2003). ADHD is determined to be one of the most common development disorders in children (Barlow & Durand, 2009). This paper will discuss the different aspects of ADHD, its symptoms, common traits, and the known treatments being used by clinicians. Moreover, the paper will also touch on the important things to consider when dealing with ADHD, particularly in the area of social work. By doing so, it will determine why social work should be an integral part of the diagnosis and treatment of ADHD. ATTENTION DEFICIT HYPERACTIVE DISORDER (ADHD) Dr. George Still was the first to diagnose ADHD in 1902 (Rafalovich, 2001). He detected the disorder in 20 children who all had impaired concentration and over-activity. However it was only after the encephalitis outbreak in the United States from 1917- 1918 that serious study of the disorder took place (Rafalovich, 2001). Clinically called encephalitis luthargica was identified as a specific disease category of children demonstrating unconventional behavior (Rafalovich, 2001). The study of encephalitis luthargica paved the way for research modality in psychiatry that became the neurological basis for childhood deviance, exemplified by modern study of ADHD (Rafalovich, 2001). Today ADHD holds the...
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...English Composition II 1302-062 10 December 2012 ADD/ADHD: A Proposal I’m hesitant to write about ADD/ADHD. It just seems like two-faced ground. Judging by the comments I’ve read online, in magazines, and my own experience, expressing an opinion about this identification or anything dealing in child psychiatry will be met with censure from both sides. I was reading an article “Ritalin Gone Wild” in the New York Times, and I felt obliged to write. If you have not read “Ritalin Gone Wild”, I persuade you to do so. In my opinion, I agree with the article except for the mention about “children born into poverty therefore [being] more vulnerable to behavior problems”. Unsurprisingly, the article has fascinated many online detectors. Let us check out this response from the NYT, accusing Dr Sroufe for “blaming parents” for ADD/ADHD. When I read the original article, Dr Sroufe did not do that. Instead, he noted that ADD/ADHD symptoms may not or at all come from a congenital neurological defect or “chemical imbalance”, but that ecological influences may be more significant. He also says that, ADD/ADHD drugs do work; children and adults do perform better on meds, but the successes do fail over time, perhaps a drug answer does not change ecological situation in the first place. I could not agree more. I think this statement is true for much of what is treated in psychiatry; it is predominantly related to children and adolescents. Children are exposed to a vast amount of influences as they...
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...in Children Ronda Real RES/110 Introduction to Research and Information Utilization March 31, 2010 Don Hull Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Children Ever been in a restaurant, in a classroom, or in church and seen a child who cannot sit still, concentrate, or talks constantly and wonder what is wrong with the child? The child may have Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD. Within this paper the following questions will be answered, the definition of ADHD, the cause of ADHD, the symptoms of ADHD and if the symptoms differ in boys and girls, the different treatments for ADHD. Definition of ADHD If one has seen the children who cannot sit still, concentrate, or talks constantly and wonders if the child has ADHD then one needs to know the definition of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. According to Mayo Clinic (2009), the definition of "attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a chronic condition that affects millions of children and often persists into adulthood. Problems associated with ADHD include inattention and hyperactive, impulsive behavior. Children with ADHD may struggle with low self-esteem, troubled relationships and poor performance in school" (Definition, para. 1). Within this clinics definition of ADHD there is an estimated three percent to five percent of children who are affected in the United States (Sharp & Odle, 2009). Causes of ADHD ...
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...The Existence of ADD and ADHD The Existence of ADD and ADHD Some of the most common words moving around in the psychiatric circle are attention Deficit; hyperactivity; Ritalin; ADD, ADHD. These words are being most commonly discussed by most educators, physicians, psychologists and young parents in the society today. In spite of extensive advancements in technology which has brought new insights into the brain and learning, there is still a lacuna in the field of problems faced by children who are unable to remain focused on the task given to them in the classroom owing to their inability to pay attention. While the DSM-IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition (DSM-IV) of the American Psychiatric Association) put forth a list of behaviors which predominantly fall in the category of ADD and/or ADHD, many researchers still maintain that there is no set way to diagnosis or develop a treatment program to these disorders which will be guaranteed to work. At the same time there is another set of researchers who maintain that these disorders actually do not exist at all. However, in the real world, parents and educators still continue to struggle with the task of coping with children who are hyperactive and who have very low attention span and whose behavior often interferes with schooling and family life. [Armstrong, 1997] During the recent years, words like attention deficit, hyperactivity, ADD etc. have been quite frequently used among various psychiatric...
