The Adhd Explosion And Today S Push For Performance

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most controversial and misunderstood medical conditions today. With skyrocketing rates of diagnosis and medication treatment, it has generated a firestorm of controversy. Alarming questions have been raised about ADHD in recent years, including: *Why are one in nine children and adolescents in the U.S. now diagnosed with ADHD, with projected rates still rising? *Why are nearly 70% of those diagnosed with ADHD prescribed medication? *What is causing the fast-rising diagnosis and medication of adults? And why are over a quarter of all college students using stimulants for academic performance? *In some southern states, why are boys over 9 years old diagnosed at rates of almost one in three? *Can we trust the stories we read and hear about ADHD, even in major media outlets? *What is driving the current ADHD explosion--is it parents, doctors, schools, culture, the healthcare system, or Big Pharma? And will it end? Stephen Hinshaw, a distinguished psychologist, and Richard Scheffler, an eminent health economist, uniquely blend clinical wisdom, current science, medical and school policy, and global trends to debunk myths and set the record straight in The ADHD Explosion. They describe the origins of ADHD and its huge costs to society; the science behind its causes as well as medication and behavioral treatment; and the variation in diagnosis and treatment across the U.S. Dealing directly with stimulants as "smart pills," they describe the epidemic of medicalization, arguing that accurate diagnosis and well-monitored care could ease the staggering economic burden linked to ADHD. In innovative ways, they unravel the many poignant issues facing children, teachers, clinicians, and family members who contend with ADHD each day. The recommendations they make can improve the quality of life for those touched by ADHD and potentially improve the productivity and safety of all society.

Debunks myths and misconceptions about ADHD, and discusses the controversies surrounding skyrocketing rates of diagnosis and medication treatment as well as the condition's cost to society.

Rates of diagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are skyrocketing, throughout America and the rest of the world. U.S. rates of youth diagnosis have increased 40% from just a decade ago. Adults with ADHD are now the fastest-growing segment of the population receiving diagnosis and medication. The disorder is painful and sometimes disabling for individuals and tremendously costly for society; yet, widespread misinformation, skepticism, and unanswered questions have jeopardized effective diagnosis and treatment. Researched and written by Stephen Hinshaw, an international expert on ADHD, and Katherine Ellison, a Pulitzer-Prize winning journalist and author, ADHD: What Everyone Needs to Know(R) is the go-to book for authoritative, current, accurate, and compelling information about the global ADHD epidemic. This book addresses questions such as: - Is ADHD a genuine medical condition or a means of pathologizing active and exploratory behavior? - Do medications for ADHD serve as needed treatments, or are they attempts at social control, designed to bolster profits of pharmaceutical firms? - Has the ADHD label become a ruse by which parents can game the educational system for accommodations? - How do symptoms and impairments related to ADHD differ between girls and women and boys and men? - Why are ADHD medications often used as performance enhancers by college and high-school students? ADHD: What Everyone Needs to Know(R) clears the air of the most polarizing and misleading information that abounds, providing straight talk and sound guidelines for educators, policymakers, health professionals, parents, and the general public. It shows the reality of ADHD but does not ignore the forces that have pushed up rates of diagnosis to alarmingly high levels.

Since ADHD became a well-known condition, decades ago, much of the research and clinical discourse has focused on youth. In recent years, attention has expanded to the realm of adult ADHD and the havoc it can wreak on many aspects of adult life, including driving safety, financial management, education and employment, and interpersonal difficulties. Adult ADHD-Focused Couple Therapy breaks new ground in explaining and suggesting approaches for treating the range of challenges that ADHD can create within a most important and delicate relationship: the intimate couple. With the help of contributors who are experts in their specialties, Pera and Robin provide the clinician with a step-by-step, nuts-and-bolts approach to help couples enhance their relationship and improve domestic cooperation. This comprehensive guide includes psychoeducation, medication guidelines, cognitive interventions, co-parenting techniques, habit change and communication strategies, and ADHD-specific clinical suggestions around sexuality, money, and cyber-addictions. More than twenty detailed case studies provide real-life examples of ways to implement the interventions.

Now in a revised and updated fourth edition, this comprehensive, bestselling work has earned its place as the leading resource for parents. Prominent authority Russell A. Barkley guides parents to understand why 6- to 18-year-olds with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) act the way they do--and provides practical steps to help them live up to their potential. Readers learn how to find the right professional help, get needed support at school, and manage challenging behavior using proven techniques. Packed with realistic stories and problem-solving ideas, this empathic guide is solidly grounded in science. New to the fourth edition are a chapter on health risks associated with ADHD, the latest information on the causes of the disorder, current facts on medications, a new discussion of sibling issues, advice for parents who might have ADHD themselves, and much more. Purchasers can download and print several practical tools.

A comprehensive approach to accurate ADHD diagnosis In Essentials of ADHD Assessment in Children andAdolescents, the authors provide a clear and informative roadmap for practitioners seeking to conduct state-of-the-artassessments for one of the most common disorders of childhood.Drawing upon years of experience in conducting diagnosticevaluations of ADHD following best-practice standards, theyemphasize the importance of a comprehensive evaluation,incorporating data from multiple sources, using multiple methods,and interpreting findings within the appropriate developmental andcultural contexts. The major components of an ADHD evaluation(interviews, rating scales, cognitive testing, observation, recordreview) are reviewed in detail. Expert guidance is provided for resolving the most commonchallenges in assessing ADHD, including differentiating symptomsfrom normal development, dealing with discrepant data, differentialdiagnosis, and considering comorbidity. The latest scholarlyliterature is integrated with the authors' practicalrecommendations to provide clinicians with the concepts and toolsneeded for effective and accurate assessment of ADHD, addressingsuch topics as: When inattention is ADHD, and when it may be emotional orneurological Which disorders may masquerade as or present with ADHD The elements of accurate ADHD testing and the reasons behindthem Integrating results of a multi-modal approach into an ADHDassessment An indispensable professional resource for practicingclinicians, Essentials of ADHD Assessment for Children andAdolescents is a reader-friendly guide to providing a thorough,responsible ADHD evaluation.

This book describes the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of ADD/ADHD, and offers advice for teenagers on how to deal with the problems it may cause while getting on with everyday life.

From foremost authority Russell A. Barkley, this book presents essential principles and practices for managing attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children and teens. Barkley interweaves the best scientific knowledge with lessons learned from decades of clinical practice and research. He provides guidelines and clinical tips for conducting thorough, accurate assessments and developing and implementing science-based treatment plans. The book is grounded in Barkley's theory of ADHD as a disorder of executive functioning and self-regulation. Ways to collaborate successfully with parents and other professionals are highlighted throughout. In a convenient large-size format, the volume includes 45 reproducible handouts and forms that can be downloaded and printed for repeated use.