tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-184490612024-03-24T04:49:03.440+11:00life with adhd ~ an addult viewan adult with adhdPruhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15284207086458994250noreply@blogger.comBlogger50125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18449061.post-41250513860676399212007-02-17T15:04:00.000+11:002007-02-17T15:08:26.938+11:00COKE TAKES ON ADHD<em>"The STATS ADHD costs the U.S. an estimated $75 billion a year in lost productivity 8 to 12 percent of American workers have ADHD 1 in every 12 adults has ADHD"</em><br /><br />COKE TAKES ON ADHD - By Diane Loupe<br /><br />"There’s one in every office: the guy who’s smart, funny, interesting, creative and energetic—but also impulsive, chronically late and given to go on tangents in meetings. He’ll finish a report at the last minute, and it will be riddled with careless mistakes. That is, if he can find it on his messy desk to begin with. " [<a href="http://www.sundaypaper.com/NEWS/News/NewsArchives/tabid/202/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/2400/021807-Coke.aspx">read more</a>]<br /><br />Source: sundaypaper.com 02/18/07Pruhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15284207086458994250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18449061.post-88194503416686139912007-02-04T12:50:00.000+11:002007-02-04T12:54:46.953+11:00Article: Is High Self-Esteem Bad for You?<span style="color:#3333ff;">It is commonly accepted today that self-esteem is a cause of people being able to achieve success. However, there are voices that argue that self-esteem is a consequence of people achieving mastery in different areas of their life. For instance, check out this article:</span><br /><br />"For more than thirty years, promoting the development of higher self-esteem has been a major goal for clinical psychologists and educators. Although this emphasis on self-esteem has never sat well with adherents of traditional religions, and although an occasional academic psychologist has complained that psychotherapy promotes self-indulgence, the mass media have for the most part been supportive of the self-esteem movement. But a spate of recent articles suggests that the tide may be turning. " [<a href="http://www.objectivistcenter.org/ct-670-Is_High_Self_Esteem_Bad_You.aspx">read more</a>]<br /><br />by <a title="See all this author's writings." href="http://www.objectivistcenter.org/browse.aspx?author=rcampbell">Robert Campbell Walter Foddis</a>Pruhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15284207086458994250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18449061.post-10971884069897644002007-02-04T12:47:00.000+11:002007-02-04T12:49:45.377+11:00Article: Attention Deficit Disorder--Conceptions and MisconceptionsThis article by Moss David Posner M.D. (February 3, 2007) has some really thought provoking ideas about adhd, definitely worth a read:<br /><br />"It seems that every day we open the newspaper or go online we see another article about Attention Deficit Disorder[i]. The subjects and titles of the articles vary from condemnation of the very notion of the existence of such an entity, to “natural” treatments for the problem, to warnings of dire consequences ranging from insanity to addiction with the use of medications, to attacks on “the drug companies” as having created the notion in the first place, to congratulations to those who are blessed with the “gift” of the disorder, and to treatments, from medications, to meditation, to physical therapies, hypnosis, and prayer ... [<a href="http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/viewArticle.asp?articleID=20172">read more</a>]Pruhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15284207086458994250noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18449061.post-62903088407868383582007-01-15T20:30:00.000+11:002007-01-15T20:54:45.439+11:00Finding right position key for employees with ADHDThe following article gives an insight into the adult adhd experience at work, sometimes confusing, sometimes frustrating - where a person can be trying as hard as possible but still comes across as 'lazy' or 'unmotivated'. It can be very depressing.<br /><br /><em>January 12, 2007: Andrea Kay in the Mississippi Clarion Ledger</em><br /><blockquote>"I've got ADD," Daniel told me, when he called to talk about his career. "I need help, but I've got ADD," he repeated. He must have told me 10 times. He's not the only one. There was Janice and Jane and Mark and others. And they insist they have problems in their careers because of their condition. Odds are, they're right. They are referring to attention-deficit (hyperactivity) disorder (ADHD), a developmental condition that affects brain functioning and causes problems with attention, impulsivity and hyperactivity, explains Eve Smukler, a<br />Los Angeles psychotherapist and coach with a focus on ADHD.</blockquote><a href="http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070112/BIZ/701120353/1005">read more</a>Pruhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15284207086458994250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18449061.post-72597209752430708972006-12-10T13:25:00.000+11:002006-12-10T13:37:33.586+11:00End of year wrap up 2006Well another year passes! It has been a busy year:<br /><ul><li>started another degree and passed the first year in spite of 'just in time' essay techniques<br /><br /></li><li>achieved my New Year resolution for 2006 - managed to tidy up my study ( and it only took 11 months to get there)<br /><br /></li><li>worked way too much and spent too little time with family and friends (looks like a New Year resolution evolving here)<br /><br /></li><li>had a good year at work, achieved targets in spite of evil & malicious co-workers and lack of funding (why do people have to bring their psychoses to work?)