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ADHD
Introduction
ADHD (short for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) is a neurobehavioral developmental disorder. It affects about 3% to 5% of children, its symptoms first starting before the age of 7. The global prevalence of the disorder is around 5% and varies (due to different research methods utilized) and in some cases even reaches an estimate of 8%-10%.
It tends to be more common in boys than in girls, as current estimates show it exists three times as much in boys than in girls (Shut, 2009). It is considered to be a chronic disorder, due to the fact that in 30% to 50% of the cases, it continues into adulthood. This causes adults with ADHD to develop coping mechanisms, and this further illustrates the need for a psychological intervention as well as a pharmacological one (Gentile, 2004).
How to treat it
Treatment of ADHD usually involves an array of different treatments, including medications, behavioral modifications, counseling and changes in lifestyle ("Clinical Practice Guideline", 2001). The primary use today tends to be of the pharmacological type, as doctors give ADHD children ones to calm down their hyperactivity, impulsiveness, inattention, etc. However, the medications used are commonly stimulants (amphetamines), which also have detrimental effects on the children, as they cause sleep disturbances, reduced appetite, weight loss, suppressed growth, and mood disorders. These tend to be persistent, and have an incredibly negative effect on children's lives. This is why ADHD children are also medicated with other drugs that combat the side-effects of the original ones. This basically means that ADHD children are somewhat over-medicated, and perhaps the most astounding aspect of it all is that most of the drugs given to them have not been approved by the FDA!
Clearly, this is a most dire need to rely not only on medications, but also on alternative and supplementary ways of dealing with the disorder. As much as medications can alleviate negative biological symptoms and grant the children the potential or ability to stay still, become more focused and attentive, one mustn't forget the psychological aspect of the disorder. Though it originated as a neurobehavioral disorder, it is also a developmental one, and the development does not only pertain to the biological perspective and the body, but also to the psychological one and to the psyche. It is crucial to have an understanding of what it feels like to not be able to pay attention to one thing for long, be hyperactive. It is bound to frustrate children, tire them (one might also say exhaust them, since they're constantly on the move, being physically active) and may also cause them to feel moodiness and perhaps a very mild depression.
As they get older, it probably bothers them even more, due to the nature and activities they need to participate in, starting with school (the ability to focus, learn, pay attention) to increasingly social interactions (when you have to pay attention and take an interest in others' lives) to various other things. Ignoring the psychological effects of the disorder can never bring about a full and comprehensive understanding of the disorder and how to treat it.
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