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Conditions and Diseases > Mental Health Directory - A list of the Most Popular Sites for the Mental Health sub-category section.
Mind Fitness 
MindFit, developed by CogniFit, a world leader in cognitive training and
assessment, is a new easy-to-use computer software program designed for
the mature population that wants to keep their minds active and vital.
Please use the following promotional code during checkout to receive 10%
off your merchandise total: PRTNR04
(Hits: 918 | Votes: 1 | Visited: 0 | Added: 2006-06-06 14:28:16)
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The Treatment of ADHD
Every family wants to determine what treatment will be most
effective for their child. This question needs to be answered by each
family in consultation with their health care professional. To help
families make this important decision, the National Institute of Mental
Health (NIMH) has funded many studies of treatments for ADHD and has
conducted the most intensive study ever undertaken for evaluating the
treatment of this disorder. This study is known as the Multimodal
Treatment Study of Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity
Disorder (MTA). 12
The NIMH is now conducting a clinical trial for younger children ages 3
to 5.5 years (Treatment of ADHD in Preschool-Age Children).
The Multimodal Treatment Study of Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.
The MTA study included 579 (95-98 at each of 6 treatment sites)
elementary school boys and girls with ADHD, who were randomly assigned
to one of four treatment programs: (1) medication management alone; (2)
behavioral treatment alone; (3) a combination of both; or (4) routine
community care. In each of the study sites, three groups were treated
for the first 14 months in a specified protocol and the fourth group
was referred for community treatment of the parents' choosing. All of
the children were reassessed regularly throughout the study period. An
essential part of the program was the cooperation of the schools,
including principals and teachers. Both teachers and parents rated the
children on hyperactivity, impulsivity, and inattention, and symptoms
of anxiety and depression, as well as social skills.
The children in two groups (medication management alone and the
combination treatment) were seen monthly for one-half hour at each
medication visit. During the treatment visits, the prescribing
physician spoke with the parent, met with the child, and sought to
determine any concerns that the family might h ...
(Hits: 799 | Votes: 1 | Visited: 0 | Added: 2005-06-22 14:43:17)
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Your ADHD Child and School
You are your child's best advocate. To
be a good advocate for your child, learn as much as you can about ADHD
and how it affects your child at home, in school, and in social
situations.
If your child has shown symptoms of ADHD from an early age and has
been evaluated, diagnosed, and treated with either behavior
modification or medication or a combination of both, when your child
enters the school system, let his or her teachers know. They will be
better prepared to help the child come into this new world away from
home.
If your child enters school and experiences difficulties that lead
you to suspect that he or she has ADHD, you can either seek the
services of an outside professional or you can ask the local school
district to conduct an evaluation. Some parents prefer to go to a
professional of their own choice. But it is the school's obligation to
evaluate children that they suspect have ADHD or some other disability
that is affecting not only their academic work but their interactions
with classmates and teachers.
If you feel that your child has ADHD and isn't learning in school as
he or she should, you should find out just who in the school system you
should contact. Your child's teacher should be able to help you with
this information. Then you can request—in writing—that the school
system evaluate your child. The letter should include the date, your
and your child's names, and the reason for requesting an evaluation.
Keep a copy of the letter in your own files.
Until the last few years, many school systems were reluctant to
evaluate a child with ADHD. But recent laws have made clear the
school's obligation to the child suspected of having ADHD that is
affecting adversely his or her performance in school. If the school
persists in refusing to evaluate your child, you can either get a
private evaluation or enlist some help in negotiating with the school.
Help is often as close as a local parent group. Each state has a P ...
(Hits: 619 | Votes: 0 | Visited: 0 | Added: 2005-06-22 14:40:49)
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Schizophreina Article 1
(Hits: 524 | Votes: 0 | Visited: 0 | Added: 2005-05-17 15:52:12)
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What Causes ADHD?
One of the first questions a parent will have is "Why? What went
wrong?" "Did I do something to cause this?" There is little compelling
evidence at this time that ADHD can arise purely from social factors or
child-rearing methods. Most substantiated causes appear to fall in the
realm of neurobiology and genetics. This is not to say that
environmental factors may not influence the severity of the disorder,
and especially the degree of impairment and suffering the child may
experience, but that such factors do not seem to give rise to the
condition by themselves.
The parents' focus should be on looking forward and finding the best
possible way to help their child. Scientists are studying causes in an
effort to identify better ways to treat, and perhaps someday, to
prevent ADHD. They are finding more and more evidence that ADHD does
not stem from the home environment, but from biological causes. Knowing
this can remove a huge burden of guilt from parents who might blame
themselves for their child's behavior.
Over the last few decades, scientists have come up with possible
theories about what causes ADHD. Some of these theories have led to
dead ends, some to exciting new avenues of investigation.
Environmental Agents.
Studies have shown a possible correlation between the use of
cigarettes and alcohol during pregnancy and risk for ADHD in the
offspring of that pregnancy. As a precaution, it is best during
pregnancy to refrain from both cigarette and alcohol use.
Another environmental agent that may be associated with a higher risk
of ADHD is high levels of lead in the bodies of young preschool
children. Since lead is no longer allowed in paint and is usually found
only in older buildings, exposure to toxic levels is not as prevalent
as it once was. Children who live in old buildings in which lead still
exists in the plumbing or in lead paint that has been painted over may
be at risk.
Brain Injury.
One early ...
(Hits: 523 | Votes: 2 | Visited: 0 | Added: 2005-06-22 14:30:20)
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The Family and the ADHD Child
Medication can help the ADHD child in everyday life. He or she may
be better able to control some of the behavior problems that have led
to trouble with parents and siblings. But it takes time to undo the
frustration, blame, and anger that may have gone on for so long. Both
parents and children may need special help to develop techniques for
managing the patterns of behavior. In such cases, mental health
professionals can counsel the child and the family, helping them to
develop new skills, attitudes, and ways of relating to each other. In
individual counseling, the therapist helps children with ADHD learn to
feel better about themselves. The therapist can also help them to
identify and build on their strengths, cope with daily problems, and
control their attention and aggression. Sometimes only the child with
ADHD needs counseling support. But in many cases, because the problem
affects the family as a whole, the entire family may need help. The
therapist assists the family in finding better ways to handle the
disruptive behaviors and promote change. If the child is young, most of
the therapist's work is with the parents, teaching them techniques for
coping with and improving their child's behavior.
Several intervention approaches are available. Knowing something
about the various types of interventions makes it easier for families
to choose a therapist that is right for their needs.
Psychotherapy works to help people with ADHD to
like and accept themselves despite their disorder. It does not address
the symptoms or underlying causes of the disorder. In psychotherapy,
patients talk with the therapist about upsetting thoughts and feelings,
explore self-defeating patterns of behavior, and learn alternative ways
to handle their emotions. As they talk, the therapist tries to help
them understand how they can change or better cope with their disorder.
Behavioral therapy (BT) helps people develop more
effective ways to work on immediate ...
(Hits: 482 | Votes: 0 | Visited: 0 | Added: 2005-06-22 14:34:49)
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