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Medical Edge Newspaper Column from Mayo Clinic
ADHD: NOT JUST FOR KIDS
DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I’ve read that some kids don’t outgrow ADHD. What does this disorder look like in adults? What treatment options are available?
ANSWER: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a chronic condition that generally involves problems such as inattention, hyperactivity and impulsive behavior. Most often thought of as a childhood disorder, ADHD affects about three to five percent of all children. In the past, researchers believed that most children outgrew ADHD as they got older. Several studies done in recent years, however, estimate that between 30 and 70 percent of children with ADHD continue to have signs and symptoms of the disorder into adulthood.
The common ADHD symptoms seen in children — distractibility, hyperactivity and impulsive behavior — are also observed in adults who have ADHD. But, in adults, they are often more subtle. For example, hyperactivity in adults may be displayed as restlessness and an inability to relax, rather than racing around a room.
Impulsiveness can be particularly difficult for adults with ADHD. It can show through in a range of ways, from impatience waiting in line or driving in heavy traffic to mood swings and intense outbursts of anger.
People with ADHD often have more trouble with organization and concentration as adults than they did as children because, as they get older, their lives become more complicated and demanding. The inability to focus and prioritize can lead to missed deadlines, as well as forgotten meeting and social engagements. In addition, adults who have ADHD often have trouble completing tasks and may be unable to successfully deal with stress. All of these signs and symptoms of adult ADHD can lead to both personal and professional difficulties.
Successful treatment of adult ADHD usually involves medication, along with education and therapy.
Adults with ADHD usually start with a stimulant medication. These drugs boost and balance levels of two brain chemicals: dopamine, which is associated with activity, and norepinephrine, which is associated with mood and behavior. Antidepressants also may be prescribed to treat adult ADHD. Like stimulants, they affect dopamine and norepinephrine.
Although medications may reduce inattention and hyperactivity, they cannot solve all the problems of ADHD, such as poor social skills, troubled relationships and inability to prioritize and organize. Education is often a key part of treatment. Learning about the disorder and what to expect can help. Working with a therapist or other professional who can provide tools and techniques to maintain organization — such as using a datebook, lists, reminders and keeping important items like keys and bills all in one place — can increase confidence for an adult with ADHD.
Psychotherapy also can be an important part of treatment. Therapy offers adults with ADHD the opportunity to talk about issues or problems they may be facing, explore their behavior patterns and learn to deal with their symptoms in positive ways.
— John Huxsahl, M.D., Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.
Additional Resources:
Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Readers: If your skin is inflamed, itchy, dotted with bumps or blisters, it could be contact dermatitis, caused by exposure to an allergen or simply something that irritates the skin, such as soaps and detergents.
If the culprit is an allergy, the skin doesn't usually react to the first exposure. The most common allergens are nickel, a metal commonly used in jewelry, buttons, hooks and zippers; and gold, a precious metal used in jewelry.
Both allergic and irritant contact dermatitis may appear on your hands. But allergic contact dermatitis -- or other skin conditions such as psoriasis -- may be suspected if you develop a rash on your scalp, neck, earlobes, eyelids, lips or underarms.
Your primary doctor or a dermatologist often can base a diagnosis on your skin's appearance and your history of recent contact with allergens and irritants. If no allergen or irritant is apparent, and your symptoms continue, patch testing may be advised, applying small amounts of different allergens to your back to see how your skin reacts.
Identifying and avoiding an allergen or irritant is the primary treatment. Topical creams containing hydrocortisone or a wet dressing also may help relieve redness, itching and discomfort. Oral medications may be needed for severe reactions.
Don't expect overnight results. Even with strict allergen or irritant avoidance, contact dermatitis may take weeks or months to clear up.
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Medical Edge from Mayo Clinic is an educational resource and doesn’t
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or write: Medical Edge from Mayo Clinic, c/o TMS, 2225 Kenmore Ave.,
Suite 114, Buffalo, N.Y., 14207. For health information, visit www.mayoclinic.com.
© 2006 TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC.
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