Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) PDF

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Running Head: ATTENTION DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER (ADHD)

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Student’s Name Professor’s Name Institutional Affiliation

ATTENTION DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER (ADHD) 2 Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Diagnosis and Rationale In accordance with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health (DSM) 5, the possible mental health diagnosis for Brian is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, (ADHD), because he presents symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity. As reported by his father, Brian does not listen or follow instructions and has trouble remaining seated both in class and when at home doing his assignments. He has trouble following through tasks even within a period of three minutes. When punished for a mistake, Brian seems to forget the punishment and repeats the mistake. His teacher reports that Brian has trouble focusing in class, blurts out answers when it is not his turn, and often leaves his seat during class. During the discussion with the nurse, Brian has been fidgeting but remained seated. When asked about his situation, Brian mumbles some answers and makes very little eye contact. He has been in trouble with the principal’s office three times this year for failure to maintain silence during class hours. He also presents with disturbed sleep patterns because he has to be reminded severally to go to bed and remain in bed. When asked to go to bed he insists that he needs to do one more thing before sleeping. Differential Diagnosis and Rationale ADHD has several differential diagnoses such as bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety disorder (Reale, Bartoli, Cartabia, Zanetti, Costantino, Canevini, & Lombardy ADHD Group, 2017). An appropriate differential diagnosis for Brian would be depression. This is because he could have been affected differently by his parent’s divorce and has had trouble coping with that. This is supported by his inability to concentrate

ATTENTION DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER (ADHD) 3 both in class and at home when doing homework. He is also restless in class and constantly fidgeting during the hospital visit. Additional Questions What was Brian’s behavior before, during and after the divorce? Does Brian feel that his father and step mother love him? Does Brian have friends to spend time with? When did Brian’s behavior begin to change? Is there anyone in their family who has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder? Labs, Screener and Diagnostic Tools To diagnose ADHD, the health provider can order for electrolyte level check, Serum complete blood count, thyroid and liver function tests (Reale, et al., 2017). Management The medication for ADHD includes cerebral stimulants such as amphetamines, an example is Methylphenidate. They have a quieting effect, decrease hyperactivity and distractibility, increase attention and concentration (Sibley, Rohde, Swanson, Hechtman, Molina, Mitchell, & Stehli, 2018). The parents should be made aware of the addictive effects of Methylphenidate since it is similar to cocaine. They must ensure they monitor the medication to avoid addiction. Several therapies would come in handy during Brian’s treatment. These include support groups where people with a similar goal come together and share knowledge and experience. Family therapy may help the family learn how to cope with Brian’s behavior and help him during treatment. Behavioral therapy where positive behavior is reinforced and negative behavior is punished is also helpful in modifying behavior. Parents should develop a routine to remind Brian important things that he tends to forget, such as finishing his assignments

ATTENTION DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER (ADHD) 4 and sleeping on time. The medical personal on the other hand should inform the parents that the symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder decrease as the child grows towards his middle teen age as well as emphasize on treatment adherence to avoid future complications such as substance abuse and aggressive behavior (Sibley, et al., 2018).

ATTENTION DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER (ADHD) 5 References Reale, L., Bartoli, B., Cartabia, M., Zanetti, M., Costantino, M. A., Canevini, M. P., ... & Lombardy ADHD Group. (2017). Comorbidity prevalence and treatment outcome in children and adolescents with ADHD. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 26(12), 1443-1457. Sibley, M. H., Rohde, L. A., Swanson, J. M., Hechtman, L. T., Molina, B. S., Mitchell, J. T., ... & Stehli, A. (2018). Late-onset ADHD reconsidered with comprehensive repeated assessments between ages 10 and 25. American Journal of Psychiatry, 175(2), 140-149....