How Common is ADHD in Adults?

Generally speaking, with increasing age, children's hyperactivity symptoms can diminish, but they are still not quiet, irritable, impulsive, distracted, difficulty concentrating, poor academic performance, low self-esteem, depression, frustration, etc. . About a quarter of children will have antisocial behaviors, such as combat, theft, vandalism, arson, and murder. Some people think that these children have a greater chance of developing mental illness than the general population. There is also a considerable number of children who may experience environmental maladjustment in adulthood. Foreign scholars have reported that 36 patients with ADHD aged 17 to 24 and 45 normal persons aged 17 to 24 were compared and compared. The two groups had similar conditions in terms of age, gender, socioeconomic class and IQ. The 36 subjects with ADHD were evaluated by a psychiatric department of a children's hospital 10 to 12 years ago and identified as ADHD patients. After assessing the relevant situation in the first 5 years of the two groups, the number of car accidents in the ADHD group was higher (average 1.3.07), and the number of times of dealing with the court within 5 years (47 32) was diagnosed as personality disorder More. Subjects in the ADHD group were significantly more anxious, nervous, exaggerated, hostile, etc., as well as the restless self-perception and performance. Some scholars in China have also surveyed 441 laborers in 4 shelters, of which 67. 12% have a history of ADHD or ADHD. Among those who received reeducation through labor, the incidence of ADHD was 9 times higher than that of the general population. The American College of Psychiatry's Journal of Abnormal Psychology, Vol. 112, No. 3, 2003 reported the research results of researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and the State University of New York. Experts emphasized that because of ADHD in children, it can continue into adulthood. It even affects life-long, so we should pay special attention to the timely diagnosis and treatment of this disease.

ADHD in adults

It is generally believed that ADHD is a disease of young children, and it will heal with age. Adults will not develop this disease. However, according to many scholars' follow-up observations and prospective studies, ADHD is not a child-specific disease. If children with ADHD are not treated in time, they can continue to the young and mature stage, but their symptoms are different. We call it "to become young micro-brain dysfunction (AMBD)", which is adult ADHD. Adult ADHD is characterized by irritability, temper tantrums, anxiety, and depression. The disease was first reported by American doctor Arnold in 1972, and similar reports have increased in the future. To this end, the United States held an AMBD symposium.

Chinese name: ADHD in adults
Foreign name: Adult hyperactivity

Short name: AMBD
Cause: Heredity, minor brain tissue damage, psychology, etc.

Adult ADHD manifestations

ADHD is a chronic process with symptoms that persist for many years, and may persist for life. About 70% of children's symptoms will last until adolescence, and 30% of children's symptoms will last for life. What's more, because childhood neglect can cause adults to have troubles in their work performance, daily life, or interpersonal interactions, so that they fall into lack of self-confidence, frustration, depression, unexplained grumpy, and even depression. . In addition, the risk of secondary or comorbid destructive behavior disorder and emotional disorder is also increased, and the risk of adult substance dependence, anti-social personality disorder, and crime may also increase.

Like ADHD in children, ^[1] ADHD in adults also affects learning and work. The main manifestations are: poor ability to organize, plan and solve problems, often delaying work until the deadline is imminent. It is difficult to make lasting efforts on uninteresting tasks. When concentration is required, attention is often highly distracted, subjectively irritable, objectively manifested as restlessness, and unable to stay in a confined space for a long time. Continuous attention deficit during reading and writing, poor reading comprehension, easy to get bored with boring materials or tasks, and poor academic performance.

Other typical manifestations include: impulse to do things, inability to think clearly about problems and make rational judgments, especially in emergency situations, so it is difficult to listen carefully to instructions and accept supervision, complete tasks independently from beginning to end, and often change work or impulsively They are often fired by their bosses; they have a weak concept of time, their ability to schedule time is deficient, they are often late for work or appointments, it is not uncommon to forget essentials and misplace things; their overall self-discipline is poor, and it is difficult to consistently pursue a goal.

Causes of adult ADHD

Causes of Adult ADHD

The causes of ADHD are as follows:

1. Minor brain tissue damage: such as viral infection during pregnancy, medication, neonatal asphyxia, birth trauma, cerebral hypoxia and brain damage caused by various reasons.

