SD3 - Aug 2012

Quick test! Tick in the following boxes which best suit your situation.

Did you get the clue of the disorder which I am introducing this time? It maybe a little bit difficult. It is the attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The scale listed above is the checklist of the symptoms of the adult ADHD. If you have four or more ticks in the shaded boxes, you should consider seeking further help from professionals!

Naughty Is More Than Just Naughty

The symptoms of ADHD are divided into two dimensions, including inattention disorganization and hyperactivity. Regarding the divisions of symptoms, there are three subtypes of ADHD, which are primary inattentive, primary hyperactivity and combined. Please refer to the following table:

	Inattentive	Hyperactivity
primary inattentive	↑	↓
primary hyperactivity	↓	↑
combined	↑	↑

Sufferers of inattentive type are often associated with academic problems, while those of hyperactivity types are related to substance abuse.

The estimated prevalence of adult ADHD is between 4% and 6%. Children with ADHD are likely to face certain difficulties in their adulthood. Compare with the non-ADHDs, the ADHD sufferers generally have lower educational level and lower salary. Not only will they have hard experience at work, but also when interacting with others. To interact smoothly with peers, friends and family may be a challenging task for them. They may find it difficult to fit in a social group. Moreover, a portion of the adult ADHD sufferers are associated with substance abuse, like alcohol and tobacco.

Treating adults with ADHD needs a great amount of effort. They often find difficulties in getting things done. To treat this, they will need to set up circumstances to help reminding them the schedule. By achieving the goals, their self-efficacy will be raised, acting as reinforcement for the therapy. In addition, a nice and caring social network is helpful to start the therapy. So it means that if your friends are having difficulties to finish their homework, you are the most suitable one to grant help!? After all, peers and families are great factors in shaping one’s personalities. Try to be nice to your friends and family.

Venus Lai 

References:

Manos, M.J. (2010). Nuances of Assessment and Treatment of ADHD in Adults: A Guide for Psychologists. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 41(6), 511-517.

Nikolas, M.A. & Burt, S.A. (2010). Genetic and Environmental Influences on ADHD Symptom Dimensions of Inattention and Hyperactivity: A Meta-Analysis. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 119(1), 1-17.