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...‘how children with Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are included within a mainstream classroom and how greater efforts can be taken to ensure inclusivity for them’. Within our school setting there seem to be more pupils with ADHD (some diagnosed, some undiagnosed but will display some of the behaviours/traits of pupils diagnosed with ADHD). Pupils with ADHD do have some barriers to learning. Some of these pupils are quite able academically and, therefore, may not have been identified as requiring special educational need (SEN) support if it weren’t for the perceived negative behaviours frequently displayed. These behaviours could include: trouble sustaining attention in tasks, trouble organising tasks and activities, refusal to comply with adult instructions, fidgeting with hands or feet or squirming in seat, disruption to the lesson by talking excessively, easily frustrated and having trouble waiting for his or her turn, distress at seemingly minor issues, disturbing other children, leaving the classroom etc. A range of strategies can be used to help these pupils settle in a main stream classroom and raise their achievement. It would be interesting to find out if it is an issue of Sensory sensitivity that is largely a factor in inhibiting the learning of these pupils. Baranek (2002) and Barkley (1998) report that pupils with ADD, ODD and ADHD often have Sensory Processing concerns and also Motor planning deficits. Many people who work with children are unable...
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...Checklist for Diagnosing ADHD 6 Figure 1. DSM-IV Checklist for Diagnosing ADHD 6 1.3 Associated Conditions 7 1.4 Prognosis 7 1.5 Aetiology 7 1.5.1 Genetics 8 1.5.2 Environmental Influences 8 1.5.3 Essential Fatty Acids 8 1.5.4 Food Sensitivities 9 1.5.5 Heavy Metal Toxicity 9 1.5.6 Nutrient deficiencies 9 1.5.7 Pregnancy/birth trauma 10 1.5.8 Hypoglycaemia 10 1.5.9 Digestive 10 1.5.10 Thyroid 11 1.6 Clinical Management 11 1.7 Understanding the Role of Essential Fatty Acids 12 1.7.1 What are Essential Fatty Acids? 12 Figure 2. Major Food Sources of Essential Fatty Acids 12 Figure 3. Omega-3 and Omega-6 metabolic pathways 13 1.7.2 Essential Fatty Acids and Brain Function 13 1.7.3 Physical Signs of Fatty Acid Deficiency 14 2.0 Literature Review 15 2.1 DHA Supplementation 15 2.2 Combined DHA, EPA, GLA Supplementation 18 2.3 Combined EPA, DHA, ALA Supplementation 19 2.4 ALA Supplementation 22 2.5 Summary of studies reviewed 23 Figure 4. Summary of Studies Reviewed 23 3.0 Discussion 24 3.1 Future Research 27 4.0 Conclusion 28 5.0 Nutritional Strategy 29 5.1 Benchmarking 29 5.2 Dietary Strategy 29 5.3 Lifestyle Strategy 29 5.4 General Supplement programme 30 6.0 Acknowledgements 31 7.0 References and Bibliography 32 7.1 Primary References 32 7.2 Secondary References 34 7.3 Bibliography 35 8.0 Appendix 36 8.1 Glossary 36 Abstract Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a diagnostic label...
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...SameDayEssay.com ADHD Methodology 1 Methodology of Research, Data Collection and Analysis This part contains a discussion of the methodologies used to collect and analyse data for the study with the aim of determining whether mainstreaming and inclusion of children with ADHD is the best option or if alternative options are available for parents and schools that would allow special children to achieve their maximum potential. The objectives that would allow the aim of the research study to be achieved are the following: (1) To conduct semi-structured surveys involving the following target respondents: a. Special education teachers handling students with ADHD b. General education teachers in mainstreamed classes c. Parents of children with ADHD d. Parents of children without ADHD but whose children attend classes with children with ADHD e. Classmates of children with ADHD (2) To answer the following research questions to be adapted in the most appropriate manner according to the nature of the respondent (teacher, parent, or schoolmate): a. How effective is mainstreaming in dealing with ADHD students? b. How prepared are teachers in dealing with ADHD students? c. What other alternatives are they aware of or have been tried to deal with ADHD students? (3) To analyse and evaluate the data collected to find the answer(s) to the research aim as to whether mainstreaming is the best option, or if there are better alternatives, and the different conditions for the effectiveness of...
