Attention AllEssay Preview: Attention AllReport this essayATTENTION ALLAn Essay on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity DisorderAttention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), one of the most prevalent childhood neurobehavioral disorders, affects 3% to 5% of the school-age population. Boys outnumber girls three or more to one. The research on the causes of ADHD is still in the early stages. There is a definite link between genetics and ADHD; however there may be other factors which contribute to the development of the disorder. Characteristic behaviors of children diagnosed with ADHD are inattention, hyperactivity and impulsiveness. Children with ADHD are at high risk for behavior problems, scholastic difficulties, and poor social relationships. Parental, professional, classroom, and/or pharmaceutical interventions may be necessary to promote the welfare and development of the child. ADHD is a chronic condition continuing into adulthood in approximately half of all childhood cases. Often the hyperactive-impulsive symptoms diminish in adulthood, however the attention problems may persist.
There is no definitive answer to the question, “What causes ADHD?” Despite years of research, the cause of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder still remains somewhat unclear or incomplete. Evidence does however indicate that there are many factors contributing to the disorder, among them genetic and neurobiological vulnerabilities. “While its precise neural and pathophysiological substrate remains unknown, an emerging literature suggests the presence of abnormalities in frontal networks or frontal-striated dysfunction” (Wilens). Although there are several theories to try to explain the causes of ADHD, most experts agree that it is most likely not any single cause, but instead a combination of factors. In addition to genetics, poor or inadequate prenatal nutrition and care, maternal alcohol or drug use during pregnancy, malnutrition, high levels of stress, and physical, neurological, or psychiatric conditionshave been suggested as contributing factors (Schwiebert).
”
Fatal and early-life mental health needs have also been implicated in ADHD. In 2010, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) issued a broad definition of behavioral disorders using the “behavioral impairment of a child.” In fact, in a previous meta-analysis, several studies have cited “fatal mental health problems” as the most consistent explanation for ADHD. Yet despite all this research, the link between ADHD and mental health problems is still unclear. Some of these factors have even been suggested as possibly contributing to the disorder (Walther et al.).‟
For these reasons, the AAP recently proposed a new definition that should address the underlying causes of ADHD, but has not provided a detailed description of the relevant factors.‱
While the focus of this review was solely on the causes (as defined above), a more complete picture is possible with additional definitions, including the causes of other behavior disorders such as anxiety, stress, irritability, aggression, and/or aggression-related symptoms. In addition, the study design should also be reconsidered to ensure the best and safest practices.′
In addition, the current definition emphasizes behaviors like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, repetitive and repetitive behaviors, impulsivity, and social anxiety disorder. Moreover, a number of studies have found that ADHD is linked to other types of stressors, including repetitive sleep, alcohol intoxication, cigarette smoke, and cigarette smoking. We have not yet determined the most commonly-used medications and treatments for ADHD, and we do not yet know whether there are mechanisms underlying these effects. Some research suggests that certain ADHD medications may be effective at reducing activity in motor areas of the brain, such as the areas involved in memory, reasoning, decision making, and memory processing, while others suggest that specific ADHD medications may be more effective than others. For example, clinical trial data indicate that the “medication of Choice” (medicinal drug PEP) for ADHD and related disorders is superior in efficacy compared with placebo combined with other stimulant drugs (e.g., “ad libitum” is superior to “dextromin”), and that it is safe and safe to use as a starting medication to treat ADHD in patients with other disorders (<3). Yet some studies have found that medication use is associated with reduced risk of ADHD development (e.g., Koopman and Brown, 2006).″
Furthermore, the majority of studies that have evaluated the impact of treatment by the antipsychotic medications on ADHD use have found no increased risk factors for ADHD (Alperin, 1997; Youssef and Stiglitz, 2006), which suggests the antipsychotic medications may have a role in the etiology and pathogenesis of ADHD. Furthermore, one meta-analysis found that antipsychotics can cause schizophrenia, while another found that schizophrenia only occurred in the non-adolescent subjects who took antipsychotics.‴ We have not yet determined whether the majority of antidepressant medications are effective, or whether their effect on activity in the brain is likely to be limited due to their efficacy in preventing ADHD (Kowalski et al., 2004). But while there is scant evidence for the superiority of antidepressants in combating the development of ADHD, there has been a growing debate around the treatment of ADHD. As a result, research on the use of medications and treatments among individuals with ADHD has been limited and limited. Many other studies have found little or no improvement in ADHD development when compared with placebo or antipsychotics (Hwang et al., 2012). An important first step is to determine whether antidepressant treatments with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) do or do not have adverse effects on the development or progression of the disorders. As of February 2016, there were no studies assessing antidepressant treatment rates against a range from 7 Approximately 50% of ADHD cases can be explained by genetics. “Molecular genetic studies have implicated the dopamine D2,D4 receptors and the dopamine transporter as candidate genes” (Wilens). One study indicated that “the disorder tends to cluster in families” (Durston). Between 10-35% of children with ADHD have a first-degree relative with ADHD. Approximately half of parents, who have been diagnosed with ADHD themselves, will have a child with the disorder. Many twin studies have found a genetic link in ADHD. If one twin has the disorder, it is much more likely to be present in an identical twin than in a fraternal twin, even when the twins have been raised separately (Durston). Some research suggests that a mothers lifestyle during pregnancy, such as smoking, the use of drugs, and stress, may contribute to certain characteristics of ADHD in children. One study found that prenatal nicotine exposure brought about structural changes and compromised the neuronal maturation. What is more important is that these initial changes profoundly influenced the development of cells that emerged later on during postnatal life. The nicotine led to the dysfunction of the dopaminergic system, which has also been observed in children with ADHD. To date, the evidence indicates possible biological mechanisms that could account for the ADHD-prenatal nicotine exposure link (Rodriquez). There are a many medical problems that may also play a role in ADHD related symptoms. Such complications may include infections, poor hearing and eyesight, stomach problems, cerebral vascular accident, brain tumor, kidney disease, physical disabilities, hormonal and neurological disorders, learning difficulties, head injuries, and problems in utero and birth complications. ADHD is still in the early stages of research. There remains many theories as to the cause and factors that lead to the development of ADHD. According to the most recent research the major contributor is genetics. However some research indicates that there could possibly be one or a combination of any of the other environmental factors discussed. Most children display some of the same behaviors associated with ADHD at times, which makes diagnosing the disorder difficult and complex. Parents and professionals must observe a child over an extended period of time because ADHD children exhibit these symptoms much more consistently over time than a child at their developmental level. Although many of the signs of this disorder are present in toddlers and often earlier, most professionals and pediatricians do not diagnose ADHD until a child is in school, where the signs are often more prevalent. “The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders,” published by the American Psychiatric Association contains information on the common mental disorders “including: description, diagnosis, treatment, and research findings. This information is used by physicians and mental health providers in the diagnostic process” (Bailey). The DSM-IV states that in order to diagnose a child with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, the child must exhibit six or more of the nine characteristics in the category of inattention, or six or more of the nine characteristics in the category of hyperactivity-impulsivity. These characteristics must persist for at least six months before the age of seven and they must have a negative affect or impairment in at least two areas of the childs daily life, either work, school, and or home (Carlson).