Attention Deficit Disorder: What is it?

Attention Deficit Disorder is a complex condition that isTrue ADHD with hyperactivity is rather easy to
not well understood at the present time by manydiagnose. However, only in the last ten years was
clinicians and the general public. New information isADD inattentive type recognized. This diagnosis is hard
being discovered rapidly however. Dr. Amen is one ofto spot and often is characterized by a general
the pioneers in this field and this article is meant tospacyness and inability to track conversations. It also
summarize his work.used to be common knowledge that children were the
Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Attention Deficitonly ones to suffer from this disorder and that once
Disorder with Hyperactivity (ADHD) occur as a resultthey became 14 they grew out of it. What is more
of neurological dysfunction in the prefrontal cortex ofcommon is that in the normal course of
the brain. This is the newest part of our tri-brainexperimentation with drugs and alcohol a person with
system in evolutionary terms. It is the part of our brainthis disorder finds amphetamines and becomes
that performs executive functions. The functions ofaddicted to them. Almost the right drug, wrong dose!
this brain deal with 1) attention span, 2) perseverance,Most people do not grow out of the disease.
3) judgment, 4) organization, 5) impulse control, 6)Interestingly enough, even with hard-core Methadrine
self-monitoring and supervision, 7) problem solving, 8)addicts, if they are put on a small dose of Adderall, 20-
critical thinking, 9) forward thinking, 10) learning from30 mg. of sustained release 1-2 times a day, they
experience, 11) ability to feel and express emotions, 12)thrive and it does not reactivate the addictive process.
interaction with the limbic system, and 13) empathy.Dr. Daniel G. Amen is one of the acknowledged
Whenever there is a problem with this part of theleaders in the field for the study of Attention Deficit
brain, a number of skills that many human beings takeDisorder. He has expanded the classifications of this
for granted would not be available in any optimal way.condition within the last two years from the standard
The following are problems that develop when thetwo types of Hyperactive and Inattentive by adding
prefrontal cortex is affected. 1) Short attention span, 2)four more distinct types of ADD. He has done this by
distractibility, 3) lack of perseverance, 4) impulse controlexhaustive research and has been aided by the
problems, 5) hyperactivity, 6) chronic lateness and poorSPECT scan, which is a sophisticated brain scanning
time management, 7) disorganization, 8) procrastination,tool that measures and clearly shows what part of the
9) unavailability of emotions, 10) misperceptions, 11) poorbrain is most active. What is most impressive about his
judgment, 12) trouble learning from experience, 13)work is that he stresses the need for a multi-treatment
short-term memory loss, and 14) social and testapproach. This includes attention to diet, exercise,
anxiety.vitamins, supplements, traditional psychotropic drugs,
The exact neurological problem with ADD is unknownand behavioral techniques.
at this time. However SPECT scans, single photonIn "Healing ADD" Dr. Amen lists the six types of ADD
emission computed tomography, which measuresas 1) Classic hyperactive, 2) Inattentive, 3) Over
cerebral blood flow and metabolic activity patterns, hasfocused, 4) Temporal, 5) Limbic, and 6) Ring of Fire.
noted that when someone with ADD concentrates,Each of these types has much in common, but also
their prefrontal lobe activity decreases significantly. Thisdifferences in symptoms and treatment.
essentially means that under stress and concentrationAll of the types of ADD have as their primary feature
someone with these disorders cannot bring to bearperiodic impairment of the prefrontal cortex of the
their full cognitive capacity.brain and dopamine involvement. Classic ADD is
It is theorized that our usual ability to screen out andcharacterized by both hyperactivity and
attend to stimuli of our choice is impaired with theseinattentiveness. It is usually quite easy to treat by a
individuals. I like to think of it as going to the mall duringcombination of a high protein diet, aerobic exercise, a
the summer. It is too bright and there are too manystimulant such as Adderall or Ritalin, and possibly the
people around, but it is not overwhelming. However, atsupplement of L-Tyrosine. Often an anti-depressant is
Christmas time after a couple of hours at the mallused as well.
