ADHD

Question 1

1)T/F Over 4,000,000 children have been prescribed stimulant medication.
2)What percentage of school age children
have been Dx’s with ADHD? What percent of boys in High School?

Answer 1

1) T

2) Over 11% in 2012(would be much higher now). Ove:r 20% of boys in HS Dx’s with ADHD!

Question 2

In order to make the Dx of ADHD what 3 things

must be present?

Answer 2

1) Some symptoms that cause impact must have been present before the age of 12.
2) Some “impact” from the symptoms must be evidenced in two or more settings(e.g.: school and home, or work/home)
3) Must be clear evidence of significant impact in school, work or social settings(e.g.: only getting B average in school where before it was A)

Question 3

Is ADHD genetic?

Answer 3

No specific genes have been determined, but in twin studies it’s 77% heritable. Epigenetic factors are important

Question 4

What is responsible for the explosion in ADHD Dx?

Answer 4

A combination of the following 4 causes:
1)we are now BETTER AT DIAGNOSING IT.
2)LOOSENING OF THE DEFINITION OF ADHD:
-pre kindergarten kids who “can’t sit still”!
-kindergarteners who can’t read!
-the inattentive child
Many in these 3 groups are overdiagnosis
because ADHD is a continuum on spectrum from normal to extreme.
3)MISDIAGNOSIS:
-inadequate evaluation
-schools demanding it because of testing factors and other reasons
-stressed parents who work and don’t have time for parenting
-we live in a pharmaceutical society
4)An actual increase in the incidence of ADHD

Question 5

What conditions can be misdiagnosed as ADHD?

Answer 5

• depression or Bipolar
• anxiety
• bordom(gifted child)
• learning disability
• PTSD
• sexual or physical abuse
• sleep apnea
• “difficult”temperament
• normal
• immaturity: ADHD Dx’d in 10% of youngest kids in kindergarten vs. 4% of the oldest kids in the class