Dealing with ADHD without Medication - Research Paper Example

Running head: DEALING WITH ADHD WITHOUT MEDICATION Dealing with ADHD without Medication DEALING WITH ADHD WITHOUT MEDICATION Abstract This paper explores the main reasons and treatments of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Researches show that non-pharmacological treatments of attention deficit disorder and be very effective for a long period, among such methods social skills training, parent training and classroom interventions can be mentioned. This paper also mentions the cases of adult’s attention deficit disorder. Natural treatment of such cases without drugs can be adapted to the person’s age and general psychiatric condition. Sanford Newmark, Head of the Pediatric Integrative Neurodevelopmental Program of San Francisco, believes that children need an integrative approach and advices to combine conventional medicine with behaviour management, nutrition, and various complementary modalities. This opinion is shared by Susan Young and J. Myanthi Amarasinghe, authors of The Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry. This paper is describing their methods and advices for dealing with ADHD without medication. This paper also considers establishing misdiagnosis and comments on details to consider when the diagnosis is suspected to be attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and its main causes and classification. Keywords: ADHD, children treatment, treatment without medication DEALING WITH ADHD WITHOUT MEDICATION Dealing with ADHD without Medication Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is considered to become one of the most common children’s disorders; the number of such diagnoses in some countries in recent years has grown considerably. Professor of Brandeis University Peter Conrad is sure that this is a purely economic and cultural phenomenon. It is a fact that ADHD can continue through adolescence and adulthood (Conrad et al. 2014). Symptoms of this disorder may include difficulty in attention focusing, difficulty with behaviour control, and over-activity. ADHD subtypes ADHD can be divided into three subtypes: Predominantly hyperactive-impulsive This type of disorder is characterized by impulsivity and over-activity. People with this ADHD type can be marked not only cases of inattention, but also other symptoms, including: impatience, feeling restless acting out of turn, they can have troubles engaging in quiet activities and with inappropriate blurting out answers. Predominantly inattentive People suffering from this subtype of ADHD can represent more symptoms of inattention than of both hyperactivity and impulsivity. They can also have problems with hyperactivity from time to time and their control is depending on the impulse. However, these characteristics are not the main ones, talking about inattentive ADHD. People who have inattentive ADHD often get bored quickly, they can miss details, lose necessary items, like pans and papers. They have problems in organizing thoughts and difficulties in studying new information. Combined hyperactive-impulsive and inattentive DEALING WITH ADHD WITHOUT MEDICATION People who are suffering from combination ADHD type can’t be determined clearly, as they don`t have predominantly one symptom, like the other two types of disorder show. The National Institute of Mental Health considers this type to be the most widespread among the children (NIMH). This diagnosis you get when you show not less than six symptoms of impulsivity and inattention. Causes of ADHD The fact is that scientists have no common point of view what is the cause of ADHD. However, many of them do not deny a large role of genes. Like a lot of other illnesses, the discussing disorder is probably a result of a combination of some factors. After genetics researchers pay their attention to environmental factors, studying brain activity and social environment, contributing to ADHD. The result of international studies shows that ADHD usually runs in families. Only several genes are considered to be the cause of disorder`s development. Researchers believe that this knowledge will help them to prevent ADHD before it symptoms will become visible one day. Learning causes is always the first step to the finding of optimal treatment. Children with ADHD have thinner brain connections in the areas associated with attention. The research of NIMH found that this difference was not constant and with the growth of participants with such gene, the brain tissue was developed to a normal level and their symptoms of ADHD have improved. The same researches have shown that behavior, which is similar to ADHD, can be noticed in those children, whose brain was injured. However, the percentage of such traumatic cases is not very big. DEALING WITH ADHD WITHOUT MEDICATION Environmental factors are also included to the factors, which probably can cause ADHD. Researchers suggest that smoking and drinking alcohol during pregnancy may be a link to the children`s ADHD. In addition, those who were influenced with high levels of lead get more often to the risk group of ADHD`s developing. Recent British researches prove that an increase in activity may be caused with a use of food additives, including preservatives and artificial food colors. These researches are continuing in order to confirm the findings and study the influence of food additives on the appearing of hyperactivity. For some period there was an idea that the use of refined sugar may lead to this disorder or make its symptoms worse, however the researchers’ study had not shown any differences between behavior of the children, who were giving meals containing sugar every day and those who got the sugar substitute. It did not influence on their learning capabilities either. Similar results were gotten in the other contrary studying, when children got sugar or its substitutes, which were higher than average amounts. In another study, two children`s groups were given the sugar substitute known as Nutrasweet. However one group was told they are getting sugar and the other – they are given aspartame. At the end of test, children, who thought they were given sugar, seemed to be more hyperactive. So, who is under the risk of ADHD? The average age of its beginning in childhood is 7 years old. The scientists noticed that about 4% of American adults, who achieved 18 years and older are suffering from ADHD. American children of age between 13 and 18 are affected in an amount of approximately 9.0% (NIMH). It is the fact that boys can be fourfold “likely” to meet the disorder than girls. DEALING WITH ADHD WITHOUT MEDICATION ADHD Treatment Medications are usually used as the first stage of treatment of practically every disorder, however, this method can`t always be the best solution. According to Sanford Newmark, the Head of the Pediatric Integrative Neurodevelopmental Program, the best treatment is integrative approach which allows to analyze the child as a whole, but not only his medical diagnosis, and as a result it becomes possible to find the most effective and at the same time the most safe therapies to help small patients (Newmark). Dr. Newmark is adherent of holistic and integrative treatment of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. In his activity he combines conventional medicine first with