<br /><br /></li><li>managed to be more organised than ever before - not sure how that happened but getting an assistant at work could explain it?<br /><br /></li><li>planning my annual vacation for February - this keeps me sane for the rest of the year<br /></li></ul>Altogether another busy year. Must say having meds to call upon has really helped. I try not to take them all the time, but when things get busy I really need the help to focus.Pruhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15284207086458994250noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18449061.post-81390544056428026112006-11-12T12:59:00.000+11:002006-11-12T13:03:07.041+11:00When Mom has ADHDSome interesting notes about women with adhd towards the bottom of this article, click the link to read entire article:<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Women with the disorder face special challenges, Columbia doctor says</span><br /><h5>By LINDA H. LAMB <a href="mailto:llamb@thestate.com">llamb@thestate.com</a></h5> <p>"When Peggy Ashley filled out a medical form for her hyperactive son, the doctor took one look at her messy handwriting and made a gut-level diagnosis." <a href="http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/living/15982720.htm">Read more</a></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/living/15982720.htm"><br /></a></p>Pruhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15284207086458994250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18449061.post-8998641283930206272006-11-12T12:52:00.000+11:002006-11-12T12:55:29.621+11:00Press release re Free Online ADD Test<b>ADHD Expert Releases Free Online ADD Test</b><br /><span style=""><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">PR Web (press release) - Ferndale,WA,USA</span><br /><b>ADHD</b> expert Tellman Knudson is now providing special resources that provide others like himself diagnosed or affected with <b>ADHD</b> the real secrets, tools and <b>... </b></span><a href="http://www.prweb.com/releases/2006/11/prweb476580.htm">for more click here</a>Pruhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15284207086458994250noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18449061.post-89389124953941388862006-11-11T19:18:00.000+11:002006-11-11T19:21:41.485+11:00Does modern life exacerbate adhd?I've been thinking about this a lot lately - does modern life, parenting and education styles exacerbate <span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">adhd</span>? I have come to think that in the past the application of higher levels of external structure on people tended to mask their <span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">adhd</span> to a certain extent. If you think about it people with <span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">adhd</span> have a low internal locus of control, that is very likely physiological in origin. This means that if parents, school and society impose an external locus of control then many individuals with <span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">adhd</span> will pass for 'normal'. <span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Hmmmm</span>, interesting to think about!Pruhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15284207086458994250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18449061.post-49614615892705997812006-11-11T19:14:00.000+11:002006-11-11T19:16:52.556+11:00Keeping myself sane by planning next holidayI know this is not exactly the right thing to spend tonight doing, but I just cannot face my exams next week without knowing I have my holiday planned.<br /><br />This time I am going to northern Norway. It should be interesting to go that far north & it will certainly be colder than Sydney in February!Pruhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15284207086458994250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18449061.post-89811613725608421842006-11-05T19:16:00.000+11:002006-11-05T19:19:22.467+11:00Take A Walk To Boost Your EnergyNo more excuses about not exercising, as per this article:<br /><br /><strong>"Take A Walk To Boost Your Energy - MediaIndia 4 Nov 2006<br /></strong><br />A walk may boost your energy and help fight fatigue if you are feeling <a class="iAs" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 100%; PADDING-BOTTOM: 1px; COLOR: darkgreen; BORDER-BOTTOM: darkgreen 0.07em solid; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: underline" href="http://www.medindia.net/news/view_news_main.asp?x=15612#" target="_blank" itxtdid="2696964">tired</a>, suggests a new study. Patrick O'Connor and colleagues at the University of Georgia analysed 70 studies on exercise and fatigue involving more than 6,800 people, reported the online edition of <a class="iAs" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 100%; PADDING-BOTTOM: 1px; COLOR: darkgreen; BORDER-BOTTOM: darkgreen 0.07em solid; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: underline" href="http://www.medindia.net/news/view_news_main.asp?x=15612#" target="_blank" itxtdid="2894510">health</a> Magazine WebMD. More than 90 percent of the studies showed the same thing - sedentary people who completed a regular