| Attention Deficit Disorder is a complex | | | | many people around, but it is not |
| condition that is not well understood at the | | | | overwhelming. However, at Christmas time |
| present time by many clinicians and the | | | | after a couple of hours at the mall people |
| general public. New information is being | | | | are so over-stimulated that it is hard to |
| discovered rapidly however. Dr. Amen is one | | | | find the car. People with ADD feel this way |
| of the pioneers in this field and this | | | | almost all the time.There are five |
| article is meant to summarize his work. | | | | recommended courses of treatment for someone |
| | | | with ADD or ADHD. Physicians often give an |
| Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and | | | | antidepressant such as Wellbutrin and |
| Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity | | | | Strattera, which tends to calm the limbic |
| (ADHD) occur as a result of neurological | | | | system and increase dopamine, a |
| dysfunction in the prefrontal cortex of the | | | | neurotransmitter. In my experience as a |
| brain. This is the newest part of our | | | | therapist, this can be helpful but |
| tri-brain system in evolutionary terms. It is | | | | stimulants, the second course, seem to do a |
| the part of our brain that performs executive | | | | better job. Stimulants given in small doses, |
| functions. The functions of this brain deal | | | | so the mood alteration is minimal, act in a |
| with 1) attention span, 2) perseverance, 3) | | | | paradoxical manner. This means that instead |
| judgment, 4) organization, 5) impulse | | | | of accelerating a person they help to focus |
| control, 6) self-monitoring and supervision, | | | | and calm them while still allowing the |
| 7) problem solving, 8) critical thinking, 9) | | | | prefrontal lobe to remain active. They also |
| forward thinking, 10) learning from | | | | seem to increase dopamine. This |
| experience, 11) ability to feel and express | | | | neurotransmitter is negatively affected with |
| emotions, 12) interaction with the limbic | | | | people suffering from ADD. The third regimen, |
| system, and 13) empathy.Whenever there is a | | | | a combination of an anti-depressant and a |
| problem with this part of the brain, a number | | | | stimulant, seems to work best for most people |
| of skills that many human beings take for | | | | suffering from most forms of ADD. The fourth |
| granted would not be available in any optimal | | | | treatment consists of teaching relaxation, |
| way. The following are problems that develop | | | | stress-management, organizational, and |
| when the prefrontal cortex is affected. 1) | | | | socializing skills. This should always be |
| Short attention span, 2) distractibility, 3) | | | | included as part of treatment whether or not |
| lack of perseverance, 4) impulse control | | | | medication is used.Another form of treatment |
| problems, 5) hyperactivity, 6) chronic | | | | is the naturopathic approach. Due to my |
| lateness and poor time management, 7) | | | | background I cannot adequately discuss this |
| disorganization, 8) procrastination, 9) | | | | method, and as yet am not sufficiently |
| unavailability of emotions, 10) | | | | familiar with the treatment to be able to |
| misperceptions, 11) poor judgment, 12) | | | | measure its efficacy. At the present time, |
| trouble learning from experience, 13) | | | | supplements, vitamins and chiropractic care |
| short-term memory loss, and 14) social and | | | | seem to be effective as an adjunct to |
| test anxiety.The exact neurological problem | | | | stimulants.There are numerous misconceptions |
| with ADD is unknown at this time. However | | | | about Attention Deficit Disorder and a lot of |
| SPECT scans, single photon emission computed | | | | emotional fervor about the diagnosis. It |
| tomography, which measures cerebral blood | | | | reminds me of the debate over Prozac several |
| flow and metabolic activity patterns, has | | | | years ago or whether or not Alcoholism is a |
| noted that when someone with ADD | | | | disease or a moral defect. It is |
| concentrates, their prefrontal lobe activity | | | | understandable that people worry about giving |
| decreases significantly. This essentially | | | | young children a mood-altering drug. However, |
| means that under stress and concentration | | | | any time medication is considered as an |
| someone with these disorders cannot bring to | | | | approach, the physician needs to carefully |
| bear their full cognitive capacity.It is | | | | assess both the costs the benefits and the |
| theorized that our usual ability to screen | | | | severity of the problem. Most medication |
| out and attend to stimuli of our choice is | | | | difficulties with ADD result from |
| impaired with these individuals. I like to | | | | mismanagement. When the appropriate amount of |
| think of it as going to the mall during the | | | | medication is used with ADD the benefits are |
| summer. It is too bright and there are too | | | | immense and the cost is minimal. |