2. Genetic factors.

3. Abnormal neurotransmitter metabolism in the brain, lack of dopamine, serotonin, and acetylcholine.

4. Vitamin deficiency, food allergy, glucose metabolism disorder.

5. Psychological factors: related to poor family environment and education methods, such as strained family members, lack of warmth, or excessive demands on the child, rude or excessive coddling, one hundred percent, or improper corporal punishment or discrimination at school .

6. It is related to the deficiency or poisoning of trace elements, such as iron deficiency, zinc, magnesium and manganese, and lead poisoning are related to the onset of ADHD. ^[2]

Genetic factors for adult ADHD

Some scholars have carried out family surveys, twin studies, and adoptive child studies on ADHD in children. They believe that the disease is related to genetic factors, and point out that genetic factors play a more important role in the pathogenesis of ADHD than environmental factors. According to a survey by relevant domestic scholars, among the 51 patients, the etiology was firstly caused by genetic factors at 36.4%. Among the families with genetic factors, 33 had mental and neurological diseases, of which 16 had ADHD. This was followed by schizophrenia, with most first-degree relatives (30 cases). It was reported that among 20 children with ADHD, their parents had a history of ADHD in childhood, their siblings had a history of ADHD, and 15 of their relatives had rickets, neurosis, and nocturnal swimming, accounting for three quarters.

Adult ADHD Diagnostic Criteria for Adult ADHD

The diagnostic criteria for adult ADHD have not yet been unified. Some scholars put forward the following four points for reference: Early years have learning difficulties accompanied by not lasting attention. Severe anxiety, depression or similar symptoms in adulthood. Symptoms have improved significantly after using imipramine. The characteristics of mental state examination are the rapid increase of speech speed and the changeable subject matter, but there are no obvious characteristics of psychotic thinking.

Characteristics of adult ADHD attention

1. Often unable to pay attention to details, making careless mistakes in homework, work or other activities;

2. It is difficult to maintain concentration in doing things or activities;

3. When others talk to him, they often show that they are not listening;

4. It is often difficult to complete things according to instructions, unable to complete homework, housework or work (not because of opposite behavior or inability to understand instructions);

5. Frequent difficulties with organizational work or planning activities;

6. Frequently evades or dislikes activities or work that require thought;

7. Often forget things (such as books or things needed for work);

8. Very easy to be disturbed (including other things in the field of vision or noise heard);

9. Often forget what to do every day.

Characteristics of Hyperactivity in Adults

1. When sitting, I often feel embarrassed, playing with hands or feet, or constantly twisting my body;

2. Standing up often when you need to sit, or leaving a chair in class;

3. Running around or being overactive in inappropriate situations (if you are a teenager or an adult, you feel restless) 4. It is difficult to play or work quietly;

5. Always can't calm down, always doing something, or moving constantly;

6. Extremely loves speaking.

Characteristics of "Impulsiveness" in Adults with ADHD

1. Before someone else asks the question, rush to say the answer;

2. Can't wait for his turn;

3. Often interrupts things / conversations in inappropriate situations.

ADHD in adults

Chinese medicine treatment of adult ADHD

Similarities and Differences of Traditional Chinese Medicine Treatment for ADHD Children and Adults

Chinese medicine believes that children with ADHD are caused by deficiency of qi and blood, yin and yang disorders, and yin deficiency and yang hyperactivity. It is manifested as hyperactivity, distracted thoughts, inattention, and is easy to feel exogenous, night sweats, etc., the tongue is red or red, the moss is thin and white, and the pulse is weak or counted. Soothe the nerves. Astragalus, angelica, jujube, calcined keel, calcined oyster, hook rattan, licorice, floating wheat and so on.

In the treatment of adult ADHD with TCM syndrome differentiation, in addition to nourishing qi and nourishing blood, sedation and tranquillity, attention should be paid to identifying the existence of liver stagnation and qi stagnation or liver stagnation and fire. Nothing works, the tongue is red, the coating is thin and white, and the pulse strings, and the syndrome is liver qi stagnation, and the treatment is combined with stagnation of liver qi and qi stagnation. If the performance is irritable, irritable, easy to beat and scold children, dry and bitter mouth, sometimes headache, insomnia, women with more menstrual periods, or prolonged menstruation, red tongue, yellow fur, pulse strings, syndrome differentiation is liver depression For fire treatment, both liver and diarrhea should be treated, and tannin, gardenia, bupleurum, gentian, etc. should be added appropriately.