exercise programme reported improvement in fatigue levels compared to groups that did not exercise. "It's a very consistent effect. The results show that regular exercise increases energy and reduces fatigue," said the study published in the Psychological Bulletin. "<br /><a href="http://www.medindia.net/news/view_news_main.asp?x=15612">Read more here</a><br />Source-IANSSRMPruhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15284207086458994250noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18449061.post-81738409275372738562006-11-03T23:27:00.000+11:002006-11-03T23:29:03.804+11:00Exams next weekOMG where has the term gone? I've been meaning to open the books & study but now time for exams has arrived & I still have not read them!!!! Looks like a busy weekend cramming for the tests?Pruhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15284207086458994250noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18449061.post-1162546904462139932006-11-03T20:41:00.000+11:002006-11-03T23:00:56.948+11:00Patch new option for treating ADHD<a href="http://news.monstersandcritics.com/lifestyle/consumerhealth/article_1217635.php/Patch_new_option_for_treating_ADHD">Patch new option for treating ADHD</a>: "WASHINGTON, DC, United States (UPI) -- Medication for children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, can now be delivered through a patch, researchers reported Friday.<br /><br />The patch, called DAYTRANA, is meant for children 6 to 12. It gives physicians greater control over the amount of time a child is on medication, as it is easily administered and removed, said Dr. Timothy E. Wilens, a consultant to Shire, the company that produced the patch and funded the research."<br /><br /><span class="small_text">By Leah Carliner Nov 2, 2006, 20:10 GMT</span><br /><br /><a href="http://news.monstersandcritics.com/lifestyle/consumerhealth/article_1217635.php/Patch_new_option_for_treating_ADHD">Click here for more details</a>Pruhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15284207086458994250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18449061.post-1160396274732830582006-10-09T22:14:00.000+10:002006-11-03T23:00:56.896+11:00ADHD or too many distractions to focus?<em>The following is amusing take on the way we sometimes ask kids to focus on too much & then blame adhd...</em><br /><br />By Lane Filler (<a href="mailto:lane.filler@shj.com">lane.filler@shj.com</a>)<br />Published October 8, 2006<br /><br /><blockquote>Quinn, my 5-year old daughter: "Doctor, my father simply has no ability to<br />focus. I think he has ADHD."<br /><br />Doctor: "Can you give me an example of<br />this behavior you call 'unfocused?' "<br />Quinn: "Last night I was trying to have a serious conversation with him about how badly I need a My Little Pony Gameboy. It's a straightforward issue: I have no My Pretty Little Gameboy, thus my clear need for one. But he couldn't focus. He'd listen for 30 seconds, then say, 'Go wash your hands for dinner.' He'd listen for another 30 seconds, then say, 'When I was your age we played with mulch.' "<br /><a href="http://www.goupstate.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061008/NEWS/610080318/1028/LIFE" target="blank">to read more click here</a> </blockquote>Pruhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15284207086458994250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18449061.post-1160285680277998582006-10-08T15:25:00.000+10:002006-11-03T23:00:56.842+11:00The Story of Fidgety Philip - by Heinrich Hoffmann<span style="font-weight: normal;">This is a very funny poem that I came across that describes the symptoms of adhd in 'Fidgety Philip' very accurately. The poem dates from the 1840's and part of a series of verses for children. The excerpt that follows could easily be a vignette from my own childhood:<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><blockquote><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">"</span></span><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">See the naughty, restless child, </span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Growing still more rude and wild , </span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Till his chair falls over quite. </span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Philip screams with all his might, </span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Catches at the cloth, but then </span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">That makes matters worse again. </span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Down upon the ground they fall, </span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Glasses, bread, knives forks and all. </span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">How Mamma did fret and frown, </span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">When she saw them tumbling down! </span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">And Papa made such a face! </span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Philip is in sad disgrace."</span></span><br /></blockquote><span style="font-weight: normal;">Herr Hoffman seems to describe a child with adhd is like indeed!</span>Pruhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15284207086458994250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18449061.post-1159589212250496302006-09-30T14:02:00.000+10:002006-11-03T23:00:56.791+11:00Sound slumber linked to learning<p>by PEGGY CURRAN, The Gazette<br />Published: Sunday, September 24, 2006<br /></p><p>"Reut Gruber has a simple, old-fashioned remedy for the modern plugged-in child.