ADD and Treatment
ADD and its treatment are often connected to problems at work, school or home. The psychiatric disorder is difficult for doctors to diagnose and treat.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most popular name used for this psychiatric disorder. Mental health professionals diagnose ADHD with SPECT brain scans.
Symptoms of typical ADD include being easily distracted, forgetful, and disorganized. Antidepressants and stimulants can help.
Limbic ADD
The most common form of ADD, also known as classic ADD or hyperactive-impulsive ADD, is characterized by inattention, a lack of organizational skills, difficulty staying on task, and trouble with memory. The scans of the brain reveal that those suffering from this type can maintain normal activity while concentrating and at rest in the prefrontal cortex, but they are less active in their cerebellum as well as the basal ganglia. These regions help to produce dopamine, which is the neurotransmitter that is responsible for motivation, calmness and concentration. People with this type have a hard to focus their attention, are easily distracted by the noise or other stimuli and have short attention spans. They have trouble falling asleep, and often wake up in the middle of the night, battling anxiety. They are often overwhelmed by emotions and possess short tempers, and are easily frustrated and easily angry.
Ring of Fire ADD is characterized by all the classic ADD symptoms as well as difficulties in shifting their focus between thoughts and between tasks. They have a sensitivity to light, noise and touch; they talk too quickly and are easily impulsive and easily triggered into a mean-spirited behavior. They are susceptible to moodiness, low energy and anger. They also tend to get stuck in negative thoughts and guilt feelings.
Limbic ADD can be confused with depression, but it's different than depression because it causes increased activity in the limbic portion of the brain (the area that sets our mood and determines the level of happiness or sadness we are) and decreases activity in the prefrontal cortex at both when we are at rest and while in concentration. It can be treated with supplements such as L tryptophan (5-HTP) as well as saffron, inositol, which improve alertness, mood and clarity. Amino acid GABA can also be helpful to reduce neural activity and prevent nerve cells from firing irregularly or excessively.
It is important to differentiate between ADD and mood disorders, such as Bipolar Disorder that can cause frustration and irritability as well as low self-esteem. The main difference between ADD with Limbic Symptoms and Bipolar Disorder is that ADD has a more constant level of irritability that lasts over time. Bipolar Disorder tends to exhibit symptoms that appear in waves.
Overfocused ADD
Over-focused ADD patients tend to get caught up in negative thoughts and behaviors which trigger excessive worrying. This is due to rigid behaviors similar to people suffering from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). These individuals often become threatened emotionally when they are required to shift their focus from one activity to another and respond with argumentative or oppositional behavior.
These people are likely to have an inability to keep their cool and their irritability stems from a chronic depression or low-grade sadness "glass half-empty syndrome," and frequent feelings of hopelessness and worthlessness. They might also have difficulty learning, struggle with memory issues, or have extreme anger and aggression.
People who suffer from over-focused ADD are inflexible when it comes to changing tasks, and could become highly captivated by their hobbies or work. They are prone to missing deadlines at work and forgetting appointments at home, and may not complete chores or school assignments. They can also be stubborn and resentful when they are punished or reprimanded by their parents or teacher.
Children with hyperfocused ADD can be angry and obstinate, and they can throw temper tantrums if their interests aren't recognized. They can be obsessive about particular toys, activities, and video games. They also have difficulty expressing their feelings, and can be extremely sensitive to criticism or rejection.
This form of ADD is more prevalent in children, and can be difficult to diagnose. The majority of children don't understand that their problem is caused by their inability switch their focus from one thing to another. This is why it's important to seek the help of an expert, as children with this kind of behavior are more likely to be misdiagnosed by family physicians and even psychologists. This kind of ADD is typically treated with dietary changes, supplements and cognitive-behavioral therapy. Sometimes, medications are prescribed, but this type of ADD is difficult to treat with stimulant medications because they can increase a person's level of hyperactivity. Functional neuroimaging can be used to differentiate the seven distinct types of ADD and is especially helpful for diagnosing overfocused ADD.
Anxious ADD
Many people with ADD suffer from a high level of anxiety. This comorbidity (having more than one disorder simultaneously) is common, impacting about half of sufferers of ADD/ADHD. Stress and anxiety can mirror the symptoms of ADD/ADHD. A misdiagnosis can lead to unsuitable treatment and anger.
Anxious ADD can cause issues at work, at school, or with social situations. This kind of ADD can cause under-performance and feelings of inadequacy. People with anxiety ADD tend to avoid difficult tasks and events, believing they're not capable of completing the task.
They are also afraid of being judged and critiqued. Due to this, they often hide their troubles from others. In some cases, these people are so stressed and anxious that they develop panic attacks. They can be extremely severe and life-threatening, causing sweating, a pounding heart and breathing problems. Anxious ADD is distinct from Classic ADD because it has increased activity in the basal ganglia, as well as the amygdala. These areas are instinctive and place a high value on safety. This causes the brain to shut down the PFC which makes it hard for these individuals to concentrate.
If someone suffering from ADD/ADHD has anxiety their symptoms are generally more difficult to manage than those of someone who doesn't have anxiety. This is due to treatment strategies for ADD/ADHD, which are designed to stimulate the brain can increase anxiety in those with anxiety ADD due to a decrease in activity in their PFC.
Amen Clinic psychiatrists employ functional neuroimaging techniques like SPECT scans in order to determine which areas of the brain have low and/or higher levels of activity are found. This allows them to distinguish between the seven kinds of ADD and determine the best treatment for each patient.
A psychiatrist will collect an entire medical record and perform a physical examination to determine if the patient suffers from ADHD or ADD. He or she may also inquire about the patient's mood and behavior in order to evaluate the patient's overall performance. Medications are sometimes used to treat ADD/ADHD but in most cases, patients need other therapies as well, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, nutrition and exercise, sleep strategies, desensitization, and other techniques to relax. This can aid in improving their ability to manage their emotions and improve their overall functioning.
Temporal Lobe ADD
This type of ADD affects the temporal lobe in the brain, which is responsible both for memory and mood. This kind of ADD is manifested by a lack of learning and keeping information in memory as well as mood instability and extreme anger or aggressive issues. They also often suffer from various sensory issues, such as experiencing a sense of deja vu or seeing shadows or objects changing forms and hearing sounds that other people don't hear. They are sensitive, irritable and easily overstimulated.
The symptoms of this kind of ADD are similar to those seen in Classic ADD, including short attention spans and disorganization, difficulties in following directions or staying focused, and procrastinating. This kind of ADD does not cause hyperactivity or impulsivity. This kind of ADD is more prevalent in females. This kind of ADD is characterised by low levels of dopamine in the brain which can lead to feelings of low motivation or poor self-regulation. Symptoms can include trouble sleeping and feelings of anxiety or irritability.
In this case brain mapping scans using qEEG of the brain reveal that individuals with Over-focused ADD have normal activity in their anterior cingulate gyrus, the brain's "gear shifter," but they are having trouble shifting gears. They are unable to move from one thought or task to another, and they become stuck in negative thinking patterns and behavior.
This is a form of ADD in which people are extremely motivated and hardworking but are unable to focus on important tasks. They may lose focus and become embarrassed or tired by their behavior. They may have a difficult time in relationships because they are impulsive or reactive, and have difficulty managing multiple tasks or working with other people. In some cases they might experience anxiety or depression. They are susceptible to panic attacks and susceptible to hallucinations. Treatments for read more this type of ADD are not usually advised, since they do not address the underlying reason for the symptoms.