...Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a very complex disorder and for many individuals suffering from ADHD, their daily struggle with this disorder can be very frustrating and debilitating at times. Throughout the years, it has been known that genetics has a strong link to the cause ADHD as well as the psychotropics being prescribed by Mental Health Professionals to assist in the management of ADHD. However, data supports in the past decade there has been an explosion with ADHD individuals, specifically children being treated by the pharmacological modality rather than the behavioral modification or family psychotherapy. The old analogy of take two pills and call your doctor in the morning is becoming the norm in today’s society. This Reflective Paper will provide a multi-systemic approach which addresses the following topics: (1) the genetic link to ADHD, (2) population trends of psychotropic use, (3) concerns for the safety and efficacy of children have risen due to the lack of studies. The Genetic Link to ADHD Several decades of study has shown Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) to be a neurobiological disorder. Research has shown other contributing causes of ADHD can be caused by environmental (home, school etc.), brain dysfunction and toxins found in food additives, yet strong supporting data can be found in genetic studies too. Researchers have concluded the phenotypic display of ADHD is attributed...
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...members in my family with ADHD, I have always been curious as to the different causes of ADHD such as genetics compared to the environment. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, also known as ADHD, is “one of the most common childhood-onset psychiatric disorders; it afflicts some 5% to 10% of children and adolescents” (Susan). After numerous studies, results verified, “children of parents with ADHD are at high risk for meeting diagnostic criteria for the disorder” and that childhood cases of ADHD “continue through adolescence and adulthood have an especially strong familial component” (Joseph). For background statistics on ADHD, ADHD is one of the most common childhood disorders and can continue through adolescence...
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...ADHD Have you ever noticed that some people have difficulty sitting still, paying attention or controlling impulsive behavior? Sure we all have, we are even victims of these acts ourselves. What if it became so pervasive and persistent that it interferes with your daily life, including home, social, academic, and work settings? Then you would be diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or also known as ADHD. You shouldn’t be alarmed or afraid; between 3% and 5% of the population in this country are affected by ADHD. Besides in this medically advanced society you can always be told what your disorder is, how to Diagnosis the problem, and how to get treated. Once you have information you are in control. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is a neurobiological disability. This disability has three major sub types; ADHD primarily inattentive type, ADHD primarily hyperactive/impulsive type, and ADHD combined type. “ children most likely represent a continuum of attention and activity / impulsivity problems”(Semrud-Clekeman, Nielsen, Clinton, Sylvester, Parle, and Connor, 1999, p. 587) ADHD primarily inattentive type also known as ADHD-I is when a person fails to give close attention to details or makes careless mistakes, has difficulty sustaining attention, does not appear to listen, struggles to follow through, has difficulty with organization, avoids or dislikes tasks requiring sustained mental effort, is easily distracted and is forgetful in daily activities...
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...Diathesis-stress model of psychopathology is a psychological theory that attempts to explain behavior as a predisposition vulnerability together with stress from life experiences. With this model can involve a particular genetic makeup, physiology, set of cognitions, personality, or a combination of these. In infants a common disorder is autism spectrum disorder (ASD), this disorder is characterized by abnormal social and communication development, restricted interests and repetitive behavior. Individuals with autism function poorly throughout adolescents and adults, however a few seem to improve with age. No one environmental cause has been identified for this disorder to develop, researchers believe that there are multiple pathways through which autism can occur. These pathways include a variety of various environmental pollutants, toxins and viruses. Suspected causes of autism is when segments of DNA that affect neural communication have been copied too many times or too few times during cell division. This happens more often than not when the fathers are older due to the fact that in the formation of sperm, mutations and copy number variations become more common. Another theory suggested that exposure to a mercury compound (Thimerosal), this compound has formerly been used in normal childhood vaccines such as Measles, Mumps and German Measles/Rubella (MMR) This is due to the fact that children start to develop symptoms of autism during the period of time they received MMR...
