MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'attention deficit'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 02:05:25 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5159208&cid=t_193379_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F19%2F11-tips-for-succeeding-in-college-when-you-have-adhd%2F College is a big transition for any student. But when you have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), there are added challenges to consider. These obstacles concern everything from studying to managing your time to spending impulsively to planning your future post-college. But by being aware of these potential problems and being proactive, students with ADHD can accomplish great things in school. Here’s how, according to Stephanie Sarkis, Ph.D, a national certified counselor and licensed mental health counselor and author of Making the Grade with ADD: A Student’s Guide to Succeeding in College with Attention Deficit Disorder. 1. Apply for accommodations. Accommodations are “specific adaptations, including extended time on tests and an assigned note taker, that give yo... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5159208 Fri, 19 Aug 2011 15:45:13 +0100 5159208 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5107598&cid=t_193379_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F09%2Fadhd-and-marriage-boundaries-can-help-rebuild-your-relationship%2F In marriages where one spouse has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (or both do), there are often many challenges. One of them is overstepping each other’s boundaries. For instance, a partner with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) might assume without asking their partner that they’ll just take over all the household responsibilities, including chores and finances, or they might refuse to treat their symptoms and give the ultimatum to “take it or leave it.” A non-ADHD spouse might take over all the responsibilities because they think their partner is incompetent or they might try to change them altogether. In her book, The ADHD Effect on Marriage: Understand and Rebuild Your Relationship in Six Steps, marriage consultant Melissa Orlov (who I recently interviewe... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5107598 Tue, 09 Aug 2011 15:45:34 +0100 5107598 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5050952&cid=t_193379_129_f&fid=27216&url=http%3A%2F%2Flifewithadhd.com%2Fadhd-books%2Fmore-attention-less-deficit-success-strategies-for-adults-with-adhd-2.php Price 19.95 Listprice $19.95 Description This is the only book on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) written in a structure that caters to the tendency for adults with ADHD to jump around. This essential guidebook begins by describing how the ADHD brain processes information and how that leads to typical challenges that people with ADHD experience, as well as why certain strategies are effective and others aren’t. This lays the foundation for everything that follows, from getting diagnosed to an overview of the research of how ADHD affects people’s lives. A thorough explanation of standard treatment options-including medication, therapy, and coaching-as well as alternative treatments, helps guide adults with ADHD to get the most from their he ... Life With ADHD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5050952 Sun, 17 Jul 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5050952 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4984500&cid=t_193379_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F29%2Fan-epidemic-of-bad-infographics-depression%2F In an effort to keep trying to get people’s attention in an increasingly attention-deficit world, we get a lot of inquiries for links to websites promoting education programs and other affiliate websites. The latest effort is focused around “infographics,” those graphics made popular by the USA Today newspaper that combines an interesting graphical element with hard data. A well done infographic ostensibly makes data more engaging. A fantastic infographic puts data into proper perspective and gives it valuable context. What these marketing firms send me, however, are not fantastic or even well-done. So in the interests of demonstrating that any infographic can be worse than no infographic, I’m going to critique one of the latest ones to have come across my desk. It&... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4984500 Wed, 29 Jun 2011 10:34:42 +0100 4984500 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4968579&cid=t_193379_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F24%2F9-myths-misconceptions-and-stereotypes-about-adhd%2F Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) affects about four percent of U.S. adults (Kessler, Chiu, Demler & Walters, 2005). Still, many myths, stereotypes and downright fallacies abound — everything from questioning the very existence of ADHD to downplaying its seriousness. Below, we spoke with two experts who treat individuals with ADHD to set the record straight. 1. Myth: ADHD isn’t a real disorder. Fact: ADHD is a mental disorder with a strong biological component (like most mental disorders). This includes an inherited biological component, notes Stephanie Sarkis, Ph.D, a national certified counselor and licensed mental health counselor and author of four books on adult ADD, including Adult ADD: A Guide for the Newly Diagnosed. For instance, studies have identified sever... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4968579 Fri, 24 Jun 2011 18:17:58 +0100 4968579 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4952987&cid=t_193379_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F20%2F4-ways-to-manage-oppositional-defiant-disorder-in-children%2F Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) is a childhood disorder that affects anywhere from 6 to 10 percent of children. It is characterized by a negative set of behaviors in a child directed toward the adults in their life, and can sometimes be mistaken for disorders that share some characteristics, such as conduct disorder and even attention deficit disorder. The diagnosis of Oppositional Defiant Disorder is given by mental health professionals to describe a set of behaviors a child is exhibiting that include: Often loses temper Argues with adults and authority figures Refuses to comply with adult requests Blames others for his mistakes Deliberately annoys people Is easily annoyed by others Is angry/resentful and spiteful/vindictive. Sound like a child you may know? If a child exhibits fou... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4952987 Mon, 20 Jun 2011 15:12:36 +0100 4952987 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4841580&cid=t_193379_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F05%2F19%2Fadhd-and-depression-common-bedfellows%2F Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and depression commonly occur together. According to Ari Tuckman, PsyD, a clinical psychologist who specializes in ADHD and wrote the book More Attention, Less Deficit: Successful Strategies for Adults with ADHD: “ADHD makes people’s lives harder, so it makes sense that they have more to be depressed about. This is especially true because ADHD difficulties usually persist — it’s not like going through a bad break-up where things get better with time.” Because ADHD is lifelong, it “robs the person of optimism that things will ever improve, at least before a diagnosis is made and treatment started.” Below, Tuckman talks about both disorders, which is treated first and what readers can do. Depression Signs At f... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4841580 Thu, 19 May 2011 15:35:03 +0100 4841580 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4714896&cid=t_193379_129_f&fid=27216&url=http%3A%2F%2Flifewithadhd.com%2Fadhd-research%2Funcovering-attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-or-adhd.php In today’s world, the mass media is one of the most powerful sources of information. These have enabled people access and research any subject within a few seconds. One of the most researched subjects is medicine and diseases which are lesser known of. Thus diseases like the ADHD are one of the most researched and looked up. ADHD is a disease which mainly affect and is a neurological disorder. What is ADHD? Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD is a disease which affects people, mainly children, with respect to aspects like impulsivity, hyperactivity, inattentivity and boredom. However there is a controversy surrounding ADHD which states that ADHD cannot be diagnosed and that there are no proper and well defined medical tests to diagnose ADHD. ADHD can also be defined as ... Life With ADHD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4714896 Wed, 13 Apr 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4714896 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4704717&cid=t_193379_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F04%2F11%2F8-tips-to-tell-your-child-they-have-adhd%2F Regardless of your child’s age, it can be hard to tell them that they have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Fortunately, today, people are more familiar with ADHD. “The good news at this point in time is that ADHD is pretty well known and many kids (or at least teens) know someone or have a friend who they know has ADHD,” according to Ari Tuckman, PsyD, a clinical psychologist who specializes in ADHD and author of More Attention, Less Deficit: Successful Strategies for Adults with ADHD. Below are some ideas to help you talk to your child. 1. Come to terms with the diagnosis yourself. If you haven’t accepted the diagnosis, it’ll be much harder to talk to your child. According to psychologist Carol Brady, Ph.D, on ADDitude magazine, the best time to talk to you... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4704717 Mon, 11 Apr 2011 17:44:49 +0100 4704717 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4670232&cid=t_193379_129_f&fid=27216&url=http%3A%2F%2Flifewithadhd.com%2Fadhd-research%2Fhow-is-attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-addadhd-diagnosed.php Assessing whether a certain individual is suffering from Attention Deficit with HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER or not is far harder than it appears to laymen like ourselves. This is because, not only does it’s symptoms largely overlap those of hyperthyroidism etc. they are also largely exhibited by ‘normal’ human beings some time or the other every single day. Therefore the first important step towards diagnosing the disease is to consult a trained health care provider regarding it. Things only seem scary when we are treading over ‘new ground’, so to speak. Take small but deliberate steps and a positive end will begin to appear on the horizion. Given that the defining factors of ATTENTION DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER is still quite musty and vague diagnosing the problem is dif... Life With ADHD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4670232 Fri, 01 Apr 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4670232 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4670173&cid=t_193379_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F04%2F01%2F33-favorite-self-help-books-of-psychologists%2F Since the response was good from my post on 15 quotes that motivate and inspire that I pulled from LinkedIn group, The Psychology Network, I joined a few weeks ago, I thought I’d publish their recommendation for good self-help books, too. Since most of them are mental health professionals (unlike me, who just pretends she is), their list lends credibility and might be a good one to review every now and then either for yourself or in your work with patients. 1. Freedom From the Ties That Bind: The Secret of Self Liberation by Guy Finley 