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...Garrett Kelly Dr. Tushup 7/17/13 Nancy C. Andreasen is an expert on psychiatric disorders and most importantly an expert on schizophrenia. In earlier years the symptoms of schizophrenia were thought to be in a single brain region. However, with more experts and more studies taking place on schizophrenia we are finding out that there are many areas in the brain that are affected by schizophrenia. Based on empirical data derived from both magnetic resonance and positron emission tomography, we have developed a model that implicates connectivity among nodes located in prefrontal regions, the thalamic nuclei, and the cerebellum(Andreasen, 1998). If there is a disruption in this circuitry it will produce cognitive dysmetria, which will lead to difficulty in prioritizing, processing, coordinating and responding to information. The study of neural mechanisms of schizophrenia has passed through three phases during the past several decades. The first phase was used to demonstrate that schizophrenia was a brain disease. This phase was supported primarily through the use of neuro-imaging techniques such as computerized tomography, which consistently showed that patients had diffuse nonspecific abnormalities such as prominent sulci or ventricular enlargement(Andreasen 1982,1990). The second phase drew on traditions of neurology and neuropsychology, it attempted to localize the anatomic abnormalities and relate specific manifestations of the illness to specific brain regions (Andreasen...
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...can be reduced to neuronal activity? Illustrate your answer with examples from Chapter 4, ‘Biological psychology’, from Book 1, mapping psychology The case study of Phineas Gage referred as being within the subject of Biological Psychology. As we human beings are a “biological species”, we need to be able to understand our biological make-up, to further study the Physiological field, only once we can fully understand the different part of our bodies, including the brain can we then apply Psychological research methods to study & develop understanding . Science constantly evolves to study and gain understanding, which then can lead to data interpretation methods like Psychological .The Theorist Crick,-: His belief and scientific approach called “Reductionism” (Mapping Psychology, Pg 230) Suggests that “Potentially all psychological events and experiences can fully and only explained in terms of the activity within the components of the brain”. Other Scientists do however argue that there should be a much broader view taken, and other views et should be considered.(Bolton and Hill, 1996, Stevens, 1996: Toates, 2001) These other theorists, and studies are suggested (Mapping Psychology, Pg 230) as having equally possible explanations of how our brains components affect our actions and how we are. Phineas Gage, the study and interpretation of why his behaviours changed, relates hugely to beliefs of that era. Nowadays Phrenology is dismissed as Pseudo-science, due to scientific...
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...The Effect of Modern Drugs on Today’s Youth Children and the Law Seminar It’s nearing finals time and students across campus are beginning to feel the anxiety with exams over the horizon. While many students hit the books to quash this feeling, others search for something more. Whispers soliciting a need for Adderall resonate throughout the halls. These students don’t have prescriptions for their drug of choice, but this doesn’t deter them. They know that the risk in purchasing and ingesting this “study buddy” is far outweighed by the extreme focus and potentially high exam scores it may bring. It’s not that these students are ignorant of the law; it is quite the contrary. These situations are now so commonplace that today’s youth perceives the law to be a technicality in their search to find a means to an end. This pervading attitude should come as no surprise to most adults. For as long as human history has been recorded, drugs have defined and reflected the attitudes of their era. In the 1920’s, alcohol was placed under prohibition and Americans were looking to every which way to circumvent this federal regulation. In the 1930’s, reefer madness swept the country and marijuana was criminalized. The 1960’s marked the era of a rising counter-culture fueled by the psychedelic drug LSD. Even the cocaine boom of the 1970’s and 1980’s define a period of American history marked by high crime rates and an evolving nightlife. Today’s society is no different. In many ways, people...
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...the ensuing family problems and legal issues following it. I am currently working in my field placement at Lifespan Family Services, (LFS), with a 16-year-old boy who was discharged from a residential treatment facility to a foster home from this agency. The boy we will call Brian, was referred by the Jefferson County Probation Department with the goal of transitioning him back to the home of his maternal grandparents who currently take care of one of his older brothers. Brian and his two older brothers share the same biological father who perpetrated sexually on all three boys. During the first several years of Brian's life he lived in the home where the incidents took place. After it was discovered that the father was abusing the boys, Children and Youth Services, (CYS), of Jefferson County removed all three boys from the home pending charges against the biological father. The father of the three boys was eventually convicted of a multitude of charges related to his perpetrating on the boys and was given a lengthy prison sentence. Brian's mother was involved with a multitude of paramours’ in short term relationships one of which resulted in the birth of a girl. Brian's mother eventually remarried and maintained custody of the three boys and their younger sister. The stepfather had very little interest in fathering the three boys and would have almost no positive interaction with them. The union between Brian's mother and their stepfather lasted six years and Brian stated that...