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...exposed to these pathogens (environmental pathogens are defined as microorganisms that normally spend a substantial part of their lifecycle outside human hosts but when introduced to humans cause disease with measureable frequency. They are carried in the water, soil, air, food and other parts of the environment and can affect almost every individual on the planet.) The key difference between environmental pathogens and other human pathogens is their ability to survive and thrive outside the host. Their widespread occurrence in the environment makes them difficult to monitor and control. It has been proposed that brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF), a member of neurotropic factor family, maybe implicated in the pathogenesis of ADHD. BDNF is the neurotrophin responsible for helping aid the creation of new dopaminergic neurons and protecting the existing ones from cell death (apopotasis) BDNF is a nervous system growth factor that...
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...been discovered. As the years have passed important information in regards to the source that Autism has some biological components has emerged sparking the hope for a cure. Genetic factors “studies of monozygotic and dizygotic twin pairs show that autism has an extremely strong genetic component” (page 517 Hansell, Damour). In some studies it is shown that Autism may be linked to having an older father, Autism appears in equal number of sons and daughters of older fathers. Anatomical Anomalies – researchers have shown that it appears to be a disruption in people suffering from Autism (chapter 13 page 517). Children who suffer from Autism according to Dr. Eric Courchesne. “In addition to anomalies in brain size the white matter of people suffering from Autism grows excessively and asymmetrically” (page 518 Hansell, Damour).White matter shows the communication function in the brain, persons suffering from Autism display less white matter in their brain then in someone who is not suffering from Autism. Prenatal, Birth and neuro-chemical factor, there is a list of prenatal birth complications that have been linked to Autism but nothing is said to be the 100 percent cause of Autism. Maternal bleeding, prematurity, breech birth, forceps deliveries show a hire result of Autistic births. There seems to be a link between birth and Autism what it is has not yet been discovered. There is really no...
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...English 1010 ADHD: Amphetamines Don’t Help Disorders There are more drug users in elementary schools today then every before. Most of these users are children around the ages of seven to fourteen. The drugs they use are highly addictive Amphetamines, similar to cocaine. The worst part is these drugs are prescribed to them for behavioral problems in school. The stimulants these children are taking are for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Because these children do not behave the way schools have described as “normal”, they are drugged with harmful synthetic stimulants. Behavior traits in children can be changed by a proper diet, adequate sleep, and positive activities at home. The principle causes of ADHD are unknown. The attempt to classify it as a disease has failed. There are four categories of disease in the medical world: infectious, contagious, traumatic, and systemic. Infectious and contagious diseases have to do with germs so we can rule those out as classifications. Traumatic indicates an outside force such as head trauma or nervous system trauma so that is also ruled out. Systemic diseases happen when the cells or chemicals of the body begin to malfunction such as cancer. This is not correct for ADHD either and so it is not a disease (Stein 23-24). Doctors turn to other causes and classifications of this disorder including genetics. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) often appears to run in families...
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...Instructor: Natasha Brown Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common childhood brain disorders and can continue through adolescence and adulthood. Symptoms include difficulty staying focused and paying attention, difficulty controlling behavior, and hyperactivity (over- activity). These symptoms can make it difficult for a child with ADHD to succeed in school, get along with other children or adults, or finish tasks at home. Brain imaging studies have revealed that, in youth with ADHD, the brain matures in a normal pattern but is delayed, on average, by about 3 years. The delay is most pronounced in brain regions involved in thinking, paying attention, and planning. More recent studies have found that the outermost layer of the brain, the cortex, shows delayed maturation overall, and a brain structure important for proper communications between the two halves of the brain shows an abnormal growth pattern. These delays and abnormalities may underlie the hallmark symptoms of ADHD and help to explain how the disorder may develop. Treatments can relieve many symptoms of ADHD, but there is currently no cure for the disorder. With treatment, most people with ADHD can be successful in school and lead productive lives. Researchers are developing more effective treatments and interventions, and using new tools such as brain imaging, to better understand ADHD and to find more effective ways to treat and prevent it. Inattention...