 2. I Ain’t Much Baby, But I’m All I’ve Got by Jess Lair, Ph.D. 3. The Anxiety & Phobia Workbook, Fourth Edition 
by Edmund J. Bourne 

 4. Women with Attention Deficit Disorder: Embrace Your Differences and Transform Yo... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4670173 Fri, 01 Apr 2011 16:34:35 +0100 4670173 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4664355&cid=t_193379_129_f&fid=27216&url=http%3A%2F%2Flifewithadhd.com%2Fadhd-drugs%2Fvision-shopsters-attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-adhd-drug-pipeline-analysis-and-market-forecasts-to-2015.php This report is built using data and information sourced from proprietary databases, primary and secondary research and in house analysis by GlobalData’s tea Read More (Source: Life With ADHD) Life With ADHD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4664355 Wed, 30 Mar 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4664355 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4554711&cid=t_193379_129_f&fid=27216&url=http%3A%2F%2Flifewithadhd.com%2Fadhd-books%2Fmore-attention-less-deficit-success-strategies-for-adults-with-adhd.php Price 13.75 Listprice $24.95 Description This is the only book on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) written in a structure that caters to the tendency for adults with ADHD to jump around. This essential guidebook begins by describing how the ADHD brain processes information and how that leads to typical challenges that people with ADHD experience, as well as why certain strategies are effective and others aren’t. This lays the foundation for everything that follows, from getting diagnosed to an overview of the research of how ADHD affects people’s lives. A thorough explanation of standard treatment options-including medication, therapy, and coaching-as well as alternative treatments, helps guide adults with ADHD to get the most from their he ... Life With ADHD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4554711 Sun, 06 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4554711 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4536134&cid=t_193379_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F03%2F02%2Ftax-prep-for-people-with-adhd-for-next-year%2F The key to taxes, especially if you have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), is consistent organization. That is, once tax season rolls around, you want to have everything you need right at your fingertips. So it helps to have a simple system in place to keep you organized year-round. Procrastination is one of the challenges for people with ADHD. This is further amplified with taxes “because their tax information is so disorganized the idea of actually sitting down to complete the taxes is overwhelming,” according to Dana Rayburn, a senior certified ADHD coach and author of Organized for Life – The Step by Step Guide to Get You Organized So You Stay Organized. Here’s a plan to help. Remember that, “The system itself will probably differ from person to person but wha... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4536134 Wed, 02 Mar 2011 14:43:12 +0100 4536134 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4501637&cid=t_193379_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F02%2F21%2Ftax-prep-for-people-with-adhd-what-to-do-now%2F With the sheer pileup of paperwork alone, taxes are a pain for anybody (except for accountants, maybe, but I’m sure they feel the same way when clients swarm their offices in April). For people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), preparing taxes can feel like an impossible feat. Tax prep requires using the very skills that are challenges for people with ADHD — the symptoms of the disorder. Symptoms such as being easily distracted, being disorganized and having difficulty with details become major obstacles. But while it can seem incredibly overwhelming, tax time isn’t an insurmountable challenge. Below, experts take you through the A to Z of preparing your taxes and cutting out paper clutter. Your Tax Prep Plan One of the mistakes people with ADHD — or anyone fo... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4501637 Mon, 21 Feb 2011 18:25:06 +0100 4501637 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4455226&cid=t_193379_86_f&fid=38272&url=http%3A%2F%2Flaikaspoetnik.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F02%2F09%2Fmuch-ado-about-adhd-research-is-there-a-misrepresentation-of-adhd-in-scientific-journals%2F The reliability of science is increasingly under fire. We all know that media often gives a distorted picture of scientific findings (i.e. Hot news: Curry, Curcumin, Cancer & cure). But there is also an ever growing number of scientific misreports or even fraud (see bmj editorial announcing retraction of the Wakefield paper about causal relation beteen MMR vaccination [...] (Source: Laika's MedLibLog) Laika's MedLibLog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4455226 Wed, 09 Feb 2011 03:16:41 +0100 4455226 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4436795&cid=t_193379_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F02%2F04%2Fvideo-games-adhd-and-time-management%2F You have no doubt heard of Internet addiction and its related cousin, video game addiction. These are noxious labels that have little basis in solid research. What is appropriate is to label some people’s specific activities online as problematic, whether it’s viewing porn, updating your Facebook profile, or playing video games. Professionals and researchers label this kind of behavior based upon the specific issue, for instance, “problematic video game play” (or PVGP). This is often not a time-based determinant (since time spent online doing X activity is completely relative to one’s environment, peer group, work needs, year in which measured, etc.). Is problematic video game playing something related to poor time management skills (“Oops, I just lost ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4436795 Fri, 04 Feb 2011 19:02:51 +0100 4436795 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4411562&cid=t_193379_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F01%2F28%2Fadhd-tip-write-about-it%2F How many times have you returned home because you forgot something essential like your wallet? Instead of completing a big project, have you started organizing your files? Have you forgotten an important engagement altogether? For someone with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), these are typical occurrences. Some of the most common symptoms of ADHD are being forgetful and having a tough time concentrating. These moments tend to happen regularly and affect all areas of people’s lives. It doesn’t matter if it’s something small, such as misplacing your keys, or something big, such as forgetting to finish a work project or research paper. “After a while, it can look and feel a lot like Groundhog Day,” ADHD coach Cynthia Hammer, MSW, wrote in the Fall 2010 issue... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4411562 Fri, 28 Jan 2011 17:46:13 +0100 4411562 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4258924&cid=t_193379_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F12%2F13%2Fssi-encourages-families-to-label-healthy-children-with-adhd-as-disabled%2F It’s one of those “unintended consequences” of a government program started with the best of intentions — help the poorest of the poor families in our society get adequate treatment for their severely disabled child. Yes, I’m talking about Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and The Boston Globe ran an in-depth investigative piece yesterday about some of those consequences, including rampant diagnosing of very young children and the over-prescribing of medication for them. “Many cash-strapped parents have come to believe that if only they can muster the necessary array of medical records, their children have a good shot at this benefit, even if it means carrying the stigma of the word “disabled.’’” A program that was supposed to help only a sm... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4258924 Mon, 13 Dec 2010 20:10:15 +0100 4258924 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4175764&cid=t_193379_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F11%2F17%2Ffda-approves-vyvanse-for-teens%2F In this study, patients were randomized to a daily morning dose of Vyvanse (30 mg/day, 50 mg/day or 70 mg/day) or placebo [...]. All subjects receiving Vyvanse were initiated on 30 mg for the first week of treatment. Subjects assigned to the 50 mg and 70 mg dose groups were escalated by 20 mg per week until they achieved their assigned dose. The primary efficacy outcome was change in Total Score from baseline to end point in investigator ratings on the ADHD Rating Scale (ADHD-RS). [...] All Vyvanse dose groups were superior to placebo in the primary efficacy outcome. The safety of Vyvanse was also evaluated during the study. The most frequently occurring treatment-emergent adverse events reported in patients treated with Vyvanse were: decreased appetite, insomnia, and weight decrease. Saf... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4175764 Wed, 17 Nov 2010 22:35:05 +0100 4175764 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4119081&cid=t_193379_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F10%2F27%2Fmedhelp-scare-mongering-and-adhd%2F Hey, what’s the best way to link Halloween and an increasingly common childhood concern, such as attention deficit disorder? How about some scare-mongering in the form of an ostensibly educational article? I received an email newsletter from the website, MedHelp.org, that encouraged me to learn about “8 ADHD Culprits Lurking in Your Home: Could your home be a haven for toxins that can cause ADHD?” Hmmm, I thought, I didn’t know that attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) was caused by toxins in my home! I like to think I keep up with the research literature, so this was a potentially eye-opening article. Then I clicked through and found one of those infuriating “photo galleries” that show a stock photo next to each explanation of the toxin. Thes... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4119081 Wed, 27 Oct 2010 17:10:45 +0100 4119081 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4525093&cid=t_193379_129_f&fid=27216&url=http%3A%2F%2Flifewithadhd.com%2Fadhd-alternative-therapy%2F5-steps-to-a-new-life-with-adhd-natural-remedies.php Based on Western medicine, ADD is attributable to a deficiency of the neurotransmitters dopamine as well as norepinephrine. Although there’s absolutely nothing improper with linking the dysfunction to a lack of neurotransmitters, it might be nearsighted to focus on treating the situation with stimulant medicine as a substitute of looking for the basis of the deficiency. At the biological stage, all neurotransmitters are product of amino acids, the essential building protein blocks. At hand are twenty sorts of amino acids that fall into 2 groups: important amino acids, which the body cannot manufacture, as well as non-important amino acids, that the body makes from proteins and other amino acids. Eating amino acid supplements to extend neurotransmitter production – a method also... Life With ADHD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4525093 Fri, 22 Oct 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4525093 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4025618&cid=t_193379_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fadhd-is-it-genetic%2F2010.10.02 British scientists announced that attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has been linked to deleted or duplicated DNA segments (copy number variants), which leads to developmental difference in the brains of children with the condition. Researchers scanned genomes of 366 children with ADHD and compared them with 1,047 unrelated, ethnically matched control subjects. They reported full results in The Lancet. Rare copy number variants were almost twice as common in children with ADHD compared to the other children. Researchers commented to Reuters that there was a significant overlap between copy number variants found in ADHD and elements of the genome linked to autism and schizophrenia, specifically in a region on chromosome 16. *This blog post was originally published at AC... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4025618 Sat, 02 Oct 2010 19:00:00 +0100 4025618 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3993905&cid=t_193379_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fpanelist-video-interviews-from-the-fact-or-fiction-adhd-in-america-capitol-hill-forum%2F2010.09.22 On September 16, 2010, I attended Fact or Fiction: ADHD in America, a Capitol Hill Forum, along with Dr. Val Jones of Better Health and Dr. Rob Lamberts of Musings of a Distractible Mind. The event, coinciding with ADD/ADHD Awareness Week, was a panel discussion about the impact ADHD has on our society. It was sponsored by Shire, in partnership with the Entertainment Industries Council (EIC) and the Lab School of Washington [Disclosure: I received a stipend for covering the event.] Below are interviews Rob and I did with some of the panelists. Kevin Pho interview with Michele Novotni, Ph.D., ADHD Expert and Former Attention Deficit Disorder Association (ADDA) President: (more…) *This blog post was originally published at KevinMD.com* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3993905 Thu, 23 Sep 2010 14:46:38 +0100 3993905 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3972916&cid=t_193379_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fadhd-fact-or-fiction-join-me-on-capitol-hill%2F2010.09.15 Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is probably overdiagnosed by physicians. In the lay public, the term is often used jokingly to describe the common feeling of distraction we experience in a world filled with interruptions. With a constant stream of text messages, Facebook updates, TV commercials, and fast-paced Twittering, there’s little wonder that we all feel frazzled at times. But the occasional experience of jangled nerves is not a proper basis for a diagnosis of ADHD. Unfortunately, there has been great confusion between the actual disorder, and its misuse as a label for simply feeling distracted. So to help set the record straight and to tease out fact from fiction, I’ll be attending a forum on Capitol Hill with my co-bloggers Dr. Kevin Pho and Dr. Rob Lamb... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3972916 Wed, 15 Sep 2010 12:41:12 +0100 3972916 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3969052&cid=t_193379_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F09%2F14%2Fintroducing-autism-aspergers-and-beyond%2F In this day and age, we seem to increasingly medicalize mental disorders and their treatment, even in very young children. I believe this has significant repercussions in a child’s development, when parents turn to a psychiatric drug as the sole remedy for their child’s concerns. While no parents wants to see their child suffer needlessly, medications have become the “go to” treatment despite the efficacy and greater safety of other treatments. I’m pleased to welcome you to Autism, Asperger’s and Beyond, a blog by Diane Yapko, MA. Diane is a speech-language pathologist who for the past 30 years has specialized in working with the pediatric population in the areas of autism spectrum disorders and other developmental and neurological disabilities. After listening to her speak on ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3969052 Tue, 14 Sep 2010 13:08:00 +0100 3969052 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3790752&cid=t_193379_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F07%2F26%2Foverdiagnosis-mental-disorders-and-the-dsm-5%2F Is the DSM-5 — the book professionals and researchers use to diagnose mental disorders — leading us to a society that embraces “over-diagnosis”? Or was this trend of creating “fad” diagnoses started long before the DSM-5 revision process — perhaps even starting with the DSM-IV before it? Allen Frances, who oversaw the DSM-IV revision process and has been an outspoken critic of the DSM-5, suggests melodramatically that “normality is an endangered species,” due in part to “fad diagnoses” and an “epidemic” of over-diagnosing, ominously suggesting in his opening paragraph that the “DSM5 threatens to provoke several more [epidemics].” First, when a person starts throwing around a term such as “over d... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3790752 Mon, 26 Jul 2010 10:02:09 +0100 3790752 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3786159&cid=t_193379_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F07%2F24%2Fgenetic-testing-for-mental-disorders-avoid-23andme-navigenics-others-for-now%2F Genetic testing allows individuals to submit a genetic sample to a company, which then analyzes the genes for known anomalies or other problems. The idea is that by having that information, you may be able to be more aware of potential health problems down the road. Or even stave them off before they become a problem by changing your behaviors, diet, and exercise regimen. Companies like 23andme and Navigenics provide genetic DNA testing reports that purportedly tell you your risk factors for getting not only certain medical conditions, but also mental disorders, like bipolar or attention deficit disorder. This may work fine for some very well-defined health issues, like heart disease (although a recent government investigation into these companies’ abilities to provide even this info... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3786159 Sat, 24 Jul 2010 13:35:23 +0100 3786159 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3666236&cid=t_193379_151_f&fid=39090&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fhelpalcoholicfamily%2FxITS%2F%7E3%2Fo6YF5GhsJt8%2F Are you married to an alcoholic spouse that has always been disorganized and that you have helped keep on track? Does your alcoholic husband or alcoholic wife start tasks they never finish or constantly lose their keys, bills, important papers etc? Are they eaasily distracted by noise? Do they procrastinate? If you answered “yes” to most of the questions, your alcoholic spouse may have an Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) diagnosis. I am a psychiatrist that treats a lot of addiction. A number of my patients suffering from alcoholism and addiction have an ADD diagnosis. It seems so common, I have wondered to myself, “What is the deal”?  These two diagnoses seem to go hand in hand. So here’s the scoop: 15% of adults with an ADD diagnosis have a substance use di... Alcoholic Spouse Advanced Help blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3666236 Tue, 15 Jun 2010 20:39:19 +0100 3666236 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3436289&cid=t_193379_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F04%2F03%2Ffaa-still-stigmatizes-depression-mental-illness%2F The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Friday cleared pilots who have depression to regain their flying privileges, with one tiny caveat — they have to be taking one of only four “approved” antidepressants. I can only express my extreme disappointment at this decision, because while it has the potential to help pilots take to the air again if they were suffering from depression, it fails to recognize other effective treatments for depression. Apparently the FAA doesn’t recognize the effectiveness of psychotherapy in the treatment of depression. This despite something on the order of four decades’ (or more) worth of research demonstrating its effectiveness for everything from mild to severe depression. In fact, if anything, there’s more resear... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3436289 Sat, 03 Apr 2010 20:27:15 +0100 3436289 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3411132&cid=t_193379_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F03%2F27%2Fhealthy-minds-across-america-from-narsad%2F I’m happy to bring you the following news release from the organization formerly known as the National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression, but now it just goes by its acronym, NARSAD. They are hosting a number of educational discussions across the U.S. throughout April that may be of interest to you. Beginning Saturday, April 10th, thousands of families throughout the United States will have a rare opportunity to learn about new breakthroughs and emerging treatments in mental health by the nation’s best and brightest mental health researchers. “Healthy Minds Across America,” a series of free forums open to the public, will take place every weekend from April 10 – May 8, culminating with the beginning of Mental Health Awareness Month in May. The events, org... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3411132 Sat, 27 Mar 2010 10:07:34 +0100 3411132 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3408438&cid=t_193379_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F03%2F26%2Fpsychotherapy-the-active-treatment%2F My friend Anne and I were talking the other day when the conversation turned to a recent airplane flight she was on. She recounted how it was on one of those smaller, turboprop planes with just 3 seats per row: “We hit some turbulence and then it was like we were free-falling. It was only a few seconds, but it was the scariest moment in my life. I felt so helpless and out of control. I know it was irrational to think anything bad would happen, but still …” When a person isn’t in control of his or her own destiny, most people feel powerless. Powerlessness can lead to feelings of helplessness as well. Most people prefer to be able to exert some influence on their destiny, on their future. We’d like to think that we actually have something to do with the way our ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3408438 Fri, 26 Mar 2010 10:06:18 +0100 3408438 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3350335&cid=t_193379_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F03%2F09%2Fliving-with-adhd%2F With the addition of our two new ADHD blogs in recent weeks, now’s a good time to revisit some of the basics about attention deficit disorder, because a lot of misconceptions prevail. At one time, it was thought that attention deficit disorder (with or without hyperactivity, it’s often nowadays abbreviated the same way as ADHD) only affected children. However, in the past two decades, we’ve learned that attention deficit disorder can also affect adults. ADHD doesn’t have to be viewed merely as a “disability” either, as many famous people live with ADHD and use it as the foundation for their imagination and creativity. In fact, as Tom Wootton and his colleagues blog about regularly over at Bipolar Advantage, what are commonly labeled as “mental diso... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3350335 Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:59:56 +0100 3350335 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3346502&cid=t_193379_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F03%2F08%2Fintroducing-adhd-from-a-to-zoe%2F I know we just launched our first blog devoted to attention deficit disorder (ADHD) and related issues last week. But now I’m pleased to bring you a second one, too. Sometimes fate just works that way. I’m pleased to introduce you today to ADHD: From A to Zoë, a blog about a woman who lives with ADHD with the hyperactivity. (It’s now commonplace to abbreviate attention deficit hyperactivity disorder as ADHD, even though some people who have this disorder don’t experience hyperactivity and it’s often just referred to as attention deficit disorder.) I met Zoë through Pete Quily, an ADHD coach whose regular and consistent tweeting I enjoy. This blog explores ADHD from the unique perspective of a woman who experiences the H — hyperactivity — component of t... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3346502 Mon, 08 Mar 2010 19:30:25 +0100 3346502 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3306898&cid=t_193379_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F02%2F24%2Fintroducing-adhd-in-focus%2F Attention deficit disorder is a serious mental health issue that affects the lives not only of children and teens, but millions of adults as well. So we’re pleased to announce the launch of our latest blog, ADHD In Focus, that will focus on topics in attention deficit disorder (ADHD). ADHD In Focus is hosted by Kathryn Goetzke. Kathryn is the driving force behind the non-profit organization for depression called iFred (the International Foundation for Research and Education on Depression). iFred is dedicated to encouraging research on depression and reducing the stigma associated with the disease. In addition to her incredible work on iFred, Kathryn is someone who actually battles attention deficit disorder, hence the reason she agreed to write for this blog. I’m proud to welcome h... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3306898 Wed, 24 Feb 2010 17:57:35 +0100 3306898 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4060663&cid=t_193379_109_f&fid=34859&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.davemsw.com%2Farchives%2F2010%2F01%2Fmindfulness_emotional_intelligence_for_personal_gr.php This is the second in a series of articles on emotional intelligence for personal growth. The first part is here. Mindfulness is a non-judgmental, present-centered awareness in which each thought, feeling, or sensation that arises is acknowledged and accepted as it is. It is a skill that is learned by committed practice. The object is to focus one's attention on thoughts, feelings and events in the present moment while remaining curious, open, and accepting whatever occurs. The idea is to take on the role of an observer of your own mind. Notice everything that happens without holding onto anything, having a "Teflon Mind". An important part of observing is putting words to the experience. The effect of naming the experience effectively separates you from it. Thoughts are just thoughts, fe... Ψ Dare To Dream... blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4060663 Fri, 15 Jan 2010 03:39:27 +0100 4060663 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3083079&cid=t_193379_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F12%2F13%2Fmedicaid-children-get-4x-more-antipsychotics%2F If you’re a child in Medicaid, you already have a more difficult life than average ahead of you. Children in Medicaid programs have nearly twice the number of mental health problems than other children. But now new research suggests it gets even worse for children in Medicaid, according to an article in The New York Times — they are prescribed four times the amount of atypical antipsychotic medications than other children: New federally financed drug research reveals a stark disparity: children covered by Medicaid are given powerful antipsychotic medicines at a rate four times higher than children whose parents have private insurance. And the Medicaid children are more likely to receive the drugs for less severe conditions than their middle-class counterparts, the data shows. ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3083079 Sun, 13 Dec 2009 10:25:20 +0100 3083079 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3075572&cid=t_193379_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F12%2F09%2Fsen-grassley-questions-more-nonprofits%2F We can’t help but note that the other shoe dropped on nonprofit agencies (as we predicted back in April) and their lack of disclosure and transparency about their funding sources. Will anybody really be surprised to find that 50% or more of many of these organization’s budgets come directly or indirectly from a pharmaceutical company? The list of organizations that Sen. Grassley sent a letter to is even more extensive this time around and, while including big organizations like the American Cancer Society, the American Dental Association and the American Psychological Association, it also includes smaller organizations like the Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD), Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, NARSAD, Screening for Mental Health ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3075572 Thu, 10 Dec 2009 00:12:01 +0100 3075572 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3035924&cid=t_193379_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F11%2F27%2Fone-soldiers-suicide-story%2F While we return to our daily lives after the holidays and get into the Christmas spirit, some families will not be celebrating this year. One family is James Weigl’s, a soldier who returned home after deployment, suffered from depression, and ultimately took his own life. Forty-three percent of soldiers who commit suicide do so after returning home from deployment, demonstrating that follow-up care with soldiers after deployment is just as important as mental health treatment while in active duty. The story is an all-too familiar one. The article in the Milwaukee Wisconsin Journal Sentinel details the life of James Weigl, his active duty tour, return home, and his decline into depression. It’s a lengthy article, but it gives you an idea of how diverse the problems are that sol... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3035924 Fri, 27 Nov 2009 18:00:23 +0100 3035924 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2890942&cid=t_193379_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FNSygJRhhGuc%2F The opposition party in Australia says the federal government has failed to properly regulate ADHD drugs, with acting opposition health spokesman Mathias Cormann charging that Health Minister Nicola Roxon has done nothing for almost two years, according to The Sydney Morning Herald. His comments follow reports 30 children have wanted to kill themselves while on AHDD meds. One seven-year-old boy became so depressed while taking Ritalin last year that he tried to commit suicide and an eight-year-old hallucinated that spiders were crawling up his skin, the paper writes. Overall, the number of serious reactions to ADHD drugs has doubled in a three-year period, according to Therapeutic Goods Administration figures. The former coalition government asked the Royal Australasian College of Physicia... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2890942 Wed, 14 Oct 2009 12:08:20 +0100 2890942 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2828262&cid=t_193379_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F09%2F24%2Feverything-has-a-neurobiological-correlate%2F This study tells us nothing about how these dopamine receptors got the way they did. Instead, it joins the growing number of studies that analyze the brain and tell us things like, the structure of the brain may influence ADHD, or that hundreds of gene variations are linked to ADHD, or that, it’s not that people with ADHD’s brains don’t have enough dopamine, it’s that the brain pushes dopamine in the wrong direction influencing a ‘speed’ response between nerve cells. I could go on, but I hope you get the point. Hundreds of studies have now been done analyzing the brains and genes of people with mental illness, but it doesn’t feel like we are any closer to the truth than we were 10 years ago. One of the reasons is because none of these kinds of studies she... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2828262 Thu, 24 Sep 2009 09:55:44 +0100 2828262 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2757825&cid=t_193379_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F09%2F01%2Fadhd-stimulants-children-and-sudden-death%2F Imagine if your child was diagnosed with attention deficit disorder (ADHD) and was started on a course of stimulant psychiatric medications (like Ritalin), a standard treatment used for ADHD. Now imagine that suddenly, your child dies for no apparent reason. Your child would be in a very small but significant group of children who die while on stimulant medications. I cannot emphasize this enough, however — this is a tiny, tiny group. This fact is likely to be glossed over in many mainstream media reports about this study. Gould et al. (2009) studied state vital statistics from 1985-1996 and found that in 564 cases of sudden death in children ranging from ages 7 through 19, 10 (1.8%) of the sudden unexplained death cases were treated with a stimulant at the time of their death, as c... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2757825 Tue, 01 Sep 2009 20:27:00 +0100 2757825 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2688604&cid=t_193379_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F08%2F11%2Farchives-of-general-psychiatry-2009-vol-66-no-8%2F content page Fade Fave: Development of Cortical Asymmetry in Typically Developing Children and Its Disruption in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Fade Skinny: Just as typical development of anatomical asymmetries in the human brain has been linked with the normal lateralization of motor and cognitive functions, disruption of asymmetry has been implicated in the pathogenesis of several neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autism, schizophrenia, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The most consistently reported structural asymmetry in typically developing adults is a relative increase in the dimensions of the right frontal and left occipital lobes. (NHS Athens is required to access this article online) Posted in Athens Password, Currently Watching, E-Journals Tagg... Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2688604 Tue, 11 Aug 2009 11:12:00 +0100 2688604 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2553088&cid=t_193379_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F06%2F29%2Fchasing-the-genetic-ghosts-of-mental-illness%2F For decades, scientists have been making claims about the genetic roots of mental illness, ranging from schizophrenia and depression, to bipolar disorder and attention deficit disorder (ADHD). And for decades, they’ve largely been chasing ghosts. Eric Kandel, writing for Newsweek, makes the at-least-annual appeal that scientists are making “certain advances in genetics” which give “us new reasons for optimism” in understanding the biological basis for mental illness. As someone who’s been tracking the progress of such genetic advances over the past two decades, I have to say, I remain squarely skeptical. It doesn’t help that Kandel’s own arguments are exercises in circular logic: One major advance has been the discovery that there is much mo... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2553088 Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:19:49 +0100 2553088 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2463117&cid=t_193379_122_f&fid=35065&url=http%3A%2F%2Feideneurolearningblog.