people are so over-stimulated that it is hard to find theInattentive ADD lacks the hyperactivity, but people
car. People with ADD feel this way almost all the time.who suffer from it have a difficult time focusing and
There are five recommended courses of treatmentare often very scattered. As with the classic type the
for someone with ADD or ADHD. Physicians oftenprefrontal cortex is involved. The treatment for
give an antidepressant such as Wellbutrin andinattentive ADD is usually exactly the same as the
Strattera, which tends to calm the limbic system andclassic type.
increase dopamine, a neurotransmitter. In myOverfocused ADD exhibits the same problems and
experience as a therapist, this can be helpful butsymptoms of prefrontal cortex as with classic and
stimulants, the second course, seem to do a better job.inattentive ADD, but the difference is that the sufferer
Stimulants given in small doses, so the mood alterationof over focused often cannot break away from a
is minimal, act in a paradoxical manner. This means thatthought or behavior. This is because the cingulate
instead of accelerating a person they help to focussystem of the brain is overactive and often locks a
and calm them while still allowing the prefrontal lobe toperson into self-destructive, negative, or repetitive
remain active. They also seem to increase dopamine.behavior. Often a stimulant will cause temper problems
This neurotransmitter is negatively affected withif used alone. Therefore, it is usually helpful to have the
people suffering from ADD. The third regimen, aperson take an anti-depressant first and only later to
combination of an anti-depressant and a stimulant,add the stimulant. Another possible treatment is to use
seems to work best for most people suffering fromSt. Johns Wort, a natural herbal anti-depressant, but it is
most forms of ADD. The fourth treatment consists ofimportant not to use both a traditional and an herbal
teaching relaxation, stress-management, organizational,anti-depressant at the same time. The other forms of
and socializing skills. This should always be included astreatment such as diet and exercise is the same as
part of treatment whether or not medication is used.the first two types of ADD.
Another form of treatment is the naturopathicTemporal ADD is still characterized by problems with
approach. Due to my background I cannot adequatelythe prefrontal cortex, but the temporal area of the
discuss this method, and as yet am not sufficientlybrain is often affected. This could be from a previous
familiar with the treatment to be able to measure itshead injury, but not necessarily. All the symptoms
efficacy. At the present time, supplements, vitaminsremain the same, but often extreme bouts of anger
and chiropractic care seem to be effective as anare also included. The treatment for this type is usually
adjunct to stimulants.a stimulant and an anti-convulsant such as Depecote.
There are numerous misconceptions about AttentionAll other treatment is the same except the following
Deficit Disorder and a lot of emotional fervor about thesupplements can be used: GABA, Ginkgo Biloba, or
diagnosis. It reminds me of the debate over ProzacVitamin E.
several years ago or whether or not Alcoholism is aLimbic ADD is when the limbic area of the brain is also
disease or a moral defect. It is understandable thataffected in addition to the prefrontal cortex. This type
people worry about giving young children aof ADD has the symptoms of inattentive ADD, but a
mood-altering drug. However, any time medication issignificant amount of depression is also present. A
considered as an approach, the physician needs tostimulant and an anti-depressant are indicated. Aerobic
carefully assess both the costs the benefits and theexercise is needed, but often a complex carbohydrate
severity of the problem. Most medication difficultiesand protein mixed diet is indicated. The following
with ADD result from mismanagement. When thesupplements are used: SAMe or L-tyrosine.
appropriate amount of medication is used with ADDRing of Fire ADD is a very disorganized and severe
the benefits are immense and the cost is minimal. Aform of ADD that is a combination of all the other
person's life changes dramatically for the better. It is astypes. The entire brain is lit up on a SPECT scan. In
if for the first time a person can think clearly and theiraddition to the standard treatment of a stimulant and
self-esteem soars.an anti-depressant, an anti-psychotic like Respiridal is
There is still a tendency in this country to feel thatoften called for. Dietary and exercise treatment is the
people need to pull themselves up by the bootstrapssame as in inattentive type. The following supplements
regardless of the severity of the problem. They areare possibly needed: GABA or Omega-3. Other
often blamed for their own illness. This happens a lotsupplements that have been found helpful with ADD in
with ADD.general are Zinc, Flax seed oil, and Serephos.