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...Genetic Explanation of Aggression: Aggression is known to be influenced by genetics. Everyone inherits certain genes from their biological parents, these express as specific traits and characteristics. This includes everything from your eye colour, susceptibility to certain diseases, and aggressive tendencies. Some psychologists even believe there is a specific aggressive gene. Genetics are biological, however the explanation does acknowledge the interplay between nature and nurture, a hard and soft approach to determinism. We cannot separate genetics from the environment as it is a crucial part of evolution. Experiments have been conducted on mice whereby they have altered the gene receptor for the neuro-transmitter serotonin. They ‘knocked out’ the gene in the mice. With this a ‘knockout mouse’ was created and put in a cage for 2 weeks to establish its territory. Later when an intruder mouse was introduced, the knockout mice were found to be significantly more aggressive than another control group. This suggests this gene receptor is responsible for the aggression As this was completed in a scientific, lab environment, the results are highly reliable. However there are difficulties generalising from animal experiments to human behaviour. Humans have rational thinking and mice do not. The animal ethics guidelines state that the ends must justify the means. Later research tested rats in the same way, and they found humans don’t have the same gene. Therefore, the...
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...ADHD is not Only in Children ENG 105 Professor Wakefield October 9, 2013 Most people think that ADHA is only in children. The truth to be told it is also in adults. “According to epidemiological data, approximately 4% to 6% of the U.S. population has ADHD. That is about 8 to 9 million adults.” (1998, Peter Jaksa, Ph.D.) With facts like that it would be hard to say that only children have ADHA. So there more adults with it now because they never learned how to deal with it when they where children or is it because we did not know as much about ADHA as we do now. Some think that ADHA is caused due family problems, poor parenting and teaching, video games to even sugar, too much sugar; this is not true at all. Others have thought that is could have been cause by a brain or head injury. There has been no links to a family having problems to lead to a child having ADHA. Though many people have ADHA have never had an injury to back this up. Why others thought it was because of too much TV and sugar. So they would take the children off of sugar and the children would still have the same problems. Even in adults to this day some of them will try not to eat sugar or other food that have been said to be bad for people that have ADHA. So food allergies would not be a cause for someone to have ADHA. After all the testing that has been done there is no proof to back it up. Adults have ADHA with the same amount of problems as a child does. It is very likely caused by biological...
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...Diagnosis of ADHD in Youth Brent Townes COM/172 November 10, 2014 Crystal Hicks Diagnosis of ADHD in Youth There have been a lot of studies done on attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in the school aged children of today. The Center for Dieses Control and Prevention has completed a mass survey that states 1 and 5 school aged boys has been diagnosed with ADHD, and 11 percent of school aged children overall (ages 4-17 years old). Approximately 6.4 million have been diagnosed as of 2011. This number has increased from 7.8% in 2003 to 11% in 2011. Boys are 13.2% more likely than girls at 5.6% to ever be diagnosed with ADHD. The diagnosis of ADHD is a real disorder that needs to be addressed, but does not always need medication to treat it. Diagnosis of ADHD For a child to be diagnosed with ADHD there is certain criteria that is supposed to be met. There are several steps to the process in being diagnosed with ADHD, however, there is not one test alone that can diagnosis it. There are many other issues such as anxiety, depression, and other learning disabilities that have similar symptoms as ADHD. There was recently a new manual printed for medical professionals called DSM-5 to diagnosis ADHD. There was a few changes to the DSM-5 such as: symptoms can occur by age 12 rather than by age 6; and adults and children 17 and older are only required to have 5 symptoms rather than the 6 symptoms for children 16 and younger. Here are a few examples...
