ADHD: A crash course [Part 2]

For diagnosing ADHD, the most used tools would include:

* Vanderbilt ADHD Diagnostic Assessment Scale; this is completed by parents and teachers to contrast behavior at home and school. It asks about 18 core questions concerning ADHD symptoms based on official diagnostic criteria plus questions on other conditions like anxiety or Oppositional Defiant Disorder. This uses a 4-point scale where “0” means the behavior never happens, and “3” means it occurs quite often.

* Connor’s Rating Scale

* ADHD Rating Scale

* Adult ADHD Self Report Scale

Research states that this disorder has been around for a good while. As early as 1798, a Scottish physician, Sir Alexander Crichton, wrote about people who could not pay attention. In 1902, British pediatrician, Sir George Frederic Still, described children who lacked impulse control.

In the 1960s, The American Psychiatric Association called the condition “Hyperkinetic Reaction of Childhood.” In 1980, the official manual changed the name to Attention Deficit Disorder (with or without hyperactivity), and 1987 brought about the present name Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

Due to broader criteria, focus on boys, better awareness and more ongoing research, it has seemed more prominent and prevalent from the 1990s to the present.

Not all the way certain that the “Mind over Matter” strategy can work here, but it certainly can be tried. Though this is linked to our DNA, it may be possible to utilize Cognitive Behavioral Training once the sufferer is aware that this condition is not necessarily normal or helpful to themselves or others. It takes deep understanding of “why and how” this happens and THEN the Cognitive Behavioral Training. The research pointed out that there is an unusually high divorce rate of up to 66% with ADHD sufferers and if the CBT could neutralize this high percentage, it would be well worth the endeavor. One of the main reasons for high divorce is that ADHD sufferers want everything “done yesterday” which gives the unrealistic expectations of the world and their loved ones. This creates a hair trigger temper, and no one can last long around that, if they respect themselves, at all. And, sadly, “full persistence” embodies about 60% of children with ADHD; this means fully symptomatic well into and throughout adulthood.

As far as workplace productivity and career success are concerned, symptomology management happens in lieu of symptom eradication. There is some promising research using herbal therapy for ADHD. Some of these would include:

1) Bacopa Monnieri: This seems to help by supporting blood flow and microcirculation in the brain.

2) Ginkgo Biloba: This herb enhances focus and mental sharpness though generally less potent than prescription alternatives.

3) Pycnogenol: This is a pine bark extract that indicates it can help decrease hyperactivity and improve sustained attention.

4) Ginseng: This is showing potential benefits for reducing impulsivity and boosting mental stamina.

5) Lemon Balm and Valerian: These will smooth restlessness, ease nervous tension and improve sleep difficulty that seems to accompany ADHD. And, yes, these can be taken together.

Read a summary of CHADD Complimentary Interventions for ADHD to understand professional consensus on non-medical supplements, and it is always a MUST to discuss with your health professional the use of herbal supplementation alone or coupled with traditional medicines for ANY condition.