ADHD - Treatment and Interventions

Symptoms

Symptoms

- No eye contact

- Fiddles a lot

- Out of focus every few minutues

- Refrained from answering questions

TECHNIQUES USED

Treatment

- Dance Movement Therapy

- Empty chair technique

- Grounding technique

- Spiral technique

- Swish technique

- My WINS certificate

Social Skills

Goals

- How to interact in with peers

- Improve verbal and non-verbal communication

• Increasing the amount of time the child remains seated
• number of math paper completed
• play with others

Psychoeducation

FOR ADHD

- How to constructively respond to the child's behavior

- How to structure their child's day to prevent difficulties

Reinforcement programs

Cognitive behavioral interventions

Reward for improvements and punish misbehaviors through loss of rewards

- Reduce distractibility and Improve organisation skills in adults

Stimulants

- The first types of medication used for children with ADHD were stimulants. Hundreds of studies have documented the effectiveness of this kind of medication in reducing the core symptoms (hyperactivity, impulsiveness) of the disorder. It is estimated that more than 4 million children in the United States are being treated with medication for symptoms of ADHD

- Drugs such as methylphenidate and several non-stimulant medications such as atomoxetine (Strattera), guanfacine (Tenex), and clonidine have proved helpful in reducing the core symptoms of hyperactivity and impulsivity and in improving concentration on tasks

- It appears that stimulants medications reinforce the brain’s ability to focus attention during problem-solving tasks. Although the use of stimulant medications remains controversial. The concerns over the use of stimulant medications now include their potential for abuse.

- This is particularly worrisome for children with ADHD because they are at increased risk for later substance abuse

Psychopharmacogenetics

- Psychopharmacogenetics is the study of how your genetic makeup influences your response to certain drugs. The hope for this field is that medications can be matched or even “designed” for individuals to better complement their specific needs. For example, one study looked at the use of methylphenidate (Ritalin) for children and adolescents with ADHD. For those who had a specific gene defect - the adrenergic alpha-2A receptor gene (ADRA2A)—methylphenidate had a strong positive effect, especially on their problems with inattention. This was not the case for those with ADHD who did not have the ADRA2A gene defect.

- Currently, the use of drug treatments tends to be by trial and error: A medication is attempted at a particular dose; if it is not effective, the dose is changed. If that does not work, a different medication is tried. This new study holds the promise of potentially eliminating this guesswork by tailoring the treatment to the individual. It has some weighty concerns. Central to these concerns are issues of privacy and confidentiality.

- Some portion of children with ADHD do not respond to medications, and most children who do respond show improvement in ability to focus their attention but do not show gains in the important areas of academics and social skill. In addition, the medications often result in unpleasant side effects, such as insomnia, drowsiness, or irritability