</p><p>Bring back bedtime. Turn off the TV, put a curfew on the computer, lower the lights and crack open a storybook.</p><p>Gruber, a clinical child psychologist and sleep researcher at the Douglas Hospital Centre, isn't surprised when parents complain that their sons and daughters are hyper, fidgeting when they ought to be sleeping, then fractious and disruptive in class the next day.</p><p>The poor kids are exhausted." <br /></p><a href="http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/story.html?id=4bfdf695-37cd-4cc1-9374-772cde6646ca&k=98246">Click here for full article</a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">I know many people with adhd sleep poorly. When I get more z's I feel a lot better, but it is hard to get to bed when you are feeling all hyper!</span>Pruhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15284207086458994250noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18449061.post-1159098145692410962006-09-24T21:34:00.000+10:002006-11-03T23:32:41.466+11:00InspirationNow that I have some thinking time again I want do some new stuff. So I have been seeking inspiration from various sources. There are 3 areas related to physical activity that I'm going to concentrate on:<br /><br />1) Learn a new physical skill - now Jacq over at <a href="http://adhdnme.blogspot.com/">ADHD & Me</a> has been talking about kayaking and has a very nice picture on her blog. This has inspired me to book lessons in kayaking for next month, thanks Jacq :-)<br /><br />2) Re-commence something I used to like and do - so it is back to weight training again. I even own all the equipment already.<br /><br />3) Have an adventure - this is inspired by the film "8 Below", so in February next year I am off on another dogsledding vacation (this time in the Arctic).<br /><br />Now, how to make all this happen?????Pruhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15284207086458994250noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18449061.post-1159097352096254702006-09-24T21:29:00.000+10:002006-11-03T23:00:56.680+11:00Health Canada revises ADHD drug info to warn about agitation, hallucinations<span style="text-decoration: none; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Health Canada revises ADHD drug info to warn about agitation, hallucinations<br /></span><br />"13:06:02 EDT Sep 21, 2006<br />TORONTO (CP) - Health Canada is revising its prescribing and patient information for all ADHD drugs in Canada because of the 'potential for psychiatric adverse events.'<br /><br />These have included rare events of agitation and hallucinations in children, spokesman Paul Duchesne said Thursday from Ottawa."<br /><a href="http://www.cbc.ca/cp/health/060921/x092120.html"><br />Read more</a>Pruhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15284207086458994250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18449061.post-1159096799390048872006-09-24T21:19:00.000+10:002006-11-03T23:00:56.626+11:00Tobacco, Lead May Be Missing Link To ADHD, ChildrenResearch indicates that tobacco & lead may be factors in adhd:<br /><br />"<i style="font-weight: bold;">Study Stresses Importance Of Staying Away From Toxins During Pregnancy</i><div class="posted">POSTED: 1:58 pm EDT September 22, 2006</div><div class="updated">UPDATED: 8:05 pm EDT September 22, 2006</div><!--startindex--><b class="Dateline">NEW YORK -- </b>Millions of children suffer from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). They cannot seem to sit still or concentrate on anything for any length of time at home or in school, but a new study may offer new clues into what causes the condition." <br /><br />for more click:<br /><a href="http://www.wral.com/health/9911910/detail.html">WRAL.com - Health - Tobacco, Lead May Be Missing Link To ADHD, Children</a>Pruhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15284207086458994250noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18449061.post-1159096746487409032006-09-24T21:06:00.000+10:002006-11-03T23:00:56.572+11:00Lost (not in cyberspace) & BusyA few people have wondered where I have gone as it has been a while since my last post. It has been a really busy time for me the past few months. My boss asked my team to deliver a national website & TV campaign in 6 weeks (this usually takes a few months longer) for a client. It was very hard! The project had several creative directors (who all hated each other). Anyway we got it done, launched and survived. The team and me are now catching up on some sleep.<br /><br />Simultaneously with all of this I had booked in some work on the house, electricians, painters etc. Nothing like doing renovation when you are busy at work ;-)<br /><br />BUT (because I didn't really have enough stuff to do), just before the project was dumped on us, I had enrolled in a law degree. Which, for adhd'r is a really big call. Of course, several assignments were due throughout the project. That nearly did my head in. There is so much stuff to read (and, as far as I can tell, judges do not know any plain English at all and they have a predilection for snippets of Latin and Old French). I rarely move without my legal dictionary these days. Anyhow had the results back for my first assignment and did OK. We'll see how it goes for the next ones.