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... Abnormal Psychology and Therapy Team C PSY 300 June 14, 2014 Angelique Grady Abnormal Psychology and Therapy Psychology is a scientific investigation of mental processes and behavior (Kowalski & Westen,2011). Normal and Abnormal Psychology share a common similarity which is sharing involvement with mental processes and behaviors. Normal Psychology studies normal behaviors that do not affect mental processing. Abnormal psychology studies abnormal mental process and behaviors. Mental disorders have the potential to be very serious and debilitating. Four examples of mental disorders include ADD and ADHD, Schizophrenia, OCD, and Bipolar disorder. It is important to recognize common symptoms, prevalence, contributing factors, and possible treatments for these disorders. ADD is attention deficit disorder, which is described as the inability to concentrate. ADHD is attention deficit hyperactive disorder, characterized by behaviors that are excessive, long-term, and pervasive energy that keeps an individual hyperactive. Schizophrenia may include the presence of hallucinations and delusions. OCD is often characterized by obsession of impulses that occur repeatedly. Bipolar is a disorder that touches on periods of mania and possible depression. These disorders can be treated by medicine and other therapies. A common question surrounding these disorders involves contributing factors, are these disorders influenced through heredity, environment, or is it just psychological...
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...Touretts syndrome is an inherited disorder that is supposedly caused by a missing genetic link. Touretts is actually a self-diagnosable disorder. The disorder consists of uncontrollable, persistent movements, or unintended sounds, which are called tics. Coming back to how Tourettes is caused by, others say that the neurological disorder is caused by a problem with our nerves communicating with the brain. Tourette's has also often been linked to different parts of the brain, including an area called the basal ganglia, an area in which helps control our body movements. This leads others to believe the disorder might also be caused by a combination of congenital(genetic) and amplified factors. Chemicals in the brain that transmit nerve impulses...
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...symptoms of mild TBI include headache, confusion, lightheadedness, dizziness, blurred vision or tired eyes, a change in sleep patterns, or thinking. A person with a moderate or severe TBI may show these same symptoms, but may also have a headache that gets worse or does not go away, dilation of one or both pupils of the eyes, and slurred speech. Parts of the brain affected: Traumatic brain injury damages the area of the brain that was affected by the head suddenly hitting an object. Learning Disability: It’s a disorder that affects the ability to understand or use spoken or written language. Causes: No one's exactly sure what causes learning disabilities. But researchers do have some theories as to why they develop, including: Genetic influences, Brain development, and Environmental impacts. Symptoms: There is no one sign that shows a person has a learning disability. Experts look for a noticeable difference between how well a child does in school and how well he or she could do, given his or her intelligence or ability. Parts of the brain affected: They are not sure what part of the brain is being affected but they are best to increase the understanding of their biological basis. Stroke: A stroke occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is suddenly interrupted or when a blood...
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...ADHD: Kiddie Watch Affecting our Daily Lives Benefits of early intervention for special children stressed Article by: | | IVY LISA F. MENDOZA Manila Bulletin Website If there is one thing that has been proven beneficial to children with special needs, it is early intervention (EI). Experts say that intervention services given early to children with special needs starting from ages 0 to eight years old result to long-term benefits thus minimizing the need for special education and other related services. Among these EI services are therapies (speech, physical, occupational), special education and others. "There are also the humanistic and pragmatic rationales for EI, and the biological fact that the human brain?s plasticity allows it to develop when stimulations are provided,?? revealed Dr. Mark Reysio Cruz III, a developmental and behavioral pediatrician whose work involves children with special needs. Dr. Reysio-Cruz along with Mrs. Susana Gosalvez-Pe, a parent of three children with Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) recently shared their expertise and experience with early intervention, detection and assessment in special education at a symposium. Titled ??Phases to Face: Detection, Assessment and Intervention," the symposium was organized by the master?s in special education class of Dr. Lilia S. Bautista in De La Salle University (DLSU) which aimed to present varying viewpoints in dealing with children with special needs, particularly...
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