Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): An Introduction

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), also known as ADD, is the most commonly studied and diagnosed psychiatric disorder. It presents symptoms that begin most often in children between the ages of 6-12, but these symptoms can continue into adolescence and adulthood. Approximately 5-6% of children have ADHD(3). Some of these symptoms include difficulty staying focused, paying attention and controlling behavior, as well as hyperactivity (or over-activity).

There is no definitive cause for the development of ADHD (1), but researchers believe that there are certain factors that may induce the disorder, such as:

• genetics;
• environmental factors;
• brain injuries; and 
• consumption of sugar or food additives.
  
   As more and more research has been conducted on the mechanism of ADHD, researchers have developed treatment options including counseling, lifestyle changes and medications (2); these treatments are often applied simultaneously.

 Throughout the following weeks, we will take a more in depth approach to how ADHD affects the lives of those diagnosed and their families. Check back next week for a discussion on the difference in physiology of a patient diagnosed with ADHD versus an individual without a diagnosis.

1.) "ADD and ADHD Center: Symptoms, Types, Causes, Tests, and Treatments." WebMD. WebMD, n.d. Web. 02 Sept. 2013.
2.) "Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)." NIMH RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Sept. 2013.
3.) Willcutt, Eric G. "The Prevalence of DSM-IV Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Meta-Analytic Review - Springer." The Prevalence of DSM-IV Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Meta-Analytic Review - Springer. N.p., 01 July 2012. Web. 02 Sept. 2013.
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