ADHD

I recently had a young client, in her 20s, who’d been admitted to a psychiatric hospital after exhibiting some impulsive behaviours in response to a relationship break up. She had become very distressed over her long-term relationship. She felt she had been deceived and betrayed, and attempted suicide. It’s an extreme reaction, and I initially thought my client had a severe depression or possibly a personality disorder. But paradoxically, she seemed very strong, lively, confident and sure of herself.

I decided on further assessment and referred her to a psychiatrist who felt the problem could have been Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The jigsaw fell into place. This young woman had been suffering from ADHD for many years. Despite her high level of intelligence, she’d never succeeded at school. She was often in trouble for talking, was unable to concentrate on her work, and acted impulsively. After a week on medication, she felt like a changed woman.

This case is out of the ordinary and my client had to reach the end of her tether before the problem was recognised. I believe that, in general terms, ADHD is over-diagnosed and many behavioural problems can be treated without medication. But making the right diagnosis can be life-changing. This young woman is now doing very well and is relieved to know that the uncontrollable feelings she was experiencing were part of a treatable problem.

With this in mind, it's easy to see how important it is to recognise and correctly diagnose this debilitating condition. Whilst careful assessment of an individual is vital in determining whether ADHD is in fact the problem, there are some key symptoms that can point us in the right direction.

Recognising ADHD

As with my client, who was tall, good looking and had excellent social skills despite her problems, it can be difficult to diagnose ADHD. The illness does not show physical signs that show up through a blood test. And many physical and psychological problems have symptoms that mimic those of ADHD.

However, as a pointer, ADHD sufferers have many tell-tale symptoms. They have a lot of trouble concentrating, can’t sit still, interrupt others, chatter almost incessantly and act impulsively. Of course, most of us act this way from time to time. But for some people, these and other frustrating behaviours are uncontrollable. They plague their daily existence, interfering with their ability to form lasting friendships, succeed at school or work and in relationships.

Issues associated with ADHD include:

• anxiety
• learning disabilities
• speech or hearing deficits
• obsessive-compulsive disorders
• tic disorders
• behavioural problems such as oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) or conduct disorder (CD)

Diagnosing ADHD

ADHD has its challenges. On one hand, it appears to be over diagnosed. Young children with behavioural problems are put on medication for ADHD, when they could benefit from some management skills. On the other hand, it's now thought that around two percent of the general population may have ADHD – many of them undiagnosed. Some people with ADHD may have been wrongly diagnosed with depression or a personality disorder in childhood or as adults.

If you suspect that ADHD is the problem, it’s best to seek professional advice. Undiagnosed, ADHD leaves individuals with an increased risk of accidents, drug abuse, failure at school, antisocial behaviour and criminal activity.

People with ADHD can be very creative, but the symptoms of ADHD impede their progress because of the unpredictable mood swings. Furthermore, researchers no longer believe the symptoms of ADHD are relieved as sufferers grow older.

Boys are diagnosed with ADHD three times as often as girls. A significant number of ADHD sufferers display learning disabilities.

ADHD exists in every nation and culture studied by researchers. The exact cause is not known. Neurobiological and/or genetic elements are involved. Social factors such as family conflict or child-rearing practices can complicate the development of ADHD, and its treatment.

Treating ADHD

Once diagnosed, ADHD can be treated with a range of methods, depending on the individuals' needs, including medication, education and behavioural interventions. Once diagnosed, ADHD is very treatable and, as with my client, the quality of life for the sufferer can improve dramatically.