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F06%2Fadhd-different-reward-motivation.html More on the evolving story about ADHD biology and reward. Rather than ADHD appearing as a fixed deficit in executive function, increasing evidence suggests that children (and adults) with ADHD behaviors are showing impulsivity mainly in non-reward situations.In this latest study from Germany, 8-13 year old boys diagnosed with ADHD showed a much greater ability to inhibit impulsive behavior on the go/no-go test if rewards- monetary or social were involved. The differences were striking between the two groups...whereas only 12.5% of the control group slowed down their behaviors and improved their responses in the control group, 43.8% of the ADHD group slowed down their behaviors and exhibited fewer false alarm rates. The implications for findings such as this are significant - if making exte... Eide Neurolearning Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2463117 Mon, 08 Jun 2009 07:03:00 +0100 2463117 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2423328&cid=t_193379_146_f&fid=38266&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsleepeducation.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F05%2Fstudy-links-adhd-to-sleep-problems-in.html A study in the journal Sleep examines sleep problems in older children and teens with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Results show that older children and teens are more likely to have a variety of sleep problems if they were diagnosed with ADHD when they were younger. These problems include insomnia, sleep terrors, nightmares, bruxism and snoring.Study author Dr. Susan Shur-Fen Gau told the AASM that in children some symptoms of ADHD and sleep problems often overlap. These symptoms include inattention, hyperactivity, behavioral problems and impaired academic performance. “In some patients with ADHD, symptoms are caused or exaggerated by primary sleep disorders,” Shur-Fen Gau said. “Therefore treatment of the sleep disorder will improve ADHD symptoms.”The study involved 2... Sleep Education blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2423328 Mon, 18 May 2009 17:38:00 +0100 2423328 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2405721&cid=t_193379_122_f&fid=35065&url=http%3A%2F%2Feideneurolearningblog.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F05%2Fdifferent-brain-networks-for-novelty.html This may come as no great surprise to parents or teachers, but still the implications are significant for the classroom: different brain networks exist for attention depending on whether it is novelty-induced or voluntary. So it should come as no great surprise that a child with strong attention for novelty things or ideas (perplexing puzzle, a strange objects, etc.), may still be seen to thoroughly struggle when trying hard to direct his or her attention (voluntary control). A novel stimulus captures attention passively (whether you want it to or not)while other brain pathways are responsible for attention under voluntary control.It's those voluntary attention networks that are also more likely to take time to develop in children (including high IQ kids).If we really appreciate this neuro... Eide Neurolearning Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2405721 Mon, 11 May 2009 07:01:00 +0100 2405721 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2375328&cid=t_193379_146_f&fid=38266&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsleepeducation.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F04%2Fstudy-links-sleep-loss-to-adhd-symptoms.html A new study links sleep loss to behavioral symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in children.The study in Finland involved 280 children. They had an average age of 8 years.Results show that children who slept less than 7.7 hours at night had a higher score for hyperactivity and impulsivity. They also had a higher total score on the ADHD Rating Scale.The results were significant. But they did not confirm that sleep loss causes ADHD symptoms.“Intervention studies are needed to confirm the causality,” study author Dr. Juulia Paavonen said in a University of Helsinki statement.Another recent study found that children with ADHD get about 33 minutes less sleep per night than other children. The AASM reports that children between the ages of 7 and 12 need about nine to 10 hours... Sleep Education blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2375328 Tue, 28 Apr 2009 16:35:00 +0100 2375328 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2348533&cid=t_193379_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F04%2F20%2Fdealing-with-adhd-while-away-at-college%2F Planning on attending college or university in the fall, but also grapple with attention deficit disorder (ADHD)? Tara Parker-Pope last week wrote a fantastic article in The New York Times that acts basically as your guide to everything you need to know if you have ADHD and are planning to head off to school in the fall. It explains that while medications may need adjusting (if you’re on an ADHD medication), your support system is probably even more important. Freshman year is hard enough for most people, but even harder for teens dealing with attention deficit disorder. Your safe family and friends you’ve known often leave if you go away to school, and you can be stuck without that support system in place. In addition to talking about medications (and where/how you’ll g... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2348533 Mon, 20 Apr 2009 18:26:52 +0100 2348533 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2320507&cid=t_193379_122_f&fid=35065&url=http%3A%2F%2Feideneurolearningblog.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F04%2Fadhd-drugs-no-long-term-benefits.html The 8 year follow-up data from the ADHD MTA Study (Multisite Multimodal Treatment Study of Children With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder)are out and the results argue against the use of ADHD drugs longer than 2 years. Most families tended to stopped the drugs by two years anyway, but some vocal medication-proponents had suggested this was endangering children's health. In fact, besides medications having less symptomatic benefit with chronic use, the latest study also comments on observation that long-term medication may also impair growth (children who took medication for 36 months or longer were 6 lbs lighter and one inch shorter)Excerpt NIMH summary:"A majority (61.5 percent) of the children who were medicated at the end of the 14-month trial had stopped taking medication by th... Eide Neurolearning Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2320507 Mon, 06 Apr 2009 07:03:00 +0100 2320507 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2287196&cid=t_193379_109_f&fid=35044&url=http%3A%2F%2Fadultaddstrengths.com%2F2009%2F03%2F23%2Fpete-quoted-in-cnn-article%2F Post from: Adult ADD Strengths Pete Quoted in CNN Article on Using Music at Work to Help You Focus I was quoted today on CNN’s website on an interesting article called “Listening to music at work — dos and don’ts”by Anthony Balderrama Listening to music at work can be more than just fun for some people. According to Peter Quily, adult Attention Deficit Disorder coach, music can have a physiological effect on his patients who suffer from adult ADD. According to Quily, listening to music boosts the levels of neurotransmitter dopamine, a brain chemical that can help people focus. Some of Quily’s clients listen to music when they can’t focus or when they’re performing a task they find boring. People who have ADHD often have dopamine levels that a... Adult ADD Strengths blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2287196 Mon, 23 Mar 2009 19:50:41 +0100 2287196 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2240888&cid=t_193379_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F03%2F06%2Fa-childs-adhd-can-stress-your-marriage%2F This article describes some of the research that’s been done that looks at the connection between ADHD and marital relationships. In one of the experiments, the researcher videotaped interactions between parents with difficult children and non-difficult children: Regardless of whether they had children with ADHD, [...] the parents asked to work with difficult children were four times as likely to exchange negative criticism and questions, or to ignore each other and trade nonverbal barbs, than the parents in the other group. And regardless of whether they were dealing with easy or difficult children, parents who had ADHD children at home were three times as likely to be negative toward each other as parents who did not. Put another way, the parents of children with ADHD simply had ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2240888 Fri, 06 Mar 2009 21:19:11 +0100 2240888 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2246444&cid=t_193379_146_f&fid=38266&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsleepeducation.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F03%2Fparents-pay-attention-to-sleep-problems.html New research continues to examine the link between sleep and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in children.The latest study appears in the March 1 issue of the journal Sleep. It finds that children with ADHD get about 33 minutes less sleep per night than other children. They also get less rapid eye movement (REM) sleep.The authors suggest that there may be an underlying sleep problem that is specific to ADHD. So does this mean that sleep problems are the cause of ADHD? Not quite.“I do not believe that sleep per se is the cause of ADHD, but it may make the symptoms worse in children with sleep problems," said lead author Reut Gruber, PhD.So sleep problems may cause ADHD-like symptoms. Sleep problems also can make ADHD symptoms more severe. But not every child with ADHD has a sleep ... Sleep Education blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2246444 Fri, 06 Mar 2009 18:47:00 +0100 2246444 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2195230&cid=t_193379_140_f&fid=36028&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Fadhd%2Fendless-change-and-inconsistency-are-the-bane-of-add%2F I think of myself as a pretty flexible guy. I do my best to roll with the punches. Agility in all aspects of my life is a firm goal, but sometimes things get out of control. A significant facet of my life has become less and less stable. Things change at a moment’s notice. Priorities vary one minute to the next. What I was sure of an hour ago is now vague and hazy. What was steady and reliable is now shifting and incoherent. After too much of this, I just shut down. Focus is not possible. I get depressed. I stop caring. I drift. The storm takes me, and there is little I can do about it. I remember feeling this same way in school. The first few weeks were almost always fine, but as time went on and I procrastinated doing homework and failed to complete assignments the apprehension ros... Life with ADHD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2195230 Tue, 27 Jan 2009 23:43:39 +0100 2195230 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2079026&cid=t_193379_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F496583091%2F We have tracked for several years the scientific studies published by Torkel Klingberg and colleagues, often wondering aloud, "when will educators, health professionals, executives and mainstream society come to appreciate the potential we have in front of  us to enhance our brains and improve our cognitive functions?" Dr. Klingberg has just published a very stimulating popular science book, The Overflowing Brain, that should help in precisely that direction. Given the importance of the topic, and the quality of the book, we have named  The Overflowing Brain: Information Overload and the Limits of Working Memory  The SharpBrains Most Important Book of 2008, and asked Dr. Klingberg to write a brief article to introduce his research and book to you. Below you have. Enjoy! --- Re... