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