For the treatment of ADHD children and adults, in addition to drugs, emotional diversion is also an important method. For children with ADHD, the cooperation of parents and teachers is also indispensable. It must not be discriminated against and punished, nor can it be too accommodating as a reason for illness. While taking the medicine, we must also carry out patient and meticulous education to correctly guide the children. For adults with ADHD, patient and meticulous thought exchange is even more important. Efforts to maintain a good psychological state are conducive to healthy recovery.

Adult ADHD Physical Therapy

Compared with drugs, physical therapy has the characteristics of no side effects and significant dependent effects. Transcranial microcurrent stimulation therapy is a physical therapy that stimulates the brain through microcurrents. It can directly regulate the brain to secrete a series of neurotransmitters and hormones, such as endorphin and caproylcholine, which can help improve ADHD and tic symptoms These hormones are involved in regulating many physiological and psychological activities of the human body, which can comprehensively improve the performance of children with ADHD and tics, such as emotional instability, irritability, and hyperactivity.

Adult ADHD Exercise Therapy

It is aimed directly at the root cause of learning difficulties-brain retardation, and stimulates the brain's automated mechanism with exercise to improve the efficiency of the brain in managing specific areas such as reading, writing, concentration, and movement coordination. Does not regress, this possibility of changes in the physiological characteristics of the brain is called "neuroplasticity of the brain."

BI Adult ADHD BI-Brain Nerve Balance Therapy

Regulation of brain prefrontal function

The frontal lobe plays an important role in the integration and regulation of human advanced neural activities. The myelinization of nerve fibers in the prefrontal region of children with ADHD is later than the frontal dysfunction that leads to excessive activity, inattention, emotional instability, impulsivity, Symptoms such as lack of planning. "BI-Brain Nerve Balance Therapy" continuously accelerates the myelination of nerve fibers in the prefrontal region during the treatment process, so that the frontal lobe is well connected with other brain regions and promotes the development and maturation of your brain.

Increase the excitability of the connection between the reticular structure and the cerebral cortex

The increased excitement of the connection between the mesh structure and the cerebral cortex will increase the ability of the cerebral cortex to accept information. At this time, the brain can focus on the information, and the commands issued after the information integration is accurate, complete and comprehensive, which is the normal process of attention and behavior. . On the contrary, the cerebral cortex cannot be excited for various reasons, the information transmitted from the midbrain cannot be received or accepted incompletely, the behavioral commands issued by the brain are incomplete and incomplete, and the behaviors appear more and more chaotic, resulting in ADHD.

Promote effective growth of neuron buds

The growth rate of neuron buds in normal children can reach 63%, that is, when a normal child is 13 years old, his brain will have 63 billion neuron buds effectively developed. The brain wave test showed that the development rate of neuron buds in children with neurological developmental disorders is relatively low. The more serious the problem, the lower the rate of neuron bud development. Therefore, it is awkward in rapid rotation, uncoordinated mutual aid activities, and cannot be straight It is difficult to walk with eyes closed, a positive nasal test, inflexible fine movements, and some children may have visual-motor disturbances, spatial disturbances, etc. "BI-Brain Nerve Balance Therapy."

Adult ADHD Status and Impact

China has been paying close attention to adult ADHD only in recent years. It is estimated that there are about 5 million adult ADHD patients in the country.

We should have a correct view of adult ADHD. The first thing to realize is that ADHD is not a rare or even common mental or psychological problem. Secondly, it is necessary to give more understanding and tolerance to adults with ADHD, to provide patients with as much help as necessary, and to create an atmosphere conducive to rehabilitation.

In addition, ADHD has many advantages. The American Medical Association cited a study that states that one-third of people with ADHD become entrepreneurs by the age of 30 because they work hard. In the world-class celebrity list, former United States President John F. Kennedy, basketball star Michael Jordan, animator Walt Disney, rock star John Lennon, painter Pablo Picasso, Tian Tian Xiao Tian Britney, etc. Many people recognize or are considered ADHD patients. They often have a lively personality and extraordinary talents, and their extreme passion for things of interest makes them more likely to excel. Therefore, even adults with ADHD should not be discouraged, as long as targeted treatment measures are taken in time, not only the hope of recovery, but also the glory of life.

How Common is ADHD in Adults?

ADHD in adults

Adult ADHD manifestations