scholarly journals Professionally successful adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): Compensation strategies and subjective effects of pharmacological treatment

2008 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-70 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andre Palmini

Abstract Although as a group, adult patients with ADHD have difficulties in social functioning due to inattention and executive dysfunction, some strive and succeed in living a productive, independent life. Purpose: To report on professionally successful adults with ADHD and analyze their main symptoms, compensation strategies and the subjective effect of methylphenidate on their functioning. Methods: The main symptoms of five patients with ADHD who are University educated and financially independent are reported. These patients were selected from a personally followed cohort of adults with ADHD. All were diagnosed according to DSM-IV adapted criteria (K-SADS E, version 6.0) and completed the Portuguese translated version of the ADHD adult self-reporting scale (ASRS). Results: Main reported symptoms included difficulties with attention, tendency to procrastinate and to 'shuffle' priorities, excessive daytime somnolence, memory difficulties and impulsiveness. Compensation strategies revolve around conscious, 'energy demanding' and time consuming efforts to control and circumvent symptomatic behavioral tendencies. They feel methylphenidate helps by alleviating the need to constantly apply compensation strategies for socially disabling symptoms. In sum, they achieve the same results in a more natural, less effortful fashion. Conclusions: Adults with ADHD may succeed professionally despite significant symptoms of inattention and executive dysfunction. They do so by appropriately using effortful strategies of compensation, the need for which is alleviated by the use of methylphenidate. These subjective reports require confirmation in prospective studies on larger series of patients.

1995 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. B. Lahey ◽  
B. Applegate ◽  
K. McBurnett ◽  
J. Biederman ◽  
L. Greenhill ◽  
...  

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Douglas Samuel ◽  
John D. Ranseen

Previous studies have indicated a consistent profile of basic personality traits correlated with adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) (e.g., Ranseen, Campbell, & Baer, 1998; Nigg et al., 2002). In particular, research has found that low scores of the Conscientiousness trait and high scores on Neuroticism have been correlated with ADHD symptomatology. However, to date there is limited information concerning the range of effect resulting from medication treatment for adult ADHD. During an 18 month period, 60 adults were diagnosed with ADHD based on strict, DSM-IV criteria at an outpatient clinic. This evaluation included a battery of neuropsychological tests and a measure of general personality (i.e., the NEO PI-R). Eleven of these participants returned to complete the battery a second time. The pre-post comparisons revealed significant changes following sustained stimulant treatment on both the neuropsychological and self-report measures. These individuals also displayed significant changes on two domains of the NEO PI-R. They showed a significant decrease on the domain of Neuroticism, indicating that now see themselves as less prone to experience negative emotional states such as anxiety and depression. Additionally, they also reported a significant increase on their scores on the domain of conscientiousness. This increase suggests that they see themselves as more organized and dependable.


2008 ◽  
Vol 204 (1) ◽  
pp. 73-83 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott H. Kollins ◽  
Joseph English ◽  
Rachel Robinson ◽  
Matt Hallyburton ◽  
Allan K. Chrisman

2014 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 128-134 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saad Salman ◽  
Muhammad Idrees ◽  
Muhammad Anees ◽  
Jawaria Idrees ◽  
Fariha Idrees ◽  
...  

Objectives: To study the association of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) with heroin addiction. Study design: A cross-sectional, hospital based study. Place and duration of study: The study was carried out at Lady Reading Hospital and Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar, Pakistan from 4th April 2012 to 13th September 2012. Subjects and Methods: A sample of 137 adult heroin addicts were analyzed that whether they were ADHD and that childhood problem continues to manifest symptoms in adults. For retrospective assessment of childhood ADHD, the Wender Utah Rating Scale (WURS) as well as the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) symptom checklist for ADHD was used. The Conners’ Adult ADHD Rating Scales (CAARS) was used to assess the persisting symptoms of ADHD in adults. Inclusion criteria: Patient diagnosed with heroin addiction according to ICD-9 and DSM-IV. Exclusion criteria: Patient has co-morbid with any other mental illnesses. Results: The difference between the mean score of WURS and CAARS of ADHD patients were significantly greater than the normal patients. Heroin addicts showed 41.6% (WURS) and 38.6% (DSM-IV diagnostic criteria) that indicated evidence of retrospective ADHD affliction in childhood. 22.6% were IV users. CAARS was presented in 37.9% heroin addicts who exhibited a substantiation of ADHD persistent in adulthood. The difference between the mean score of WURS and CAARS of ADHD patients were significantly greater (P = 0.003), than the normal patients. Conclusions: These results revealed that addiction is associated with co-morbidity with ADHD, expressed in the form of heroin addiction. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjms.v13i2.18294 Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol.13(2) 2014 p.128-134


2001 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 66-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erica D. Palmer ◽  
Stanley Finger

Reviews of the literature on attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) typically begin early in the twentieth century with the descriptions provided by paediatrician George Still. Physician Alexander Crichton, however, described all of the essential features of the Inattentive subtype of ADHD more than a century earlier than Still. This article presents a short biography of Crichton, looks at his 1798 publication describing attentional disorders in otherwise healthy individuals, contrasts his medical writing with the moralism of Still, and shows how his thoughts and observations are very much in accord with DSM-IV criteria for the Inattentive subtype of ADHD.


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