Frequency: It has an average frequency of 4% among adults and is more common than many other psychiatric diseases.
Causes: ADHD is predominantly biological. Irregularities have been detected in the dopamine and noradrenaline secretion systems in the brain. ADHD has a 75% genetic inheritance. ADHD is the psychiatric disorder with the strongest hereditary feature and therefore the strongest biological aspect. This hereditary transmission is not related to nurture. Adoption studies have shown that the prevalence of ADHD is higher in biologically related children and parents than in adopted children. However, biological and environmental factors interact and determine the outcome. Some individuals with a biological predisposition may never developADHD.
Symptoms: there are three symptom clusters:
1) Distractibility
2) Hyperactivity
3) Impulsivity
- In some people, it may occur only with distraction, without the last two being present.
1) Symptoms of lack of attention or disorganization:
- Loss of attention Inability to pay attention to details and make careless mistakes;
- Inability to continue the work started;
- Inability to listen to what is being said;
- Being easily distracted while doing something;
- Organized inability to move;
- Avoiding tasks that require mental effort;
- Losing belongings;
- Easily distracted by external stimuli;
- Forgetfulness.
2) Signs of hyperactivity:
- Fidgeting with hands and feet or fidgeting in the seat;
- Inability to sit in one place for a long time;
- Constant state of boredom;
- Inability to perform activities calmly;
- Constantly being in motion;
- Don't talk too much.
3) Symptoms of impulsivity:
- Interruption,
- Interruption ,
- Speaking without thinking;
- Inability to wait in line.
Cure: Begins in childhood. In the past, these symptoms were It was thought that children got better in adolescence. However, today we know that 60% of individuals whose symptoms begin in childhood continue into adulthood. As age progresses, the symptom profile of the disease changes. Usually, hyperactivity regresses or the aimless fidgeting in childhood turns into purposeful one in adulthood. A child who runs and climbs excessively may be interested in active activities in adulthood. However, distraction and lack of organization continue to significantly affect life. People may not be able to continue their jobs in adulthood and may make sudden decisions.
Reasons for consulting a doctor in adult life: Family problems, work-related problems and frequent job changes, depression due to repeated failures, constant anxiety. state of being, problems due to distraction, inability to organize, low self-esteem, inability to show skills, forgetfulness, low self-esteem, difficulty in maintaining relationships, mental fatigue, inability to empty the mind.
Accompanying behavioral problems: Getting angry easily, reacting without understanding and listening to the subject, starting work without making a detailed plan, taking too many risks, not being able to spend time calmly, answering explosively, not being able to wait in the queue, interfering with others, getting bored with routine work, getting bored while reading long texts, simple mistakes and frequent clumsiness, dealing with several tasks at the same time.
Differential diagnosis: The most commonly confused psychiatric disorders are anxiety disorders, personality disorders (especially borderline and antisocial personality disorder), agitated depression, bipolar affective disorder type 2 and cyclothymia. The onset and course of symptoms should be carefully evaluated when making a diagnosis. ADHD symptoms have been present since early childhood; It is continuous and does not occur in episodes. Mood fluctuations are common in ADHD, but they do not cause long-lasting episodes. ADHD symptoms may not be observed during the interview.
Treatment: 90% of patients benefit from treatment. The main treatments are medication and psychological/behavioral therapies. In moderate and severe cases, drug therapy must be used.
ADHD treatment The main drugs used in Turkey and on the market in our country are Methylphenidate forms (Concerta, Medikinet and Ritalin) and Atamoxetine (Strattera). Apart from these, some antidepressant and antipsychotic medications can also be used depending on the accompanying psychiatric problems. Better recognition of attention deficit hyperactivity, which is a very common and treatable psychiatric problem in adults, and directing it to treatment will significantly increase the quality of life of these people and improve the quality of their environment. It will reduce the difficulties people experience.
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