attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

(noun)

a developmental disorder in which a person has a persistent pattern of impulsiveness and inattention, with or without a component of hyperactivity

Related Terms

  • fragile X syndrome
  • rett syndrome
  • neurodevelopmental disorder
  • autism
  • comorbidity

Examples of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in the following topics:

  • Neurodevelopmental Disorders: Autism and ADHD

    • Some, like Down Syndrome, cause intellectual deficits, while others specifically affect communication, learning, or the motor system.
    • Some disorders, such as autism spectrum disorder and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, have complex symptoms.
    • Approximately three to five percent of children and adults are affected by attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
    • Symptoms of the disorder include inattention (lack of focus), executive functioning difficulties, impulsivity, and hyperactivity beyond what is characteristic of the normal developmental stage.
    • Some patients do not have the hyperactive component of symptoms and are diagnosed with a subtype of ADHD: attention deficit disorder (ADD).
  • The Experience of Illness

    • Specific illnesses known as mental illnesses include major depression, generalized anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, to name a few.
    • Statistics show that more and more people are being diagnosed with mental disorders.
    • The National Institute for Mental Health reports that over 40 million adults are diagnosed with an anxiety disorder in a given year, accounting for 18 percent of the population.
    • Other disorders that are prevalent are ADHD (4 percent), mood disorders (9.5 percent) and and autism (1 percent, but quickly rising).
  • Lipids: Sources, Uses in the Body, and Dietary Requirements

    • Numerous studies have shown that the consumption of omega-3 fatty acids has positive benefits in terms of infant development, cancer, cardiovascular disease, and mental illnesses such as depression, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, and dementia.
  • Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

    • ADHD is a developmental disorder characterized by inattention, distractibility, impulsivity, and hyperactivity.
    • Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental psychiatric disorder characterized by a constant pattern of inattention and/or hyperactive and impulsive behavior that interferes with normal functioning.
    • The first official recognition of the disorder was "attention deficit disorder with and without hyperactivity," in the DSM-III (published in 1980).
    • Revisions to the DSM eventually renamed the disorder as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
    • Often people refer to ADHD-PI as "attention deficit disorder" (ADD); however, the latter has not been officially accepted since the 1994 revision of the DSM.
  • Disorders of the Basal Ganglia

    • These disorders are known as hypokinetic disorders.
    • Hypokinetic disorders are movement disorders that are described as having reduced motor function.
    • Hyperkinetic disorders are movement disorders characterized by increased uncontrollable motor function.
    • Dystonia can occur as a hyperkinetic disorder or as a side effect of hypokinetic disorders such as Parkinson's disease.
    • Tourette syndrome is a disorder that is characterized by behavioral and motor tics, OCD, and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
  • Bipolar Disorders

    • Bipolar disorders are debilitating mood disorders characterized by periods of mania/hypomania and periods of depression.
    • Bipolar disorder (commonly referred to as manic-depression) is a mood disorder characterized by periods of elevated mood and periods of depression.
    • Other mental health issues such as anxiety disorders and substance use disorders are commonly associated.
    • A person experiencing mania may exhibit pressured speech, racing thoughts, low attention span, high distractibility, or poor judgment; they may engage in risky behavior or become aggressive.
    • The symptoms of DMDD resemble those of other childhood disorders, notably attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), and bipolar disorder in children.
  • Depressive Disorders

    • Each year about 6.7% of U.S. adults experience major depressive disorder.
    • Also, an individual may have a depressive disorder coexisting with a substance abuse disorder.
    • This diagnosis combines the previous disorders of chronic major depressive disorder and dysthymic disorder, as there was no evidence for meaningful differences between these two conditions.
    • However, episodes of full-blown major depressive disorder can occur during persistent depressive disorder (APA, 2013).
    • The symptoms of DMDD resemble those of other childhood disorders, notably attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), and bipolar disorder in children.
  • Other Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders

    • Other obsessive-compulsive disorders include body dysmorphic disorder, hoarding disorder, trichotillomania, and excoriation disorder.
    • Obsessive-compulsive and related disorders are a group of overlapping disorders that generally involve intrusive, unpleasant thoughts and repetitive behaviors.
    • Included in this category are body dysmorphic disorder, hoarding disorder, trichotillomania, and excoriation disorder.
    • Hoarding appears to be more common in people with psychological disorders such as depression, anxiety, and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
    • Other neuropsychological factors that have been found to be associated with individuals exhibiting hoarding behaviors include slower and more variable reaction times, increased impulsivity, and decreased spatial attention.
  • Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

    • ADHD is a developmental disorder characterized by problems with focus and self-control.
    • Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a developmental disorder.
    • It is characterized primarily by "the co-existence of attentional problems and hyperactivity, with each behavior occurring infrequently alone" and symptoms starting before seven years of age.
    • Inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity are the key behaviors of ADHD.
    • Twin studies indicate that the disorder is highly heritable and that genetics are a factor in about 75% of all cases.
  • Learning Disabilities and Special Education

    • An intellectual disability, or general learning disability, is a generalized disorder appearing before adulthood, characterized by significantly impaired cognitive functioning and deficits in two or more adaptive behaviors (such as self-help, communication, or interpersonal skills).
    • Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is considered a type of learning disability.
    • This disability is characterized by difficulty with focusing, paying attention, and controlling impulses.
    • Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by limitations in language and social skills.
    • Dyslexia is the most recognized of reading disorders; however not all reading disorders are linked to dyslexia.
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