attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Examples of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in the following topics:

• Neurodevelopmental Disorders: Autism and ADHD

  • Some, like Down Syndrome, cause intellectual deficits, while others specifically affect communication, learning, or the motor system.
  • Some disorders, such as autism spectrum disorder and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, have complex symptoms.
  • Approximately three to five percent of children and adults are affected by attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
  • Symptoms of the disorder include inattention (lack of focus), executive functioning difficulties, impulsivity, and hyperactivity beyond what is characteristic of the normal developmental stage.
  • Some patients do not have the hyperactive component of symptoms and are diagnosed with a subtype of ADHD: attention deficit disorder (ADD).

• The Experience of Illness

  • Specific illnesses known as mental illnesses include major depression, generalized anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, to name a few.
  • Statistics show that more and more people are being diagnosed with mental disorders.
  • The National Institute for Mental Health reports that over 40 million adults are diagnosed with an anxiety disorder in a given year, accounting for 18 percent of the population.
  • Other disorders that are prevalent are ADHD (4 percent), mood disorders (9.5 percent) and and autism (1 percent, but quickly rising).

• Lipids: Sources, Uses in the Body, and Dietary Requirements

  • Numerous studies have shown that the consumption of omega-3 fatty acids has positive benefits in terms of infant development, cancer, cardiovascular disease, and mental illnesses such as depression, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, and dementia.

• Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

  • ADHD is a developmental disorder characterized by inattention, distractibility, impulsivity, and hyperactivity.
  • Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental psychiatric disorder characterized by a constant pattern of inattention and/or hyperactive and impulsive behavior that interferes with normal functioning.
  • The first official recognition of the disorder was "attention deficit disorder with and without hyperactivity," in the DSM-III (published in 1980).
  • Revisions to the DSM eventually renamed the disorder as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
  • Often people refer to ADHD-PI as "attention deficit disorder" (ADD); however, the latter has not been officially accepted since the 1994 revision of the DSM.

• Disorders of the Basal Ganglia

  • These disorders are known as hypokinetic disorders.
  • Hypokinetic disorders are movement disorders that are described as having reduced motor function.
  • Hyperkinetic disorders are movement disorders characterized by increased uncontrollable motor function.
  • Dystonia can occur as a hyperkinetic disorder or as a side effect of hypokinetic disorders such as Parkinson's disease.
  • Tourette syndrome is a disorder that is characterized by behavioral and motor tics, OCD, and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

• Bipolar Disorders

  • Bipolar disorders are debilitating mood disorders characterized by periods of mania/hypomania and periods of depression.
  • Bipolar disorder (commonly referred to as manic-depression) is a mood disorder characterized by periods of elevated mood and periods of depression.
  • Other mental health issues such as anxiety disorders and substance use disorders are commonly associated.
  • A person experiencing mania may exhibit pressured speech, racing thoughts, low attention span, high distractibility, or poor judgment; they may engage in risky behavior or become aggressive.
  • The symptoms of DMDD resemble those of other childhood disorders, notably attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), and bipolar disorder in children.

• Depressive Disorders

  • Each year about 6.7% of U.S. adults experience major depressive disorder.
  • Also, an individual may have a depressive disorder coexisting with a substance abuse disorder.
  • This diagnosis combines the previous disorders of chronic major depressive disorder and dysthymic disorder, as there was no evidence for meaningful differences between these two conditions.
  • However, episodes of full-blown major depressive disorder can occur during persistent depressive disorder (APA, 2013).
  • The symptoms of DMDD resemble those of other childhood disorders, notably attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), and bipolar disorder in children.

• Other Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders

  • Other obsessive-compulsive disorders include body dysmorphic disorder, hoarding disorder, trichotillomania, and excoriation disorder.
  • Obsessive-compulsive and related disorders are a group of overlapping disorders that generally involve intrusive, unpleasant thoughts and repetitive behaviors.
  • Included in this category are body dysmorphic disorder, hoarding disorder, trichotillomania, and excoriation disorder.
  • Hoarding appears to be more common in people with psychological disorders such as depression, anxiety, and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
  • Other neuropsychological factors that have been found to be associated with individuals exhibiting hoarding behaviors include slower and more variable reaction times, increased impulsivity, and decreased spatial attention.

• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

  • ADHD is a developmental disorder characterized by problems with focus and self-control.
  • Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a developmental disorder.
  • It is characterized primarily by "the co-existence of attentional problems and hyperactivity, with each behavior occurring infrequently alone" and symptoms starting before seven years of age.
  • Inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity are the key behaviors of ADHD.
  • Twin studies indicate that the disorder is highly heritable and that genetics are a factor in about 75% of all cases.

• Learning Disabilities and Special Education

  • An intellectual disability, or general learning disability, is a generalized disorder appearing before adulthood, characterized by significantly impaired cognitive functioning and deficits in two or more adaptive behaviors (such as self-help, communication, or interpersonal skills).
  • Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is considered a type of learning disability.
  • This disability is characterized by difficulty with focusing, paying attention, and controlling impulses.
  • Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by limitations in language and social skills.
  • Dyslexia is the most recognized of reading disorders; however not all reading disorders are linked to dyslexia.