VOLUME 10, NO.2 FEBRUARY 24, 2005

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 FEBRUARY 24, 2005 AT 7:30 PM AT MONMOUTH MEDICAL CENTER, COMMUNITY MEETING ROOM , LONG BRANCH, NJ. GO TO THE MAIN RECEPTION DESK AND GET DIRECTIONS. THE TOPIC WILL BE: YOUR RELATIONSHIPS AND ADD.

RESOURCES: There are two wonderful resources for women with ADD. You will need to become a member of the National Center for Gender Issues (NCGI), and then you can sign up for their MENTORING PROGRAM. The website is www.addvance.com . If you need an ADD coach, try www.americoach.org.; allegedly they have a coaching clinic for women who have little money. The fees are around $18.00/hour.

NEWS: Adderall XR and sudden death. Canada has withdrawn Adderall XR from the shelves as of February 9, 2005. Our FDA has decided not to follow suit. There were 20 deaths--14 children 6 adults including 12 strokes, two in children. The deaths were not associated with overdose, or misuse of the drug.

RESEARCH: In a research study by T.Klingberg etal., Computerized Training of Working Memory in Children with ADHD--A Randomized, Controlled Trial, J.Acad.Child Adolesc.Psychiatry, 2005, (44)2:177-186, it was found that using a CD program developed for this research called ROBOMEMO that trained WORKING MEMORY, resulted in significant improvements on another task of working memory, on response inhibition, on reasoning, on executive function tests, and most importantly on parent ratings of ADHD. The results remained significant at the 3 month follow-up test. The children with ADHD were monitored via the internet and were required to practice 40 minutes a day for 25 days before the evaluation. The treatment effects on working memory in these children were comparable to those seen with stimulant medications. The authors recommend the training to those ADDers with problems in executive function and inattention.

COMMENTS: These findings are quite exciting but not too surprising. The study was double blind and there were impressive controls in place. The program may be available at www.cogmed.com (Cogmed Cognitive Medical Systems, AB, Stockholm, Sweden). Other studies using fMRI have shown that training that improved working memory increased brain activity in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and parietal association areas; these cortical areas overlap areas involved in ADHD.

TRAINING RESOURCES: The Robomemo training package is not the only one available for cognitive training of ADDers. www.braintrain.com has been offering cognitive training for ADDers for twenty years. One of their programs, Captain's Log, has been used successfully for ADDers and for others with problems in cognitive functions. I have tried their SmartDriver program and found it quite challenging, interesting and fun.

MARIJUANA WARNING: In a research study by C.Henquet etal., Prospective cohort study of cannabis use, predisposition for psychosis, and psychotic symptoms in young people, British Medical J., 2005, 330(7481):11, it was reported that in a study of 2437 subjects (age 14-24) who used MJ at least 5 times, there was a significant correlation with the later development of psychosis and schizophrenia. The findings are consistent with the effects of MJ on increasing dopamine release in the frontal lobes and the increase of natural MJ receptors in schizophrenic brains and spinal fluid.

COMMENTS: The increased dopamine release in the forebrain is one reason why ADDers are often attracted to marijuana. They often report they feel normal during and after using MJ. Unfortunately, if schizophrenia or losing one's mind may be the long term outcome, the risk may be too high.

PEACE!!! Bob

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