<br /><br />Whew! Just writing all of that made me tired. It is not surprising that I have not read anything unrelated to work or school for months now, let alone posting on a blog. But the important thing is that I survived and managed to meet all the obligations. A few years ago I would have failed to deliver on most of this stuff and been having a quiet little breakdown somewhere. The meds have really helped me - went and got my prescription refilled regularly.Pruhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15284207086458994250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18449061.post-1151639756602460982006-06-30T13:50:00.000+10:002006-11-03T23:00:56.517+11:00Press Release: Struggles persist for adolescent girls with ADHD<span style="color:#000066;">The following item from a recent UC Berkely press release is very interesting. It highlights the onoing problems experienced by girls with ADHD, noting that they display more disorganised or inattentive behaviour than boys. I still think girls are being ignored in this regard.</span><br /><strong></strong><br /><br /><strong>By Yasmin Anwar, Media Relations 29 June 2006</strong><br /><br />"BERKELEY – As they enter adolescence, girls with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) show fewer symptoms of hyperactivity. But they continue to lag behind their peers academically and have a greater proclivity for other behavioral and emotional disorders as well as for substance abuse, according to new research from the University of California, Berkeley.<br /><br />In a much-anticipated, five-year follow-up study of one of the largest samples of girls with ADHD ever examined, UC Berkeley researchers found not only that difficulties for girls suffering from the disorder persist during their teens, but that insidious new problems can emerge. These findings are published in the June issue of the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology.<br /><br />"As girls with ADHD mature into adolescence, on average they don't show as many visible symptoms of the condition, especially the most noticeable form - hyperactive behavior," said the study's lead author, Stephen Hinshaw, who is a UC Berkeley professor of psychology and chair of the psychology department.<br /><br />"But we can't get fooled into thinking things are fine. Delinquent and depressed behaviors, risk for substance abuse, symptoms of eating disorders, high need for services, difficulties with peers - these problems hit girls with ADHD harder than they did for the comparison group without the condition," he added.<br /><br />Since 1997, Hinshaw and his team have tracked a racially and socio-economically diverse group of girls with ADHD through summer camps and into adolescence, comparing them with girls who did not meet the criteria for ADHD but were otherwise demographically matched.<br /><br />The childhood study, funded by a grant from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), included a sample of 140 girls with ADHD and 88 without the disorder. The girls were aged six to 12. Together, they attended five-week camps where they were closely monitored as they partook in art and drama classes and outdoor activities. Those taking ADHD medication volunteered to go off the drug treatment for much of the summer camp study. The counselors and staff observing all 228 girls and monitoring their interactions did not know which of them had been diagnosed with ADHD.<br /><br />Published in 2002 in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, the initial study found that girls with ADHD are more likely to struggle academically and to be rejected by their peers, compared to the comparison peer group. Results also suggested that girls are underdiagnosed for the disorder because they are more prone to "inattentive-type" ADHD, which is marked by disorganized and unfocused behavior rather than the disruptive, impulsive conduct seen in boys.<br /><br />The latest findings show that these problems clearly persist into adolescence. According to five-year follow-ups of 209 of the girls in the study, although the fidgety, impulsive symptoms exhibited during childhood had subsided in many cases, the learning gulf between girls with ADHD and their "normal" peers had remained large in all cases, and had actually widened in math and reading skills. Moreover, in many cases, risky behaviors had surfaced.<br /><br />"Girls with ADHD have impairments that are not transitory but that persist through adolescence. And they are persisting in areas of function that are really crucial for success in adulthood," Hinshaw said. "They're behind academically and socially. Even if symptoms improve, underlying deficits seem chronic, and we need to do a lot more for early intervention."<br />For parents coping with difficult teenage ADHD behavior, Hinshaw warned, adolescence can be tricky as they try to strike a balance between encouraging their daughters to stick to their treatment regimen -which may involve medication, family therapy, school supports, or a combination - while supporting their need for autonomy.<br /><br />"At the very time adolescence is occurring for these kids, demands for independence are increasing exponentially," he said.<br /><br />For the follow-up study, the researchers spent two half-days with each of the girls as well as with their parents and caregivers, conducting intensive interviews and tests. The girls' classroom teachers also provided information. The objective was to learn how the girls, whose ages ranged between 12 and 17, were doing emotionally, socially and academically. The investigators also measured key cognitive functions such "executive planning skills," which include time-budgeting, adjusting to changes and goal-setting.