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...PN MENTAL HEALTH NURSING EDITION . CO NT ASTERY SERI ES TM N E R EV MOD IE W LE U PN Mental Health Nursing Review Module Edition 9.0 CONtriButOrs Sheryl Sommer, PhD, RN, CNE VP Nursing Education & Strategy Janean Johnson, MSN, RN Nursing Education Strategist Sherry L. Roper, PhD, RN Nursing Education Strategist Karin Roberts, PhD, MSN, RN, CNE Nursing Education Coordinator Mendy G. McMichael, DNP, RN Nursing Education Specialist and Content Project Coordinator Marsha S. Barlow, MSN, RN Nursing Education Specialist Norma Jean Henry, MSN/Ed, RN Nursing Education Specialist eDitOrial aND PuBlisHiNg Derek Prater Spring Lenox Michelle Renner Mandy Tallmadge Kelly Von Lunen CONsultaNts Deb Johnson-Schuh, RN, MSN, CNE Loraine White, RN, BSN, MA PN MeNtal HealtH NursiNg i PN MeNtal HealtH NursiNg review Module editioN 9.0 intellectual Property Notice ATI Nursing is a division of Assessment Technologies Institute®, LLC Copyright © 2014 Assessment Technologies Institute, LLC. All rights reserved. The reproduction of this work in any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of Assessment Technologies Institute, LLC. All of the content in this publication, including, for example, the cover, all of the page headers, images, illustrations, graphics, and text, are subject to trademark, service mark, trade dress, copyright, and/or other intellectual property rights or licenses...
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...In this chapter you will explore Confessions of a COLLEGE STUDENT... ‘‘ ’’ ever thought about how you learn? People learn differently. This is hardly a novel idea, but if you are to do well in college, it is important that you become aware of your preferred way, or style, of learning. Experts agree that there is no one best way to learn. Maybe you have trouble paying attention to a long lecture, or maybe listening is the way you learn best. You might love classroom discussion, or you might consider hearing what other students have to say in class a big waste of time. Perhaps you have not thought about how college instructors, and even particular courses, have their own inherent styles, which can be different from your preferred style of learning. Many instructors rely almost solely on lecturing; others use lots of visual aids, such as PowerPoint outlines, charts, graphs, and pictures. In science courses, you will conduct experiments or go on field trips where you can observe or touch what you are studying. In dance, theater, or physical education courses, learning takes place in both your body and your mind. And in almost all courses, you’ll learn by reading both textbooks and other materials. Some instructors are friendly and warm; others seem to want little interaction with students. It’s safe to say that in at least some of your college courses, you won’t find a close match between the way you learn most effectively and the way you’re being taught. This...
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...Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) in Children | What is OCD? Clinically Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder, characterized by the inability to restrain obsessive thoughts for sustained periods. In extremis, sufferers obsess identical thoughts for years, in an endlessly exhausting cycle. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) usually begins in adolescence or young adulthood and is seen in as many as 1 in 200 children and adolescents. OCD is characterized by recurrent intense obsessions and/or compulsions that cause severe discomfort and interfere with day-to-day functioning. Obsessions are recurrent and persistent thoughts, impulses, or images that are unwanted and cause marked anxiety or distress. Frequently, they are unrealistic or irrational. They are not simply excessive worries about real-life problems or preoccupations. Compulsions are repetitive behaviors or rituals (like hand washing, hoarding, keeping things in order, checking something over and over) or mental acts (like counting, repeating words silently, avoiding). In OCD, the obsessions or compulsions cause significant anxiety or distress, or they interfere with the child's normal routine, academic functioning, social activities, or relationships. The obsessive thoughts may vary with the age of the child and may change over time. A younger child with OCD may have persistent thoughts that harm will occur to himself or a family member, for example an intruder entering an unlocked door...
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