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ADHD and alcohol
Research has shown there is a powerful link between attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), alcohol misuse...
Read moreHave you heard the term ADD used instead of ADHD and has it caused you confusion? That’s because ADD is an outdated term that is rarely used these days. The symptoms of the two conditions set them apart from one another, therefore it is important to define them separately. We cover the differences between the two terms, including their symptoms, diagnosis and treatment.
ADD is the abbreviation for Attention Deficit Disorder. It was first used in 1980 to describe children that had a hard time paying attention and named the condition ADD in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. As time went on experts also noticed some of these children struggled with hyperactivity and impulsivity. At this point, all symptoms were combined into one group and renamed ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) and the American Psychiatric Association (APA) stopped using the term ADD in 1987.
ADHD is the abbreviation of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. It is a neurodevelopmental disorder that is typically diagnosed in childhood, commonly in males but underdiagnosed in females. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are an estimated 6.4 million children and adolescents diagnosed with ADHD in the United States.
Mental health professionals have identified three types of ADHD, based on the main symptoms involved:
Previously known as ADD and now sometimes described as ADHD with inattentive presentation)
ADHD symptoms can vary from person to person, depending on the subtype of ADHD.
Symptoms of inattention:
Symptoms of hyperactivity:
The combined type of ADHD shows a mixture of inattentive and hyperactive/impulsive type symptoms and behaviors.
Diagnosing ADHD requires an in-depth analysis of an individual’s symptoms of ADHD, their medical history, including any mental health conditions, and their academic, social, and emotional development.
Children need to have 6 or more symptoms (5 or more for adult ADHD diagnosis) for at least 6 months and
This evaluation is completed by qualified clinicians who can then make an ADHD diagnosis based on criteria from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, 5th Edition (DSM-5), which is used by mental health professionals in the United States to diagnose all psychiatric conditions.
Treatments for ADHD may include medications such as:
These drugs reduce the symptoms of ADHD by working on the central nervous system. They increase activity in areas of the brain that help with concentration and behavior. They work specifically on the brain chemicals dopamine and norepinephrine. Dopamine in particular is involved in allowing you to feel pleasure, focus, and find things interesting.
Some useful websites to start are CHADD https://chadd.org and American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry www.aacap.org
Research has shown there is a powerful link between attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), alcohol misuse...
Read moreNational Library of Medicine - Attention-deficit disorder (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder without hyperactivity): A neurobiologically and behaviorally distinct disorder from attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (with hyperactivity)
Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) - Data and Statistics About ADHD
American Psychiatric Association - What Is ADHD?
National Library of Medicine - The history of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) - Symptoms and Diagnosis of ADHD