<br /><br />Hinshaw said he hopes these new findings will underscore the need for long-lasting professional intervention for children with ADHD and convince families struggling with the disorder that it's a misconception that ADHD is not a "real" condition - and that diagnosis and treatment are crucial.<br /><br />His research team has won a new NIMH grant for a 10-year follow-up study of the same girls. It is set to begin later this year.<br /><br />Some of the girls in the study are also participating in a UC Berkeley brain imaging project to pinpoint the source of poor executive function skills, a common component of ADHD.<br />As many as 7 million children in the United States have been diagnosed with this developmental and behavioral disorder, which is characterized by poor concentration, distractibility, hyperactivity, impulsiveness, aggression and other symptoms that are inappropriate for the child's age. The treatment regimens that have received the greatest research evidence are stimulant medications and various forms of behavior therapy.<br /><br />Although the news is sobering, many of the girls with ADHD did show improvement across the five-year follow-up interval. A few made substantial recoveries. But on average, problems persisted and new ones emerged, which suggests that careful monitoring and treatment are essential, Hinshaw said.<br /><br />In addition to Hinshaw, authors of the study are Elizabeth Owens, Nilofar Sami and Samantha Fargeon, all of UC Berkeley's psychology department and Institute of Human Development."<br /><br /><strong>Source:</strong> <a href="http://www.berkeley.edu/news/media/releases/2006/06/29_adhd.shtml">http://www.berkeley.edu/news/media/releases/2006/06/29_adhd.shtml</a>Pruhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15284207086458994250noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18449061.post-1151554763745299092006-06-29T14:19:00.000+10:002006-11-03T23:00:56.453+11:00Article: Study reveals how attention deficit drugs work (Jun 26, 2006)<strong>Study reveals how attention deficit drugs work<br /></strong>June 26, 2006 by <a href="mailto:basu1@wisc.edu">Paroma Basu</a><a name="mainBodyContent"></a><br /><br />"Although millions depend on medications such as Ritalin to quell symptoms of <a href="http://www.familyvillage.wisc.edu/lib_adhd.htm">attention deficit hyperactivity disorder</a> (ADHD), scientists have struggled to pinpoint how the drugs work in the brain. <br /><br />But new work at the University of Wisconsin-Madison is now starting to clear up some of the mystery. Writing in the journal Biological Psychiatry, UW-Madison researchers report that ADHD drugs primarily target the prefrontal cortex (PFC), a region of the brain that is associated with attention, decision-making and an individual's expression of personality.<br /><br />The finding could prove invaluable in the search for new ADHD treatments, and comes amidst deep public concern over the widespread abuse of existing ADHD medicines.<br /><br />"There's been a lot of concern over giving a potentially addictive drug to a child (with ADHD)," says lead author <a href="http://www.waisman.wisc.edu/faculty/berridge.html">Craig Berridge</a>, a UW-Madison professor of psychology. "But in order to come up with a better drug, we must first know what the existing drugs do."<br /><br />A behavioral disorder that afflicts both children and adults, ADHD is marked by hyperactivity, impulsivity and an inability to concentrate. The <a href="http://www.nimh.nih.gov/">National Institute of Mental Health</a> estimates that 2 million children in the U.S. suffer from the condition, with between 30 to 70 percent of them continuing to exhibit symptoms in their adult years.<br /><br />Despite public anxiety over the treatment of a behavioral condition with drugs, doctors have continued to prescribe meds like Adderall, Ritalin and Dexedrine because - quite simply - they work better than anything else.<br /><br />ADHD drugs fall into a class of medications known as stimulants. ADHD stimulants boost levels of two neurotransmitters, or chemical messengers in the brain, known as dopamine and norepinephrine. Dopamine is thought to play a role in memory formation and the onset of addictive behaviors, while norepinephrine has been linked with arousal and attentiveness.<br />Berridge notes that scientists have learned little about how ADHD drugs work because past studies have primarily examined the effects of the medicines at high doses. High-dose stimulants can cause dramatic spikes in neurotransmitter levels in the brain, which can in turn impair attention and heighten the risk of developing addiction.<br /><br />"It is surprising that no one was looking at low-dose (ADHD) drugs because we know that the drugs are most effective only at low doses," says Berridge. "So we asked the natural question: what are these drugs doing at clinically relevant doses?"<br /><br />To answer that question, Berridge and his team monitored neurotransmitter levels in three different brain regions thought to be targeted by ADHD drugs: the PFC and two smaller brain areas known as the accumbens which has been linked with processing "rewards," and the medial septum, which has been implicated in arousal and movement.<br /><br />Working with rats, the researchers conducted laboratory and behavioral tests to ensure that animal drug doses were functionally equivalent to doses prescribed in humans. Then, using a type of brain probe - a process known as microdialysis - the UW-Madison team measured concentrations of dopamine and norepinephrine in the three different brain areas, both in the presence and absence of low-dose ADHD stimulants.