ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, hyperkinetic disorder) is one of the most common psychiatric problems among children and adolescents. ADHD is associated with dysfunctions in three different areas: maintaining attention, impulsiveness, and hyperactivity. Check what symptoms in a child may suggest ADHD, see what are the causes of this individual and the criteria for its diagnosis, and read about the treatment of ADHD.

ADHDis an abbreviation for "attention deficit hyperactivity disorder", which in Polish meansattention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The termADHDfirst appeared in the medical world in 1902 - it was proposed by British pediatrician George Still. Over time, these disorders have been called variously - they have been referred to as "minimal brain dysfunction", "hyperkinetic reaction in childhood" or "attention deficits with or without hyperactivity."

Currently, the diagnosis of ADHD is included in the American psychiatric classification DSM-V. In the second of the available disease classification systems -ICD 10- analogous problems are referred to ashyperkinetic disorders .

ADHD is considered to be one of the most common entities in child psychiatry. It is estimated that in the population of children and adolescents, symptoms of this problem can be found in even more than 5% of them.

In the past, ADHD was found to bemore common in boys . Currently, however, this view is changing - more and more researchers argue thatin girls, the ADHD course is simply slightly differentand in them the problem may simply not be recognized always. Such scholars suggest that, in fact, hyperkinetic disorders may occur in boys and girls with a similar frequency.

Contents:

  1. ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: causes
  2. ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder): symptoms
    • Attention deficit
    • Impulsiveness
    • Hyperactive
  3. ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder): diagnosis
  4. ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder): treatment
  5. ADHD (syndromeattention deficit hyperactivity disorder): prognosis

ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder): causes

So far, one specific cause of ADHD has not been identified - it is believed to beneurodevelopmental disorder , the occurrence of which isconditioned by multiple factors .

The influence on the emergence of hyperkinetic disorders in children is primarily related to thegenes . It has been observed that if a parent suffers from ADHD as a child, the risk that his offspring will develop the same problem is significantly increased.

It has also been noted that siblings of a child with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder - compared to children whose siblings do not have mental disorders - have a 3-4 times higher risk of developing hyperkinetic disorders. However, no single gene or mutation was detected that would be responsible for ADHD.

The problem has been associated with changes in many different genes, incl. genes for dopamine transporters or dopamine and serotonin transporters.

Researchers also emphasize thatharmful factors , whichduring pregnancylead to the development of ADHD in children, may disorders of the development of the nervous system in a child. These can be:

  • mother smoking cigarettes
  • pesticide exposure
  • pregnant women drinking alcohol
  • birth injuries

Could bad upbringing be the cause of ADHD?

Some people say the cause of ADHD isparenting mistakes . Abnormalities in the family environment are not a direct cause of this individual, however, when a child predisposed to hyperkinetic disorders is exposed to them (due to e.g. genetic burden), they can actually affect both how early ADHD is revealed , but also on what course it will take. The unfavorable educational factors in this case can be considered, among others :

  • caregivers negligence
  • child abuse
  • instability of the family environment (e.g. sudden breakdown of the parents' marriage)

ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder): symptoms

The complaints of children with hyperkinetic disorders are concentrated around three spheres:

  • comments
  • impulsivity
  • hyperactivity

The course of ADHD in each child with these problems may be slightly different, however, in general, patients with this unit exhibit dysfunctions in similar areas of life.

1. Attention Deficit

Child with ADHDit might just seem… lazy. Before it starts doing homework, centuries pass -procrastinating , however, this type of activity is related to the fact that it is difficult for a toddler to focus on one activity that requires mental effort for a long time.

Go aheadhe cannot hear what is said to him . It is extremely common for a little patient to abandon a task before it is finished. Often it may seem thatthe child is rocking- it has episodes where it "turns off", it happens that it constantly loses some items (e.g. keys or books).

A parent of a child with ADHD can literally get irritated when doing homework with him, it is enough for an insect to fly by and the attention that the child focuses for a long time disappears completely.

2. Impulsiveness

Caregivers of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder find it extremely common to turn red in various public places - the reason is that the child may not havecontrol what or where he saysat all.

