Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and its relation to aggressive behavior among primary school students of both genders in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

The current study aimed to examine the correlation type between attention deficit hyperactivity disorders among primary school students of both genders in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It also sought to make comparisons between the male and female primary school students regarding attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and aggressive behavior. Further, the present study examined ADHD in children and its relationship to a number of other potentially related variables. The sample of the study consisted of 200 primary school students of both genders whose ages ranged between 9 to 13 years. To achieve the objectives of the study, it relied on the descriptive (correlative/comparative) method, especially the Pearson correlation coefficient and the T-test. The findings of the study show that there were more male children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and aggressive behavior than female students. The results of the study confirm the results of other studies. The study recommends that there is a need for early detection of children with developmental and emotional disorders (like children with ADHD). The results of the present study are also consistent with the findings of previous studies that indicated that attention disorder associated with hyperactivity is positively associated with aggressive behavior in children of both sexes. It also proposes to prepare and arrange guidance programs for them and their parents and strive towards achieving optimal treatment of such children in the school environment.

Verbal Expression and Mother’s Desperation about Their Children with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Parents who have children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are challenging because these children are special and need special treatment. Because they are challenging, parents need support from their inner or outer circle. One of the strategies to get a support is by expressing what they feel. Feelings can be expressed in various ways, verbal and non-verbal. It can be in a non-formal situation like having a conversation in a community or a home environment. Thus, this research aims to describe the verbal expressions and desperation of the mothers to raise their children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). This research uses phenomenological method called Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) because this study focuses on interpretive processes in understanding participants’ experiences ideographically. 25 participants are observed and interviewed in-depth regarding their experiences in raising their children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The participants’ verbal expression of desperation are classified into seven themes: Repeating the same instruction or warning over and over, Being different and isolated, Mess things up in the house, Could not stay still and unpredictable, Aggressiveness, irritation and tantrums, Extra effort for visual learner, Child lacks of motivation. The results show that the feeling of desperation persistently happened because it is difficult to understand the characteristics of a child with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The also admit that it is difficult to make normal children and mothers to accept their circumstances. Meanwhile, other participants state that they seek more information and knowledge about ADHD by joining a community to get help or support psychologically and medically, practice and more practice at home in order to help their children grow better.

Cannabis for the Treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A Report of 3 Cases

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a chronic neurobehavioral disorder that is highly prevalent in children and adults. An increasing number of patients with ADHD are self-medicating with cannabis, despite a lack of evidence on efficacy and safety. This case report describes 3 males (ages 18, 22, and 23) who have integrated cannabis into their treatment regimen with positive results. Semistructured interviews conducted with the patients describe subjective improvements in symptoms and on quality of life. Improvements on validated rating scales conducted post-cannabis initiation, compared to pre-cannabis initiation obtained from the medical chart, corroborated their personal accounts. Scores on the PHQ-9 (measuring depression) improved by 8–22 points (30–81%), and the SCARED (measuring anxiety) ranged from 0 to 27 points (up to 33%). Improvements on the CEER-9 scale (measuring regulation) ranged from 2 to 7 points (22–78%), and the 9-item SNAP scale (measuring inattention) showed improvements of 2–8 points (7–30%). Mild adverse events including short-term memory problems, dry mouth, and sleepiness were reported. Blood samples were also collected from the patients to determine the plasma concentrations of the cannabinoids and relevant metabolites before and after a cannabis administration. After cannabis use, the plasma levels for CBD and THC ranged from 0 to 15.29 ng/mL and 1.32 to 13.76 ng/mL, respectively. Cannabinoids, however, were not detected prior to dosing, suggesting that cannabis played a complimentary role in the therapeutic regimen of these 3 patients. Clinical trials are recommended to confirm the efficacy of cannabis in the treatment of ADHD.