<br /><br />Under the influence of ADHD drugs, dopamine and norepinephrine levels increased in the rats' PFC. Levels in the accumbens and medial septum, however, remained much the same, the scientists found.<br /><br />"Our work provides pretty important information on the importance of targeting the PFC when treating ADHD," says Berridge, "In particular it tells us that if we want to produce new ADHD drugs, we need to target [neurotransmitter] transmission in the PFC."<br /><br />In the future, Berridge and his colleagues plan to look deeper within the PFC to gain more detailed insights into how ADHD medicines act on nerves to enhance cognitive ability.<br />Other contributors to the study include UW-Madison co-authors David Devilbiss, Matthew Andrzejewski, Ann Kelley, Brooke Schmeichel, Christina Hamilton and Robert Spencer, and Yale Medical School researcher Amy Arnsten. "<br /><br /><em><strong>Source:</strong> </em><a href="http://www.news.wisc.edu/12681.html"><em>University of Wisconsin - Madison News</em></a><em><br /></em>Pruhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15284207086458994250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18449061.post-1150508270612417822006-06-17T11:34:00.000+10:002006-11-03T23:00:56.400+11:00Article: More poor on ADHD drugsA recent article in the Border Mail newspaper notes that there is a socio-economic element to prescription of drugs for adhd:<br /><p>"POORER children are more likely to be prescribed drugs for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder because they can’t access alternative treatments, the Australian Medical Association says.</p> <p>Medicare figures show kids in lower socio-economic areas of NSW are up to 10 times more likely to be put on ADHD drugs than those in affluent areas.</p> <p>Scrips for the two major ADHD drugs available on the Pharmaceutical Benefit Scheme were issued at a rate of one for every 25 children under 14 in poor areas.</p> <p>AMA vice-president and child psychiatrist Dr Choong-Siew Yong said the trend was likely to be true for Australia as a whole.</p> <p>It was not surprising given that families in poorer areas generally presented with more problems than in affluent areas, Dr Yong said.</p> <p>But he said it was also likely that poorer children were not accessing the non-medication treatments recommended before they’re prescribed ADHD drugs dexamphetamines and methylphenidate, marketed as Ritalin.</p> <p>These alternatives include individual and family group counselling, behavioural management strategies, school support and treatment for other conditions like depression and anxiety."</p><p><a href="http://www.bordermail.com.au/news/bm/national/275299.html">Read more here ...</a><br /></p> Source: <a href="http://www.bordermail.com.au/">The Border Mail</a>, Australia, 14 June 2006Pruhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15284207086458994250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18449061.post-1150507640782839462006-06-17T11:25:00.000+10:002006-11-03T23:00:56.348+11:00Aspie QuizJust did the <a href="http://www.rdos.net/eng/Aspie-quiz.php">Aspie Quiz</a> and my results were:<br /><br />"Your Aspie score: 151 of 200<br />Your Neurotypical (non-autistic) score: 74 of 200<br />You are very likely an Aspie<br /><br />Your dyslexia / dyscalculia score: 144 of 200<br />You likely have dyslexia and/or dyscalculia<br /><br />Your nonverbal IQ-test score: 6 of 18"Pruhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15284207086458994250noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18449061.post-1149902004142987682006-06-10T11:13:00.000+10:002006-11-03T23:00:56.290+11:00Recent ADHD News<a href="http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/prisoners-successfully-exercise-their-brains/2006/06/05/1149359675137.html">Prisoners successfully exercise their brains</a><br />Sydney Morning Herald - Sydney,New South Wales,Australia<br />PRISONERS have been successfully treated for the first time with a revolutionary 'cure' for dyslexia and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in a ..."<br /><br /><a href="http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/healthnews.php?newsid=44574">Premature Babies Much More Likely To Have ADHD</a><br />Medical News Today - UK<br />Danish researchers have found that premature babies are 70% more likely to become children with ADHD if they are born at 34-36 weeks. ...Pruhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15284207086458994250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18449061.post-1148797184096972052006-05-28T16:11:00.000+10:002006-11-03T23:00:56.233+11:00Article re Susan Greenfield's less than helpful commentsThe article below from <a href="http://education.guardian.co.uk/">Guardian Unlimited Education</a> from the UK notes some recent comments by Susan Greenfield. She advocates limiting use of drugs to treat adhd in children - a noble cause. But she also comments that adhd may be simply caused by overuse by kids of electronic media. From such a well educated woman this type of comment seems to ignore the significant amounts of research that indicate adhd as a neurochemical disorder with complex genetic and psycho-social origins. One would think that at this stage of our knowledge of adhd the prudent scientist would merely say that we know that this is a disorder with complex interplay of genetics and psycho-social factors and that further research into the impact of electronic media and computers is warranted before any definitive statements are made. But that's just me prudent Pru!