Mental_Illness

Mental Illness Paper Mental Illness Paper History and Background Attention deficit hyperactive disease is not the first and only name. ADHD had other names, the first was in nineteen hundred and two and known as “Morbid Defect of Moral Control” named by George Still who was a Pediatrician. In nineteen hundred and twenty two it was known as “Post-encephalitic Behavior Disorders”, nineteen hundred sixty it was “Minimal Brain Dysfunction”, nineteen sixty-eight it was “Hyperkinetic Reaction”, finally in nineteen hundred and eighty it became “Attention Deficit Disorder +/- Hyperactivity”. It was in eighteen forty-five that Dr. Heinrich Hoffman wrote and children’s book named “The Story of Fidgety Phillip” describing Phillips behavior which he blamed on faulty parenting. Little did he know that he had stumbled on a disease that would plague the world today. In the later years Attention Deficit Disorder was not considered a disease at all so the only treatment was thought to be to discipline the child more harshly. Later own a psychologist named William James wrote in his Principles of Psychology in eighteen hundred and ninety (Rosenhek, May) “Everyone knows what attention is. It is the taking possession by the mind in clear and vivid form, of one out of what seem several simultaneously possible objects or trains of thought… It implies withdrawal from some things I order to deal effectively with others, and is a condition which has a real opposite in the confused, dazed, scatterbrained state”. Describe the signs and symptoms of the selected mental illness. The most common signs of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder are the inability to capture and hold the attention, and or the inability to control impulses or hyperactivity. This disorder affects both children and adults. Signs and symptoms of inattention may include: (Mayo Clinic, Aug ) “Often fails to pay close attention to details or makes carless mistakes in schoolwork or other activities, Often has trouble sustain attention during tasks or play, Seems not to listen even when spoken to directly, Has difficulty following through on instructions and often fails to finish schoolwork, chores or other tasks, Often has problems organizing tasks or activities, Avoids or dislikes tasks that require sustained mental effort, such as schoolwork homework, Frequently loses needed items, such as books, pencils, toys or tools, Can be easily distracted, Often forgetful”. Children that are hyperactive often show signs of fidgeting and squirming in while setting or getting up without permission. They also are very energetic with an endless amount of energy that never ends. They tend to blurt out answers, talks excessively, interrupts conversations with outburst and has difficulty waiting. Identify the neurotransmitters associated with the illness and discuss how they are related to the signs and symptoms. Neurotransmitters are the chemicals in the brain that assist in transmitting messages between nerve cells in the brain. Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder occurs when the neurotransmitters, dopamine and norepinephrine levels are low and are unable to complete the delivery of the message. If these neurotransmitters are stimulated or balanced the core signs and symptoms such as inattention, impulsivity and hyperactivity decrease dramatically in some patients. (Hayes, 2012) “Medications given to people with ADHD help to increase the amount of certain neurotransmitters released from one neuron into the synaptic cleft or slow the reuptake of these neurotransmitters to allow the dendrites of other neurons more time to receive the neurotransmitters”. Describe how the illness is diagnosed, including the tests and type of professionals involved. The only way of finding out if the patient has Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder is to administer exams and test. There are three different conditions that under this disease. They are predominantly inattentive type, predominantly hyperactive-impulsive type and combined type. If the criterion does not fit any of the three categories then “not otherwise specified” will be attached. Testing and diagnose may be administered by Psychiatrists, Psychologist, Pedestrians or Family Physicians, Neurologists, Clinical Social Workers. In order to diagnose Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder a doctor will interview the child with the parent to obtain the medical history and physical exam. Then the parent and teachers will complete a (ADD & ADHD Health Center, Marc) “Behavior rating scales or checklists for Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder”. These tests ask specific questions that are pertinent to the possible diagnosis. The diagnosis of the disease is not ease and can be confused with other mental illness or conditions. Describe the treatments and how the patient’s environment can promote or detract from successful treatment. Treatment of the disease consists of different types of stimulant or non-stimulant medication. The stimulating medications are Methylephenidate (Ritalin, Concerta, Daytrana), Dextroamphetamine-amphetamine (Adderall), Dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine, Destrostat) and the non-stimulating medication is atomoxetine (Strattera). These medications are either short or long acting depending on which medication the doctor prescribes. It has been found that medication will help but it is a trial and error event. One medication at a specific dose may work for one child may not work for the next, each person is different. One may require more or less than the other. Medication is not the only thing that is required. (Mayo Clinic, Aug) “Other treatments to ease the effects of Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder symptoms include special accommodations in the classroom, and family and community support”. A person with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder requires guidance and understanding from both their parents and teachers. Sometimes special needs or therapy is needed to overcome or to understand what they are feeling or to understand what they are going through. Parents are encouraged to create activities that are relaxing and pleasant. Avoid situations that overexcite or over stimulate to avoid stressful situations. Structure is a very helpful tool for Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder patients. Structure invites organization, consistency and stability; these are all things that will create a routine, therefore allowing the patient to focus on the task at hand. So with proper diagnosis and treatment Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder can be controlled with great success. Describe how diagnosis and treatment of the illness today compares to diagnosis and treatment of the past. In today’s world Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder is a controlled disease that can be treated with medication, diet, mental health therapy and understanding. Medical diagnosis and treatment is changing every day by researching the disease to see what new testing can be done to better diagnosis Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder. (U.S. National Library of Medicine, Marc) “This is an exciting time in ADHD research. The expansion of knowledge in genetics, brain imaging, and behavioral research is leading to a better understanding of the causes of the disorder, how to prevent it, and how to develop more effective treatments for all age groups”. Researchers have found that if a mother is exposed to toxins or if the mother smokes, drinks or uses drug during pregnancy the risk factors goes up. If there is a family history, low birth weights are also at risk for the disease. It is due to the research and the growth of the medical fields that we no longer think that Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder is just a disciplinary problems, it is no longer blamed on the parent that just didn’t care how their children acted. Back in the eighteen hundreds the disease was not even considered to be a physical problem. There was no diagnosis and no treatment. It wasn’t until the nineteen hundreds that it was found by a doctor who noticed that there where specific sets of events that consistent with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder. Once that happened other doctors began researching and began treating with medication and other forms of therapy to control the disease. I believe that in the future they will be able to formulate a more concrete testing for the diagnosis for Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder along with a more effective way to treat it. References ADD & ADHD Health Center. (March 01, 2011). Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) - Exams and Tests. Retrieved from http://www.webmd.com/add-adhd/tc/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-adhd-exam-and-tests Hayes, L. (2012). ADHD - A Focus on the Brain. Retrieved from http://cdc.gov.../ambassador_pgm/lessonplans/ADHD_Hayes.pdf Mayo Clinic. (Aug 10, 2012). Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children. Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/adhd/DS00275 Rosenhek, J. (May 2008). Attention grabber. Retrieved from http://www.doctorsreview.com/history/attention-grabber/ TeensHealth.org. (February 2011). ADHD Medications. Retrieved from http://kidshealth.org/teen/disease_conditions/learning/ritalin.html The National Institute of Mental Health. (January 23, 2009). Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Retrieved from http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder/what-is-attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder.shtml U.S. National Library of Medicine. (March 25, 2012). Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Retrieved from http://www.ncvi.nlm.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002518/ Zelman, M., Tompary, E., Raymond, J., Holdaway, P., & Mulyihill, M. (2010). Human diseases: A systemic approach (7th ed.). Upper Sadsle River, NJ: Pearson.