Family Therapy for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) - Research Paper Example

Family Therapy for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Abstract Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is the most common behavioral disorder in children which is characterized by increased motor activity and reduced attention span, and can be continued till adulthood. Although the exact causes of ADHD remain unknown, current research suggests that heredity and neurological based condition could be the causes of the disorder. It is estimated that about 2 million children in America have had ADHD.A child with ADHD can create a lot of stress for parents as well as the rest of the family. Without treatment, a child with the disorder will continue to be disruptive to the family. So parents need to take child's symptoms seriously and find out what is going on. There are two ways to manage their disorder. The most commonly used method is administering the drug Ritalin, and the second is a technique called behavior modification or family aided therapy. In the paper, Family therapy, used to treat ADHD has been discussed. Family Therapy for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Introduction Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a disorder characterized by persistent patterns of inattention and/ or impulsivity. The disorder can span across social, academic or occupational functioning. The diagnosis and treatment for adults and children must be comprehensive, so Doctor's can determine other disorders that may be similar or associated with ADHD. It is not known as learning disability but mostly behavioral problem. This disorder is very hard to diagnose since it shares many of the same symptoms as other disorders. Symptoms of ADHD usually start before a child reaches seven years old and it is important to rule out other medical or emotional problems. ADHD in Children As a parent some of the symptoms to look for in children 3 to 5 are the following ·The child is constantly in motion ·Finds it hard to sit still at meals ·Plays briefly with toys and flits from one activity to another ·Has difficulty responding to simple instructions. ·Talks nonstop and often interrupts ·Has trouble sharing, waiting, and taking turns ·Misbehaves often (Goldstein, 2005, pg19) Children, ages 6 to 12 share similar symptoms bur also exhibit the following: ·Getting into dangerous activities without thinking of what will happen ·Are easily distracted, and don't finish assignments or chores ·Have trouble following through on instructions ·Are socially immature, with few friends and have poor reputation among peers ·Have been labeled by teaches as "unmotivated", "lazy", "a daydreamer" or a "behavioral problem" (Goldstein, 2005, pg21) ADHD in Adults Adult symptoms will occur in fluctuating severities and types, causing "significant impairments in interpersonal relations, marriage, emotional well-being, employment and daily adaptive functioning"(Goldsmith, 2005). There are three subtypes of ADHD the predominately hyperactive-impulsive type, the predominately inattentive type, and the combined type. Hyperactive individuals who display this type of ADHD almost seem like a motor with an endless supply of gas is driving them. They don’t usually slow down. Adults with this aspect of ADHD may feel chronically restless and have feel they must remain busy (Robinson, 2004). People with impulsive ADHD tend to act on things without thinking the consequences or options all the way through. It is as if they make these decisions when they don't even have to. Individuals with the inattentive type of ADHD have a hard time keeping their focus on what they should be doing. If someone with inattentive ADHD is trying to learn something that he or she has little interest in, that person may have rough time learning. However, if the individual is doing something he or she likes or is passionate about that person would have no problem paying attention. (Robinson, 2004). ADHD: Gender and Ethnicity Considerations According to researches, ADHD occurs three times more in boys than girls and the severity of the symptoms is much worse. Society looks down on people who suffer moderate to severe levels of ADHD (Strock, 2003). However, girls, being more sensitive than boys, seemed to be more vulnerable towards ADHD. It could be because of the fact that girls are less hyperactive than boys so the reality could be under diagnosed and need more research in order to reveal more detail. Communities where individuals are discouraged to express their feeling and/or ethnicities where children are being abused or/and deprived of basic necessities of life (third world countries) are more likely to have ADHD. (Levinthal, 2005) ADHD and Family Intervention Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder can be very hard to identify and it can take some time before it is diagnosed. Therefore, family must stay patient and give the child a lot of emotional loving support until the cause of their problems can be found. A child with ADHD can create a lot of stress for parents as well as the rest of the family. Without treatment, a child with the disorder will continue to be disruptive to the family. So family should take child's symptoms seriously and find out what is going on. (Krause, 2006) Children with ADHD often get the attention of their parents when they do something wrong. It is very important to reward the child with words, hugs and an occasional gift for positive behavior. These kinds of positive reinforcement from parents, family members and friends will help children feel good about them. There are several ways ADHD can be helped but nothing has proved to cure this disorder 100%. (Young, 2002). Researches reveal that environmental structuring plays an essential role in enhancing concentration. (William, 2002) Individuals with attention deficit disorders are both drawn to and overwhelmed by a highly stimulated environment. Family can give adults with ADHD full support in order to minimize its effects like they should be encouraged to exercise that can reduce stress, anger and frustration, control of substance use so that they do not lower their level of self-control with drugs like alcohol or cocaine, regular practice of meditation