behaviour management. The similar idea is expressed by the authors of The Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, Susan Young and J. Myanthi Amarasinghe. The idea is that the medication stimulation in the usual treatment cannot adequately help and fill the multiple necessities in mental health and fix the diversity of impairments, which are associated with the discussing disorder (Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry). Most of medication stimulants can be used without danger only during short term, in other way they can cause heart and liver problems and addiction in some patients. On the contrary, non-pharmacological treatments, for example, classroom interventions, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), training of social skills, according to the opinion of Young and Amarasinghe, can bring an effective result for a long-term basis. However ADHD is usually met in childhood, its symptoms can be brought into adulthood and this makes specialists to pay attention on the needs of the person, his age and psychiatric condition. The following treatments can be used at home and at school, where the youngest patients spend practically all their time. DEALING WITH ADHD WITHOUT MEDICATION Among non-pharmacological therapies, in addition to methods of psychotherapy biofeedback method is used, as well as method of diet therapy. Talking about this method Schnoll R. believes that the nature of diet in the treatment of ADHD is often overlooked but important aspect (Schnoll et al. 2003). There are reasons to consider food allergy as a potential cause of the formation of hyperactivity. In treating ADHD, the most widespread diet is Feingold`s one, based on the principle of maximum exclusion from the diet food additives, synthetic food dyes, as well as sugar and artificial sugar substitute (Schnoll et al. 2003). Feingold Diet is a therapeutic diet, which prevents products containing natural salicylates (apples, apricots, cherries, blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, gooseberries, grapes and raisins, oranges and other citrus, nectarines, plums and prunes, cucumbers, tomatoes, nuts and so on. It is advised to avoid foods and meals that contain artificial flavors and colors (ice-cream, margarine, flour products of industrial production - besides bread - sweets, candies, chewing gum, cloves, jams, jellies, sausages, and so on). All carbonated beverages also need to be excluded, as well as all kinds of tea. Feingold diet is accompanied by a limited supply of vitamin C, so it requires some correction. Non-pharmacological correction includes behavior modification techniques, psychotherapy, educational and neuropsychological correction. The child is recommended sparing regimen of training - the minimum number of children in the class (in ideal no more than 12 people), shorter duration of classes (30 min), the stay of the child in the front row (eye contact of the teacher and the child usually improves concentration). DEALING WITH ADHD WITHOUT MEDICATION From the point of view of social adaptation purposeful and long-term education of the childs social norms of behavior encouraged is also important, as the behavior of some children has antisocial traits (Gromisch). Psychotherapeutic work with parents is necessary in this question for that they did not regard the childs behavior as a “hooligan” and be more understanding and patient in their educational activities. It is also necessary to avoid fatigue during performing tasks, as this can strengthen the hyperactivity. “Hyperactive” children are extremely excitable, so it is necessary to exclude or limit their participation in activities related to the accumulation of large numbers of people, as the child has difficulties in concentrating, you need to give him only one occupation for a certain period of time. It is important to make right chose of partners for games, it would be better when friends of the child are balanced and calm. Psychological features of hyperactive children are such that they are immune to reprimands and punishments, but quickly react to the slightest praise. Therefore it is recommended to formulate warnings and instructions for children with ADHD clearly and concisely. Punishment should follow immediately after the offending rapidly, to be as close in time to the wrong behavior as it is possible. If a child is really sick, then to scold him for hyperactivity is not only useless, but harmful. In such cases, can only valid criticism of specific wrongdoing is available. It is recommended to reduce the time watching TV and playing computer games. It must be remembered that excessive demands and excessive training load to the resistant fatigue and the appearance aversion to learning of the childs. DEALING WITH ADHD WITHOUT MEDICATION Ideally, the child should be seen at neurologist and psychologist, feel the support of parents and their belief in a positive outcome. This support reinforces the skills that appear in the child`s behavior during treatment. In adult ADHD problems of hyperactivity and impulsive behavior become less noticeable, but people suffer from constant problems with attention focusing. The elder groups are suffering from anxiety and mood disorders; they often have problems with sleep. For them cognitive behavioural therapy was a bit changed. Now the therapist is working directly with a patient, not using his parents as a link. The person is working in order to determine plans and behavior, to monitor the progress in treatment. CBT pays attention on restructuring strategies, for example it tries to change a habit of negative thoughts. The therapist is helping to improve the patient`s attention, time planning, organization skills. CBT can also be a treatment of other disorders, such as depression. It would be good if you follow a regular schedule, including consistent sleep and wake times. Make daily routines stable. It is often helpful to include all daily activities to the schedules. Non-pharmacological treatment is necessary to be adapted to the patient, only in that case it will bring profit. Such methods of dealing with ADHD are teaching the person how to cope with symptoms. The forecast of non-pharmacological treatment is favorable, as the symptoms disappear in adolescence of about 40-50% of children. Social adaptation of children with ADHD can be achieved only if the interest and cooperation will exist in family, school and society. DEALING WITH ADHD WITHOUT MEDICATION References Elizabeth Stannard Gromisch Treating ADHD in Children, Adolescents and Adults Without Medication, psychcentral.com Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry; Practitioner Review: Non-pharmacological treatments for ADHD: A lifespan approach; Susan Young and J. Myanthi Amarasinghe; February 2010 National Institutes of Mental Health Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), www.nimh.nih.gov Peter Conrad, Meredith R. Bergey. The impending globalization of ADHD: Notes on the expansion and growth of a medicalized disorder. Social Science & Medicine, 2014. Sanford Newmark, MD | Osher Center for Integrative Medicine. (n.d.). osher.ucsf.edu Schnoll R., Burshteyn D., Cea-Aravena J. Nutrition in the treatment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: a neglected but important aspect // App. Psychophysical Feedback. 2003. Read More