<br /><br />The article follows below in full (sometimes the site delete old articles so I've reproduced it in full & attributed fully):<br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:180%;"><b><a href="http://education.guardian.co.uk/schools/story/0,,1757811,00.html">Greenfield: IT culture is changing children's brains</a><br /></b></span><span style="font-family:Geneva,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:85%;"><b>Donald MacLeod</b><br /></span><span style="font-family:Geneva,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:85%;"><b>Thursday April 20, 2006</b><br /></span><span style="font-family:Geneva,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:85%;"><p><b>Guardian Unlimited</b></p></span><span style="font-family:Geneva,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:85%;">Children are spending so much time watching electronic media that it is changing the way they think, Baroness Susan Greenfield, neuroscientist and director of the Royal Institution, told the House of Lords today.</span><p><span style="font-family:Geneva,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:85%;">She also warned of the dangers of "medicating the classroom" with drugs such as Ritalin. </span></p><p><span style="font-family:Geneva,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:85%;">The crossbench peer, who is director of Oxford University's Institute for the Future of the Mind, urged the government to investigate the effects of new developments in IT and mind-altering drugs rather than "stumbling" into new technologies. </span></p><p><span style="font-family:Geneva,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:85%;">She said a recent survey of eight to 18-year-olds claimed that children were now spending on average 6.5 hours a day using electronic media, and asked what impact this screen and multimedia culture would have on thinking and learning.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Geneva,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:85%;">A recent study found that 92% of nine to 19-year-olds have accessed the internet from a computer at home or school. But 30% have received no lessons at all on using the internet and only 33% of regular internet users have been taught how to judge the reliability of online information.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Geneva,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:85%;">"Perhaps the increase in the prevalence of hyperactivity might be explained by sustained exposure to an unsupervised IT environment, where only short attention spans were needed," said Baroness Greenfield. </span></p><p><span style="font-family:Geneva,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:85%;">She added: "I am not proposing that we become IT-Luddites, but rather that we could be stumbling into a powerful technology, the impact of which we understand poorly at the moment."</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Geneva,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:85%;">Baroness Greenfield said there was a "growing scandal developing under our very noses as technologies such as cognition-enhancing drugs, mind-changing software and electronic devices that interact with brain and mind are being applied to our children with insufficient thought and regulation. </span></p><p><span style="font-family:Geneva,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:85%;">"There is no doubt that with an understanding of how learning occurs, some wonderful technologies exist to help us to realize our full potential, but applying the technologies in inappropriate or thoughtless ways may be changing the very way in which our children think," she added.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Geneva,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:85%;">She said there was an "appalling overuse" of Ritalin to drug school children diagnosed with alleged behavioural problems. "We should give more thought to changing the shape of our classrooms to fit our children, rather than trying to medicate our children to fit them," she said.<br /><br />Baroness Greenfield also pointed out that the "much-discussed abuse of proscribed drugs, in particular cannabis ... might well change attention spans and cognitive abilities without ever becoming apparent as a medical problem."</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Geneva,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:85%;">She urged the government to involve the public in a widespread debate about what was needed in a 21st century education system.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Geneva,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:85%;">"The human brain is exquisitely sensitive to any and every event: we cannot complacently take it as an article of faith that it will remain inviolate, and that consequently human nature and ways of learning and thinking will remain constant."</span></p><p><a href="http://education.guardian.co.uk/schools/story/0,,1757811,00.html"><span style="font-family:Geneva,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:85%;">http://education.guardian.co.uk/schools/story/0,,1757811,00.html</span></a></p>Pruhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15284207086458994250noreply@blogger.com0