The problem is also that the childinterrupts other people's conversationsor answers long before the question is finished.

The fact that the childhas difficulties waiting for his turn : he may complain that it is necessary to wait in line at the checkout in store or whine while playing a board game, it has to wait for its move.

3. Hyperactive

Child with ADHDis everywhere . He is hyperactive at home, at school, and in a shop or even in a church - generally hard to maintain a sitting position even in those places where it is expected.

However, if the child is already sitting, it may still be hyperactive. They canmove their legsor move their hands restlessly, orkeep fidgeting . In addition, a little ADHD patient isvery noisy , it is also difficult for him to be calm when it is time to rest.

ADHD: coexisting problems

Psychiatric examination of a child with ADHD is extremely important because, unfortunately, other problems often coexist with this unit. Behavioral disorders are considered the most frequently diagnosed additionally in children with hyperkinetic disorders. Apart from them, quite frequent comorbidity with ADHD is also observed, e.g. anxiety disorders, depressive disorders ordysgraphia.

ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder): diagnosis

To diagnose ADHD it is necessary to state that:

  • ADHD symptoms started in a child before the age of 7
  • ailments occur in various environments, e.g. at home and at school
  • the duration of the symptoms is at least 6 months
  • ADHD symptoms negatively affect the child's social or school life

In diagnosing ADHD, it is important to interview the child's parents, conduct a psychiatric examination on a young patient, and often obtain opinions on the functioning of the toddler from other people - e.g. from teachers.

Recognizing hyperkinetic disordersis not easy at all - it happens that a child visiting a psychiatrist for the first time is very interested in a new environment and does not exhibit all the behaviors that he or she presents elsewhere . This is why it is so important for a child psychiatrist to obtain information about a child from as many sources as possible.

ADHD: differential diagnosis

When it is suspected that a child may suffer from ADHD, many different tests are often performed on him - their aim is to exclude other potential causes of the child's ailments.

Differential diagnosis of ADHD takes into account, among others :

  • other mental disorders, e.g. :
    • mood disorders
    • anxiety disorders
    • autism spectrum disorder
    • psychotic disorders
  • various somatic diseases, e.g. :
    • hyperthyroidism
    • epilepsy
    • Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
    • Sydenham's pląsawica
  • other problems, e.g. :
    • hearing loss
    • amblyopia

ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder): treatment

There are two methods of treating ADHD:

  • extensive therapeutic interactions
  • pharmacotherapy

The first of these are the basis in the case of hyperkinetic disorders. They include:

  • psychoeducation (mainly parents, but sometimes also the child's teachers)
  • psychotherapy (e.g. cognitive behavioral therapy for a child or family therapy)
  • social skills training
  • dealing with anger and anger

In a situation where the implemented above-mentioned interactions do not bring any effects or the severity of ADHD symptoms in a child is very high, it may be advisable to start treatment in himpharmacological. Preparations that are used in this case are mainlypsychostimulants(such as methylphenidate) and atomoxetine. In addition to thempharmacological treatment of ADHDcan be carried out with the use of such agents as, for example, tricyclicantidepressantsor clonidine.

ADHD: consequences in the absence of treatment

The attention deficit hyperactivity disorder can certainly adversely affect the life of the whole family, but also have a negative impact on the child's entire future life. Especially in the absence of treatment, childhood hyperkinetic disorders can result in serious educational deficiencies, and by burdening them with them, the child may be rejected by his peers.

In adulthood, people who have struggled with ADHD since childhood and were not subjected to appropriate therapy, have an increased risk of, inter alia, use of various psychoactive substances or the presence of other mental disorders.

ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder): prognosis

The available data on the prevalence of ADHD in adulthood varies significantly. Some studies suggest that - of varying severity - complaints related to hyperkinetic disorders appear in up to 30-50% of people who have this unit in childhood.

According to other studies, around15% of patients experience a high intensity of ADHD symptoms in adulthood , and 65% of them in adulthood struggle with less severe symptoms of the problem, which in they somehow negatively affect their professional or family life.

One thing can be said for sure: to improve the prognosis of a child with ADHD, it is simply necessary to start treatment as soon as possible.

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Category:

Psychiatry