VOLUME 6, NO. 3                                                                          MARCH 22, 2001

NJ ADD/ADHD ADULT NEWSLETTER

ADD ADULT SELF HELP SUPPORT GROUP

FOR ADD/ADHD ADULTS

AND THEIR SIGNIFICANT OTHERS

MEETING: THE NEXT MEETING OF THE ADD ADULT SELF HELP SUPPORT GROUP WILL BE ON MARCH 22, 2001 AT 7:30 PM AT MONMOUTH MEDICAL CENTER, ROOM 114 STEINAM HOUSEMAN, LONG BRANCH, NJ.  GO TO THE RECEPTION DESK IN THE MAIN LOBBY AND GET DIRECTIONS.  THE TOPIC WILL BE: ADD DISCLOSURES AND ACCOMMODATIONS (SOCIAL, PERSONAL & VOCATIONAL).  (I MAY NOT BE ABLE TO ATTEND THE MEETING; JACKIE WILL CHAIR IT.)

MEDICATION:  SOMETIME LATER THIS YEAR A NEW FORM OF RITALIN, A STRUCTURAL MIRROR IMAGE OF THE CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FORM, WILL LIKELY GET FDA APPROVAL.  IT WILL BE CALLED (d-methylphenidate or d-MPH).  THIS GIVES THE PSYCHOSTIMULANT CLASS OF MEDICATIONS A NEW MEMBER THAT SHOULD BEHAVE SLIGHTLY DIFFERENTLY THAN THE CURRENT ONES. 

MEDICATION:  FOR THOSE ADDers SUFFERING FROM DEPRESSION WHO CANNOT SWALLOW PILLS, A NEW FORMULATION OF REMERON, SolTab (mirtazapine), WILL ENABLE PATIENTS TO DISSOLVE THE MEDICATION ON THEIR TONGUES WITHIN ABOUT 30 SECONDS.  IT CAN ALSO BE SWALLOWED WITH OR WITHOUT WATER, OR EVEN CHEWED.  REMERON IS ONE OF THE NEWER ANTIDEPRESSANTS WITH A UNIQUE SIDE EFFECT OF SLEEP ENHANCEMENT.  YOU CAN DISCUSS THIS WITH YOUR DOCTOR OR CALL THE COMPANY THAT MANUFACTURES THE MEDICATION AT 1-800-241-8812.

RESEARCH: IN AN ARTICLE BY SALERIAN, A.J. et al, SILDENAFIL (VIAGRA) FOR PSYCHOTROPIC--INDUCED SEXUAL DYSFUNCTION IN 31 WOMEN AND 61 MEN. J.SEX AND MARITAL THERAPY, 2000, 26, 133-140, IT WAS FOUND THAT VIAGRA EFFECTIVELY OVERCAME THE SEXUAL PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH TAKING MANY OF THE SSRI ANTIDEPRESSANTS INCLUDING REDUCED LIBIDO AND ORGASM/EJACULATION INHIBITIONS. .  SSRI ANTIDEPRESSANTS INCLUDE PROZAC, PAXIL, ZOLOFT AND MANY OTHERS.  THE EFFECT WAS MORE PRONOUNCED FOR MEN THAN WOMEN.  IF THIS IS RELEVANT TO YOUR SEX LIFE, DISCUSS IT WITH YOUR DOCTOR. 

CONFERENCE: THE NEXT ADDA CONFERENCE FOR ADULT ADDers WILL BE HELD ON MAY 3-6, 2001 IN SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.  FOR INFORMATION GO TO www.add.org

BOOK REVIEW:  ALFIE KOHN, PUNISHED BY REWARDS, NEW YORK: HOUGHTON MIFFLIN CO., 1993 AND 1999.  IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR ANOTHER WAY TO EVALUATE AND CHANGE YOUR LEARNING EXPERIENCE AND/OR THAT OF YOUR ADD CHILDREN, YOU MIGHT WANT TO READ THIS BOOK.  KOHN ARGUES THAT B-MOD, BEHAVIORISM, AND SKINNER-BOXED CARROTS AND STICKS ARE FOR ANIMALS MOTIVATED BY DEPRIVATION OF FOOD OR WATER, NOT HUMANS.  HE EXPLAINS WHY "REWARDS AND PUNISHMENTS DON'T WORK, WHY BEHAVIORISM...DOESN'T WORK IN THE CLASSROOM...WHY BEHAVIORISM DOESN'T HELP CHILDREN BECOME GOOD PEOPLE...WHY BEHAVIORISM DOESN'T WORK IN THE WORKPLACE"...AND HOW GOOD KIDS CAN BE RAISED WITHOUT GOODIES.  HE ARGUES WE HAVE BEEN DUPED BY BEHAVIORISM. 

COMMENTS: HAVING BEEN TRAINED, CERTIFIED, AND "ORDAINED" IN BEHAVIORISM SINCE MY GRADUATE SCHOOL INDOCTRINATION AND "CORONATION", IT IS HARD FOR ME TO SAY NEGATIVE THINGS ABOUT BEHAVIORISM.  HOWEVER, THE ADD POPULATION REQUIRES THE BEST OF ALL TEACHING METHODS AND ONE THAT IS TAILORED FOR THEM.  MY EXPERIENCE AND THAT OF MANY OF MY CLIENTS HAS BEEN THAT INTRINSIC MOTIVATION, NOT GRADES, REWARDS OR PUNISHMENTS HAD THE GREATEST INFLUENCE ON THEIR SUCCESSES.  I WILL ELABORATE ON THIS TOPIC AGAIN IF THERE IS INTEREST.  LET ME KNOW.

                                                                PEACE!!!

                                                                                Bob