or prayer, getting a reasonable amount of sleep every night, or psychotherapy or coaching to learn how to put feelings into words instead of actions. (William, 2002) Researches advocate family involvement in treatment for the ADHD adult patients. (Varley, 2005) This has been emphasized that the characteristic poor capacity of these patients for self-observation makes open communication crucial if the patient is to get needed feedback. Friends and family members help promote medication compliance. They can also provide diagnostic information and objective views of the response to medication. Family therapy provides support for stressed family members and helps them establish realistic expectations for the identified patient. (Simeon, 2006) Family Therapy of ADHD in Children Now we will talk about the household way of treating ADHD, family therapy. Organization and simplicity is the key to family therapy. There are many ways to help child by using this method of treatment. Special physical education is one for example. This helps improve coordination and increase child's ability to handle activities that can over stimulate them. Play therapy and special diet can also help. Come of the most effective and most commonly used method of behavior modification are this that make only simple adjustments in the child's life. Because although parents may be trying to help their child, major changes in child’s daily routines can cause them to act out even more (Smucker, 2001). If the child has trouble remembering several instructions at school, parents should teach the child to write down key words. For example: child's math teacher says open to page 39. Do section b in class, and section c for homework on graph paper. Child's note might look like this: Math homework 1. Page 39 2. Section c 3. Pencil 4. Graph paper Another way is something called quick pictures? This method can be used in younger children who cannot yet write. When parents give child something to do, they can draw quick pictures of what needs to be done. (McCleary, 2002). In older children, parents can make them prepare a list of things that need to be done that day. This will help them gain a sense of control in their lives and can boost their self-esteem by not having to be constantly reminded that they have forgotten to do something. These are just a few examples of family therapy. Although there is no cure has been found for ADHD there are medications that can help these individuals. There are many more ways in which family can try in order to help their child lead a productive life off medication. It should be stressed that kids with ADHD are no less intelligent than kids without this disorder. Just their brains work differently. Family Therapy of ADHD in Adults No controlled trials assessing the value of psychosocial treatment for adults with ADHD exist although there is a body of literature evaluating the value of such treatment in children. Medication sufficiently controls symptoms in many cases, but counseling and education can enhance outcome. (Wender, 2005) Once primary symptoms have been alleviated, secondary problems such as depressive symptoms, family problems, and substance abuse may become amenable to treatment for the first time. Educational information includes helping the patient and family to understand the problem as a biologic disorder rather than a character deficiency. Such information can dramatically alter both the patient's and family members' negative perceptions of the patient. Information about local ADHD adult support groups, lectures, and newsletters can be useful. Patients may be advised on ways to adapt life-style and environment to symptoms in a manner that emphasizes strengths. They may be advised to change job responsibilities, avoid becoming overly tired or hungry, avoid sensory overstimulation, minimize distractions, establish routines, and allow others (perhaps a secretary) to give reminders and assist with organization, and switch tasks adaptively to maintain attention. (Greene, 2001) An adult with ADHD can get married and is capable enough to enjoy married life if their spouse give them full support and understand the fact that they both are different so it will need them more time to get adjusted with each other than a normal couple. Spouse should be encouraged to express their expectations clearly, and to make certain that they are understood. Poor self-esteem is common in adults having ADHD. Individual counseling can be useful for improving self-esteem, altering maladaptive traits, and improving social skills, as well as teaching time management, organizational skills, and anger control. (Kelly, 2002) Behavior modification techniques and cognitive therapy have shown mixed results in children. Such treatments are often associated with a recurrence of symptoms and poor generalizability of treatment gains after termination of treatment. Conclusion Group therapy provides special opportunities for role playing and practicing basic social skills. Group settings also allow ADHD patients to improve their self-awareness by observing others who have similar problems. Vocational counseling, special tutoring, and deficit retraining for learning deficiency is indicated for certain individuals. Many future avenues of research exist for adult ADHD. There is more to learn about the boundaries and patho physiology of the disorder and its relationship to other psychiatric conditions. Sub classifications need to be better elucidated, if the disorder is indeed one disease. More sensitive psychological tests need to be developed to detect the subtle types of deficits displayed by this patient population. Finally, there is a need for larger, controlled trials to further explore the utility and safety of both established agents and the newer promising agents. Despite these deficiencies in our current knowledge, safe and effective treatments are currently available to assist those who suffer from ADHD. References Gillette, B. (2003). Controlling kids., Vol. 18 Issue 6, p126-126, 1p; (AN 13601471) Goldstein, Ph.D., Sam (2005, December 04). Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (adhd) in adults. Retrieved July 6, 2006, from ADD resources Greene, R., et al. (2001). 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