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