VOLUME 11, NO.3                                                                        MARCH 23, 2006

 

 

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 23, 2006 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: ADHD HUNTER QUALITIES AND THEIR USEFULNESS IN LIFE!!!  Chris will facilitate this meeting.

 

MEDICATION:  The FDA has given a go signal to a new use of Modafinil (an old name was Provigil) for application in the treatment of ADHD in children and adolescents.  The new name will be Sparlon; it will probably be available in June 2006.  This is a non-amphetamine stimulant that does not have addictive properties. 

 

RESEARCH:  In a research study by L. J. Pressman etal.,   Relationship of Family Environment and Parental Psychiatric Diagnosis in Impairment in ADHD. J.Am.Acad.Child Adolesc.Psychiatry, 2006, 45(3): 346-354. An elaborate correlational study again points out the effects of a dysfunctional family environment on the ADHD child.  The study suggests that families need to be considered in treatments for ADHD.

COMMENTS: The implication for adults with ADHD is that when our ADHD children are trying to manage their ADHD, we might have to consider dealing with our own ADHD and the family impact and interactions.  Again the message is to take care of yourself especially when you are parenting your children.  Many wise parents avail themselves of individual treatment when they are coping with their own ADHD and their children's.

 

RESEARCH:  In a research article by C.Murray and C. Johnston, Parenting in Mothers With and Without ADHD, J. Abnormal Psychology, 2006, 115(1): 52-61, it was reported that ADHD mothers had difficulty monitoring their child's behavior, were less consistent disciplinarians, and had more difficulty with problem solving than mothers in a control group who did not have ADHD. 

COMMENTS: Other research indicates that treating ADHD mothers with stimulant medication results in improvement in their children's ADHD.  Fathers with high levels of ADHD who are involved in parenting showed more over reactive or authoritarian discipline strategies than fathers with low levels of ADHD.  Studies have shown that parenting training of mothers with high levels of ADHD were less successful than with mothers with moderate to low levels of ADHD.  Mealtimes, enforcing household rules in a consistent fashion, and having patience to effectively teach and be involved in problem solving can be major challenges for the ADHD parent unless they focus on changing natural ADHD tendencies.

 

 

                                                                                         PEACE!!!

                                                                                                Bob

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