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2079026 Sat, 27 Dec 2008 22:22:02 +0100 2079026 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2035852&cid=t_193379_122_f&fid=35065&url=http%3A%2F%2Feideneurolearningblog.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F12%2Fmyth-of-multi-tasking-problem-of.html As we head into the holiday season, this study is a good reminder that cell phones and driving (and even listening to conversation while driving) has its risks. Using a driving simulation setup, Marcel Just and his colleagues saw that listening to sentences robbed from visual and spatial areas necessary for driving. This is also why hands-free phones are really not any better than conventional cell phones. The problem is not just having to hold the phone, it's diverting the brain's resources for visual and spatial awareness.This principle applies to much more than driving while listening. It's especially hard not to multitask as we head into the holiday season, butits it's wise to realize it often comes with a price. For more on this general topic, check out Christine Rosen's The Myth of M... Eide Neurolearning Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2035852 Mon, 15 Dec 2008 08:01:00 +0100 2035852 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1985548&cid=t_193379_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F462979024%2F Like all psychiatric disorders, ADHD is diagnosed based on the presence of particular behavioral symptoms that are judged to cause significant impairment in an individual's functioning, and not on the results of a specific test. In fact, recently published ADHD evaluation guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) explicitly state that no particular diagnostic test should be routinely used when evaluating a child for ADHD. While most ADHD experts would agree that no single test could or should be used in isolation to diagnose ADHD, there are several important reasons why the availability of an accurate objective test would be useful. First, many children do not receive a careful and comprehensive assessment for ADHD but are instead diagnosed with based on evaluation procedure... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1985548 Sun, 23 Nov 2008 17:11:23 +0100 1985548 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1963929&cid=t_193379_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2008%2F11%2F16%2Fadhd-experts-promote-drugs%2F With the focus on conflicts of interest by U.S. researchers in the spotlight in the past year (due to Sen. Grassley’s continuing investigation into researchers who failed to disclose millions of dollars in incomes from pharmaceutical companies), you’d think both pharmaceutical companies and experts who get paid by them would’ve learned a thing or two. Apparently the news hasn’t reached Australia yet. The Daily Telegraph reports today that seven out of 10 members of the committee setting the country’s treatment guidelines for attention deficit disorder (ADHD) have significant funding ties to the same companies who make the treatments recommended by the committee. How is this not the very definition of “conflict of interest?” The committee’... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1963929 Sun, 16 Nov 2008 21:00:32 +0100 1963929 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1930301&cid=t_193379_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2Fcb9yc4DJfGA%2F Today’s ABC News reports on the difficulty of getting a diagnosis of autism. 29-year-old Jason Ross was 25 when he was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome; his mother, Lois Ross, describes how he was first said to have speech delay, attention deficit disorder, “psychosis not otherwise specified,” obsessive compulsive disorder and schizophrenia. You can also read Ross’s own words on his blog, Drive Mom Crazy. Tags: abcnews, asd, asperger, attention deficit disorder, autism, autism blog, disabilities, disabilities blog, disability, Education, Health, jason ross, ocd, Psychiatry, psychosis, schizophrenia, speech delayShare This (Source: Autism Vox) Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1930301 Mon, 03 Nov 2008 12:33:12 +0100 1930301 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1912471&cid=t_193379_88_f&fid=38129&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsandnsurf.medbrains.net%2F2008%2F10%2F28%2Fphysician-and-father%2F From time to time you read an article and think - WOW - and, just like watching a softly falling feather you are mesmerized, filled with anticipatory thought and expectant cogitation - a veritable emotional stew… One such article was written by my mentor Associate Professor Anthony Brown and first published by Blackwells Synergy - Emergency Medicine (2000) 12, 349–351. [...] (Source: Life in the Fast Lane) Life in the Fast Lane blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1912471 Tue, 28 Oct 2008 15:37:29 +0100 1912471 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1891952&cid=t_193379_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2008%2F10%2F20%2Ftreating-adhd-is-a-walk-in-the-park%2F Pages: 1 2 Next »     Single Page As we reported on Friday, a small, 17-person study published by researchers from the University of Illinois suggested they had the perfect treatment for kids with attention deficit disorder (ADHD) — a walk in the park. We’re all for the most natural, simple treatments available. And this one really sounded good! What could be better than telling parents, “Hey, take your kid for a walk in the park and your child’s ADHD will be less severe.” So why does this study make us hold our noses? Besides the small sample size (which should raise warning bells for anyone who thinks this could apply to everyone), the other red warning flag to me was the use of the Digit Span Backwards test as the sole measure for t... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1891952 Mon, 20 Oct 2008 16:11:55 +0100 1891952 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1754713&cid=t_193379_109_f&fid=35044&url=http%3A%2F%2Fadultaddstrengths.com%2F2008%2F09%2F02%2Fhow-do-i-get-him-to-listen%2F Melissa Orlov did a great post on the ADHD and Marriage blog. Often when women say “We need to talk” we men hear “You need to do what I want.” She talked about One of the most frequent questions that comes up is one of frustration – “how do I get my ADD spouse to listen to me about our problems?”  The short answer is that you can’t if he doesn’t want to, but let me elaborate, as this is clearly at the heart of many struggling marriages… “The reality is that you CANNOT engage someone who doesn’t wish to be engaged…and no one – ADD or not – wants to engage in difficult discussions in which they anticipate they are going to be roundly brought to task for bad behavior.  The question shouldn’t be “how do I get my ADD spouse to listen t... Adult ADD Strengths blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1754713 Wed, 03 Sep 2008 01:46:05 +0100 1754713 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1723968&cid=t_193379_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F370395137%2F In this study (Gazzaley, A.  et al.  2005) the investigators went beyond behavioral assessment of the responses, because that kind of thing had been done before.  What they wanted to know was what was happening in the brain during this suppression of irrelevant task. They used functional magnetic resonance (fMRI) imaging over a region of brain that was responsive to the visual images.  What was being measured was the amount of brain activity under conditions when the instructions were to remember a type of image or ignore it.  What they found was that brain activity in all of the young subjects increased when they were viewing scenes they were asked to remember and decreased when presented with an image that they were supposed to have ignored. That is, the brain suppressed its respons... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1723968 Thu, 21 Aug 2008 03:35:42 +0100 1723968 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1717137&cid=t_193379_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2008%2F08%2F19%2Fnon-drug-alternatives-for-adhd-proven-effective%2F Contrary to popular thinking, medications for child attention deficit disorder (ADHD) are not always the best first-line treatment. Instead, parents should seek out behavioral treatments according to new research presented this past weekend at the annual convention of the American Psychological Association. That’s because while medications address ADHD symptoms such as restlessness and fidgeting in a classroom, they don’t address the impairments caused by ADHD. Those include a lack of successful interactions with peers, deficits in reading and math skills, and difficult relations with parents and family members. Behavioral interventions are not just one-to-one general psychotherapy. They are targeted, specific techniques targeted at the problematic behaviors commonly associated wit... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1717137 Tue, 19 Aug 2008 21:00:24 +0100 1717137 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1638116&cid=t_193379_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F338400751%2F This article was written by Pascale Michelon, Ph. D., for SharpBrains.com. Dr. Michelon, Copyright 2008. Dr. Michelon has a Ph.D. in Cognitive Psychology and has worked as a Research Scientist at Washington University in Saint Louis, in the Psychology Department. She conducted several research projects to understand how the brain makes use of visual information and memorizes facts. She is now an Adjunct Faculty at Washington University, and teaches Memory Workshops in numerous retirement communities in the St Louis area. Further reading: - Link to the citation and study: Here. - Promising Cognitive Training Studies for ADHD. - Mindfulness Meditation for Adults & Teens with ADHD. - Working Memory Training for Adults. AD/HD, adhd, adult AD/HD, Attention Deficit, brain, cognitiv... