Psychology- ADHD Fact Sheet
What is ADHD?
Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) is a mental disorder characterized by impulsivity or hyperactivity and abnormal levels of inattentiveness.
This disorder is more common in children and adolescents than adults.
ADHD may occur alone or may be accompanied by other mood disorders, such as disruptive mood dysregulation disorder and anxiety disorders.
Symptoms and Features of the Disorder
Inappropriate inattentiveness, especially in calm settings
Constant fidgeting
Inability to concentrate and complete tasks
Excessive talking
Excessive physical movements, especially in calm settings
Self-focused behaviour
Constant mistakes
Daydreaming
Patients will also present with poor frustration tolerance and poor planning. A positive diagnosis of ADHD is only made when an individual presents with at least six symptoms of inattentive and hyperactive symptoms (Soheilipour et al., 2020). Additionally, a positive diagnosis in adults is only made in individuals with a history of ADHD onset in childhood.
Prevalence Rates
Over six million children have been diagnosed with ADHD.
A majority of these diagnoses fall between the ages of 12 and 17 years.
Boys are two times more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD than girls.
Over 60% of all children diagnosed with ADHD have also been found to have at least one psychiatric comorbidity.
Of these comorbidities, behaviour or conduct disorders accounted for more than 50%.
Other comorbidities include anxiety, spectrum disorder, autism, and Tourette syndrome.
Development and Course of the Disorder
ADHD is a childhood-onset disorder.
This disorder is associated with functional and cognitive deficits linked to abnormalities in some parts of the brain. These alterations are thought to contribute to the deficits in goal-directed behaviour seen in individuals with ADHD.
The developmental path of ADHD and its involvement with the brain informs its management strategies (Wilens & Spencer, 2017).
Pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions have been used in this regard to alleviate symptoms attributable to the disorder.
Non-pharmacological interventions include psychotherapy, family training therapy, social skills training, behavioural therapy and parent training.
Pharmacological interventions utilize drugs such as;
Amphetamine
Adderall
Ritalin
Atomoxetine
A combination of non-pharmacological interventions and pharmacotherapy with drugs has been found to be superior to either of the interventions used alone. Stimulants such as amphetamine have been used as the first line in the management of ADHD.
Risk Factors for the Disorder
Higher birth weight,
The presence of neonatal disorders.
The most implicated neonatal disorders attributable to ADHD include;
Hypoglycemia
Chronic liver disease
Chronic kidney disease
Immunodeficiency disorders
Hyperbilirubinemia
ADHD has also shown some genetic propensity, with the disorder more likely in children whose mothers and siblings have a history of ADHD.
In addition, other risk factors include neonatal exposure to environmental toxins and maternal drug and substance abuse.
Culture and Gender-Based Issues
ADHD has no cultural propensity, with prevalence being similar across cultures.
The disorder is, however, more common in male children than in female children.
The risk of this disorder is twice as common in boys than in girls.
Functional Consequences
ADHD is a chronic psychiatric disorder that may affect long-term, normal functionalities in children.
These children often exhibit;
Poor academic achievement,
Poor job performance and occupational ranks,
Early pregnancies,
Relationship and marital problems,
Substance abuse
Traffic violations
Accidents
Indulgence in risky sexual behaviours (Usami, 2016).
The occurrence of these long-term effects underpins the significance of managing this disorder upon being diagnosed.
References
Neurodevelopmental Disorders. DSM Library. (2022). Retrieved 7 April 2022, from https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596.dsm01.
Soheilipour, F., Shiri, S., Ahmadkhaniha, H., Abdollahi, E., & Hosseini-Baharanchi, F. (2020). Risk factors for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: a case-control study in 5 to 12 years old children. Medicine and Pharmacy Reports. https://doi.org/10.15386/mpr-1407
Usami, M. (2016). Functional consequences of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder on children and their families. Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, 70(8), 303-317. https://doi.org/10.1111/pcn.12393
Wilens, T., & Spencer, T. (2017). Understanding Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder from Childhood to Adulthood. Postgraduate Medicine, 122(5), 97-109. https://doi.org/10.3810/
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Question 
Choose one of the disorders reviewed this week, and then create a fact sheet designed for parents to identify early signs of the disorder. Write your fact sheet content using non-technical terms so your target audience can easily understand it. Present the information in simplified formats, including bullet points and/or charts, with only a few brief paragraphs as needed to describe more complex content. Include at least three references from the assigned materials using the APA guidelines. Include the following components:
Psychology- ADHD Fact Sheet
Symptoms and features of the disorder
Prevalence rates
Development and Course of the disorder
Risk factors for the disorder
Any culture/gender-related issues
Functional consequences
Length:1-2 pages
Your paper should demonstrate thoughtful consideration of the ideas and concepts presented in the course by providing new thoughts and insights relating directly to this topic. Your response should reflect scholarly writing and current APA standards.