What is ADHD?

ADHD, or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, is a psychiatric disorder that has long been recognized by the medical community. Despite its well-recognized status, members of the public continue to question its legitimacy and have stigmatized it. This has caused reluctance in initiating treatment and reliance on alternative methods of management.

The disease is diagnosed clinically. That means that a healthcare professional must take a history from parents and caregivers, and based on the reported symptoms, make the diagnosis. This is because there is no imaging or blood test that diagnoses ADHD.

ADHD is characterized by symptoms of inattention, impulsivity, and, in some cases, hyperactivity. Patients with ADHD often have difficulty concentrating, completing tasks, are forgetful, impulsive, and frequently lose things. The symptoms must be present in a variety of situations, such as while at school or in the home, and must be present before age 12 for a diagnosis to be made.

ADHD patients are prone to substance abuse and often suffer accidental injuries. ADHD often persists into adulthood. This can affect patients’ ability to work and may lead to frequent motor vehicle accidents.

There are three types of ADHD. There is the predominantly inattentive variant, the predominantly impulsive/hyperactive variant, and a variant that includes a combination of both. The inattentive form is more common in females. But ADHD on the whole is more common in males.

There is a strong genetic component involved in the etiology of ADHD, with greater incidence occurring in monozygotic twins than in dizygotic twins. Family members of persons with a diagnosis of ADHD are at an increased risk of developing ADHD. Environmental factors are also implicated in the etiology of this disorder. There may be a connection between maternal smoking, psychosocial challenges in childhood, lead exposure and low birth weight with ADHD.

Treatment is with stimulant drugs or behavioral therapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy. Treatment appears to be very effective, and may assist with dopaminergic transmission in the prefrontal cortex of the brain where it is believed the seat of the dysfunction lies. Patients with ADHD may be suffering from a deficiency of dopamine in the frontal cortex.

ADHD is treatable and treatment can alter the trajectory of the lives of those suffering from it.