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1638116 Thu, 17 Jul 2008 21:20:13 +0100 1638116 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2523516&cid=t_193379_129_f&fid=27216&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Flifewithadhddotcom%2F%7E3%2F5oUl1ChSTAw%2Fadhd-kids-find-relief-in-video-games-study-claims.php A first-of-its-kind survey is bringing great news to parents and children alike indicating that certain types of video games appear to have a therapeutic effect on ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). According to the survey conducted by Information Solutions Group on behalf of PopCap Games, “casual” video games appear to lessen symptoms of ADHD by increasing attention span, providing stress relief, and improving memory strength and focus. Moreover, because of the increased sense of accomplishment experienced in playing the games, survey respondents reported enjoying this form of therapy. Dr. Carl Arinoldo, a Stony Brook, New York-based psychologist of 25 years’ experience comments, “It seems that children with AD/HD often lack that sense of control that... Life With ADHD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2523516 Thu, 17 Jul 2008 01:14:33 +0100 2523516 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2523517&cid=t_193379_129_f&fid=27216&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Flifewithadhddotcom%2F%7E3%2Fu6Rt42znWlQ%2F7-steps-toward-creating-the-best-learning-environment-for-your-add-adhd-child.php Your child can’t finish homework, he’s always moving, and he gets distracted easily… are these behaviors recognizable in your home? Students with Attention Deficit Disorder are easily distracted and they also can be a distraction to others. Attention Deficit Disorder is a syndrome characterized by serious and persistent difficulties in the following three specific areas: * Attention span * Impulse control * Hyperactivity (sometimes)   ADD/ ADHD is a chronic disorder that can begin in infancy and extend through adulthood, having negative effects on a child’s life at home, school, and within the community. It is conservatively estimated that 5-10% of our school-age population is affected by ADD ADHD. Establishing the proper learning environment at home can make... Life With ADHD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2523517 Tue, 15 Jul 2008 04:43:51 +0100 2523517 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1611867&cid=t_193379_129_f&fid=27216&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2Flifewithadhdfeed%2F%7E3%2F333943846%2Fteaching-social-skills-to-the-adhd-child.php One major problem with Attention Deficit Disorder/Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder kids is their difficulty in getting along with others - either because they are too shy or too aggressive. If your child is in this painful situation, here are a few things you can start doing in your family to help her get along better with others.1. Have a friendly home Teach your child how to make friends by making and keeping friends yourself. Besides, the children of their parents’ friends are often natural choices for friends for children. So have a friendly home and invite people over often. Be hospitable to other children, especially children with interests similar to your child’s - turn-taking, tracking conversations, and cooperating come more easily when children are involved in... Life With ADHD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1611867 Sun, 13 Jul 2008 01:38:38 +0100 1611867 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2523519&cid=t_193379_129_f&fid=27216&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Flifewithadhddotcom%2F%7E3%2FCftj2CKhI8w%2Fmanaging-the-addadhd-child-in-public.php It’s easy to just take your child to school and leave her home every time you want to do something useful or relax. But spending time with your ADD/ADHD child is an investment, and if you know or care to pick up something about ADD/ADHD behavior management, you might even end up having a good time with her. Here are some tips from a parent who has been there…1. Go to Green Areas You don’t need to be a scientist to know that areas with lots of greenery seem to calm ADHD children down, though scientific studies have shown this to be true. If you have a proper park or zoo nearby - not just a few square meters of grass surrounded by concrete - go there everyday with your kids (but even the patch of grass is better than nothing). If the park or zoo or picnic area is more than an h... Life With ADHD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2523519 Sat, 12 Jul 2008 23:51:46 +0100 2523519 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2523521&cid=t_193379_129_f&fid=27216&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Flifewithadhddotcom%2F%7E3%2FqQs5lFjhF3k%2Fty-pennington-to-man-the-adhd-hotline.php Ty Pennington, the host of ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition will be answering calls along with some of the nation’s top ADHD authorities at the toll-free telephone hotline, 1-888-ASK-ADHD on August 9th, 2004. Shire US Inc. will host the sixth annual ADHD Experts on Call Monday,from 8 A.M. to midnight EDT. http://www.adhdexpertsoncall.com/ Here’s a little Ty trivia. Did you know Ty’s mom is a licensed psychologist? A quote from her site, http://www.psychology.am/: “Dr. Yvonne V. Pennington is a licensed psychologist, ADHD and Depression Therapy Specialist, licensed marriage and family therapist, licensed professional counselor, registered play therapist / supervisor, and certified sandplay therapist. With 30 years experience she is able to assist couples, f... Life With ADHD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2523521 Tue, 08 Jul 2008 19:06:27 +0100 2523521 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1611871&cid=t_193379_129_f&fid=27216&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2Flifewithadhdfeed%2F%7E3%2F333585396%2Fty-pennington-life-with-adhd.php Oregonian newspaper reporter Kristi Turnquist wrote a great article the other day that can be viewed online. The Title of the article is, Building awareness of ADHD and it features Ty Pennington of “Trading Spaces” and “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition“. Ty recently appeared in a classroom of Sherwood Middle School for a question and answer session. An unusual spot to find such a busy TV star, even more unusual was how he ended up there in this town of less than 10,000 people. Cathy Jensen, school psychologist sent an e-mail to Ty back in September was hoping he would at least send an e-mail back to her. Cathy was shocked at Ty’s response, he wanted to visit the school and meet with the students enrolled in the school’s Bridge Program, a classroom of stude... Life With ADHD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1611871 Tue, 08 Jul 2008 19:05:29 +0100 1611871 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1611875&cid=t_193379_129_f&fid=27216&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2Flifewithadhdfeed%2F%7E3%2F333585400%2Fborn-to-be-wild-freeing-the-spirit-of-the-hyperactive-child.php I was at the library today and stopped to check out the new book section, when I spotted a new book on the subject of ADHD, I pulled it off the shelf to take a closer look at it. The title of the book is Born to be Wild: Freeing the Spirit of the Hyperactive Child and it’s written by the mother of a hyperactive son, or as she prefers, a highly active son. I’m only half way throught the book, but wanted to share this gem from page 92. On the subject of embracing ALL of our children’s traits. “I believe what we really need to do is learn how to integrate the shadows with the light, the bad with the good, and the negative with the positive behavior. We must embrace all of our child’s traits, not just the ones that we perceive to be of value. For all characteristi... Life With ADHD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1611875 Tue, 08 Jul 2008 11:46:16 +0100 1611875 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1508288&cid=t_193379_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2008%2F06%2F11%2Fst-johns-wort-for-adhd%2F We’re really scratching our heads with this one. As we noted yesterday, St. John’s wort is not an effective treatment for attention deficit disorder (ADHD). Okay. That’s fine. But when we looked through the literature to try and figure out why anyone would think St. John’s wort would be effective for ADHD, we came up empty-handed. It’s fairly unusual to see researchers go to the trouble of a trial of this size and nature to prove a negative. But then when we saw one of the authors of the study was none other than the infamous Joseph Biederman of the Harvard scandal, the pieces fell together. To us, it would be like suggesting St. John’s wort may be an effective treatment for schizophrenia, since they both purportedly work on neurotransmitters in the br... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1508288 Wed, 11 Jun 2008 22:30:14 +0100 1508288 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1466027&cid=t_193379_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2008%2F05%2F24%2Fadhd-and-food-additives%2F Last week, we noted the BMJ published an editorial about a possible link between certain food colorings and a common preservative, and attention deficit disorder (ADHD). The author referred readers to a single study published late last year that showed — in children without ADHD — that there was a correlation between drinking certain experimental liquid concoctions and hyperactive behavior in some of the children studied. I’m not sure why the BMJ published this editorial nearly 8 months after the study was published, an editorial that seemingly adds little new information or insight to the debate. Other than to note that most doctors don’t think about asking their young patients to limit intake of food or drink that have these specific food colorings or preservati... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1466027 Sat, 24 May 2008 14:04:14 +0100 1466027 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1439524&cid=t_193379_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2008%2F05%2F13%2Fadhd-and-consumer-reports%2F Attention deficit disorder is a classic example of the medicalization of mental disorders, where virtually everyone “believes” it is some sort of biochemical or brain disorder and so medications are the appropriate (and wildly popular) treatment choice. Medications are the right and appropriate treatment choice for ADHD; not because it is a medical disease, but because the research base is pretty strong in showing that they are effective. But if you can’t trust Consumer Reports to report accurately on this disorder (and other mental disorders), I’m not sure who you can trust anymore. A colleague recently referred me to the “Best Buy Drugs” section of Consumer Reports health website. So I took a look around and started at the beginning of the alphabet. S... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1439524 Tue, 13 May 2008 14:15:38 +0100 1439524 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1417854&cid=t_193379_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2008%2F05%2F02%2Fdoes-treatment-of-adhd-lead-to-substance-abuse%2F One of the long-standing concerns amongst professionals and parents alike is the possibility that early treatment of attention deficit disorder (ADHD) with stimulant medication (such as Ritalin or Adderall) could possibly lead to later problems. New research suggests these concerns are largely unfounded, with one possible exception. The studies were published in the latest issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry and both studies largely showed no positive association between the use of stimulant medication in children and an increased risk of substance abuse later on in life. The first study, Biederman et. al. (2008) reported on the 10-year followup of 112 children who were between 6 and 17 years-old when first entered into the study: In a longitudinal sample of male subjects diagno... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1417854 Fri, 02 May 2008 22:14:40 +0100 1417854 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1391012&cid=t_193379_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2008%2F04%2F22%2Fheart-risks-with-adhd-stimulant-medications%2F The American Heart Association believes that children and teens with attention deficit disorder (ADHD) should get a careful heart evaluation, including an electrocardiogram (ECG), before they begin taking any of the stimulant drugs commonly prescribed to treated ADHD (such as Ritalin). Children and teens with known or suspected heart conditions should be routinely monitored by their physician for side effects related to taking the medication, which can mean simple blood pressure and heart rate checks. Between one-third to two-fifths of children who have a heart condition also are diagnosed with ADHD, making this a very real concern for these children. We are not so sure of the recommendation of an ECG as a standard evaluative tool before the prescription of such medications. ECGs are use... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1391012 Tue, 22 Apr 2008 17:06:45 +0100 1391012 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1238195&cid=t_193379_122_f&fid=35065&url=http%3A%2F%2Feideneurolearningblog.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F02%2Fmusic-your-brain-and-attention.html In this latest research from Stanford, music can be seen to give quite a workout for the brain. Attention and working memory areas have to work hard, with the right hemisphere working much harder than the left. When test subjects listened to a baroque symphony, the ventral network would detect salient features of music (early transition below, or "macro-organization" features of music, while the dorsal frontal-parietal network was more continually activated to keep the listening process going.Interesting. For many students (and non-students too), music is activating and seems to help with attention and as well as getting tasks done. We know many time-blind people who become more time-aware with music, but because our brains change with what we do with it, the work of listening might really... Eide Neurolearning Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1238195 Mon, 18 Feb 2008 08:01:00 +0100 1238195 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1184666&cid=t_193379_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2008%2F01%2F28%2Fquestions-about-adhd-treatments-effectiveness%2F A longitudinal study was published last month looking at attention deficit disorder (ADHD). Surprisingly, there are actually very few studies on ADHD that follow a set of people diagnosed with the concern over a number of years, so anytime one of these studies gets published, it’s big news. The study also found that in populations where medication is rarely prescribed to treat ADHD, the prevalence and symptoms of the disorder are roughly equivalent to populations in which medication is widely used: Researchers also found surprising results regarding the effectiveness of medicine in treating ADHD. In contrast to children in United States, youth in northern Finland are rarely treated with medicine for ADHD, yet the ‘look’ of the disorder — its prevalence, symptoms, psychiatric... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1184666 Tue, 29 Jan 2008 01:38:48 +0100 1184666 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1132722&cid=t_193379_122_f&fid=35065&url=http%3A%2F%2Feideneurolearningblog.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F01%2Fwhen-learning-differences-are-family.html The New York Times has an article, Your Child's Disorder May Be Yours, Too which is currently available with free registration. Excerpt: "...after Phil and Susan Schwarz received a diagnosis for their son, Jeremy, of high functioning autism, they began to think carefully about their own behaviors and histories.Mr. Schwarz, a software developer in Framingham, Mass., found in his son’s diagnosis a new language to understand his own life. His sensitivities when growing up to loud noises and bright light, his own diffidence through school, his parents’ and grandparents’ special intellectual skills — all echoed through his and Jeremy’s behavior, like some ancient rhythm.His son’s diagnosis, Mr. Schwarz said, “provided a frame in which a whole bunch of seemingly unrelated aspec... Eide Neurolearning Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1132722 Mon, 07 Jan 2008 08:01:00 +0100 1132722 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=891464&cid=t_193379_117_f&fid=34612&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thedoctorweighsin.com%2Fjournal%2F2007%2F9%2F21%2Fwhats-all-the-fuss-about-lead.html Poor Mattel; three huge recalls of lead-tainted toys, despite conscientious testing efforts. Those babe-in-the-woods quality control experts were no match to the wily new capitalists from China, determined to maximize profit. Isn’t that the name of the game?What’s next? A toxic Barbie? That may actually be a blessing in disguise.But, it’s not only toys. Here is an item from today’s San Jose Mercury:Lunchbox warning: Health officials say toss themUNSAFE LEVEL OF LEAD FOUND IN GIVEAWAYSBy Steven HarmonMediaNews Sacramento BureauArticle Launched: 09/21/2007 01:33:38 AM PDTSACRAMENTO - "The state's public health department asked parents Thursday to toss certain Chinese-made lunchboxes potentially containing dangerous levels of lead - the same ones it distribut... The Doctor Weighs In blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=891464 Fri, 21 Sep 2007 23:33:33 +0100 891464 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=869700&cid=t_193379_140_f&fid=36028&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fadhd%2Flife-with-adhd%2Fendless-change-and-inconsistency-are-the-bane-of-add%2F I think of myself as a pretty flexible guy. I do my best to roll with the punches. Agility in all aspects of my life is a firm goal, but sometimes things get out of control. A significant facet of my life has become less and less stable. Things change at a moment’s notice. Priorities vary one minute to the next. What I was sure of an hour ago is now vague and hazy. What was steady and reliable is now shifting and incoherent. After too much of this I just shut down. Focus is not possible. I get depressed. I stop caring. I drift. The storm takes me and there is little I can do about it. I remember feeling this same way in school. The first few weeks were almost always fine, but as time went on and I procrastinated doing homework and failed to complete assignments the apprehension rose. Aft... Life with ADHD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=869700 Thu, 13 Sep 2007 22:08:41 +0100 869700 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=845688&cid=t_193379_117_f&fid=34612&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thedoctorweighsin.com%2Fjournal%2F2007%2F9%2F6%2Fbipolar-diagnosis-in-children-another-epidemic.html By Dov Michaeli , MD, Ph.D One of the plays we saw last Sunday in Ashland was “Distracted”, describing a mother whose nine year old child was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD. The kid was a lively, curious, imaginative, highly intelligent child who was bored with his school, couldn’t keep his mind concentrated on the dumb and further dumbed down assignments-and was labeled by his teacher as “challenged”. It was all downhill from there. The child was seen by all kinds of healers (school nurse, psychologist, neuropsychologist, homeopathic psychiatrist), loaded up with drugs designed to “control” his behavior which in turn led to a new diagnosis: bipolar disorder. I had been vaguely aware of the problems of over- diagno... The Doctor Weighs In blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=845688 Thu, 06 Sep 2007 06:29:24 +0100 845688 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=683274&cid=t_193379_122_f&fid=35065&url=http%3A%2F%2Feideneurolearningblog.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F06%2Fvoluntary-control-of-attention-visual.html In this recent study from the Just lab, we see why multi-tasking is hard, whether it's looking and listening at the same time while watching and listening to a lecture or demonstration, take notes, or learning multi-stepped math procedures.There is a yin and yang effect between visual and auditory attention. When one is looking, then auditory processing areas go down, and when one is listening, then visual processing areas go down. Mixed visual-auditory stimuli have an underadditive effect, so that if you have to do both at the same time, total brain activation goes down, and interestingly, language processing becomes more left hemisphere-dominant.This is interesting because we often see children with strong right hemispheric language processing style whose parents report they "hyperfocus"... Eide Neurolearning Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=683274 Mon, 18 Jun 2007 07:02:00 +0100 683274 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=676161&cid=t_193379_122_f&fid=35065&url=http%3A%2F%2Feideneurolearningblog.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F06%2Fpaying-attention-vs-needing-to-pay.html Here's a interesting paper that distinguishes the brain pathways that involve attending to a task vs. salience detection. Executive control of attention is a volitional direction of attention, whereas salience detection is more reactive or "passive".It's helpful to think about these different pathways necessary for attention because the weaker executives at various stages of their schooling may bewilder their parents by fluctuating grades depending on the teacher and subjects. But differences in the salience of educational stimuli may be responsible for some of the pattern. If the subject interests them, if they find the teacher engaging or clever, or if it seems important for what they want to do or they think is important, then the executive pathways may fire up. The figure above reminde... Eide Neurolearning Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=676161 Mon, 11 Jun 2007 07:02:00 +0100 676161 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=644949&cid=t_193379_87_f&fid=34867&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thediabetesblog.com%2F2007%2F05%2F30%2Ftype-1-vaccination-successfully-tested-on-mice%2F Filed under: Type 1, ResearchI do not like vaccinations. I wonder if they are connected to the autism and diabetes epidemics, even attention-deficit disorders. I do vaccinate my children, just begrudgingly. Yet if there ever was a vaccination against type 1 diabetes, I would be first in line. Researchers in France and Germany have demonstrated you can treat a type 1 diabetic mouse with a vaccination. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system's T cells cannot distinguish between "non-self" and "self", attacking cells of the pancreas that produce insulin. Previously, Drs. Falk and Rotzschke of the Max Delbruck Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC), blocked the misdirected immune system by vaccinating mice with modified structures of the same organ targeted by the de... The Diabetes Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=644949 Wed, 30 May 2007 04:00:00 +0100 644949 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4060782&cid=t_193379_109_f&fid=34859&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.davemsw.com%2Farchives%2F2006%2F12%2Fproblems_with_the_medical_mode.php Image via WikipediaMental illness is less understood than most people think. Common sense would have it that good parenting makes all the difference. It's just not that simple. The NY Times has a great series on "Troubled Children" that is well worth the read. The articles include some good background on the nature of mental illness and it's development. Today six million American children have been diagnosed with a serious mental disorders, a number that has tripled since the early 1990's. But that doesn't mean that the rates of illness have increased in the past few decades. Rather, it is the decease in stigma of seeking help and that more professionals and parents are willing to attribute problems with children to mental illness. ADHD and Bipolar illness is diagnosed with alarming fr... Ψ Dare To Dream... blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4060782 Sat, 23 Dec 2006 15:59:18 +0100 4060782