If you’re reading this blog, you are one of the millions of people who now use the Internet to gain information on medical issues. In a recent survey of consumers, this is where people are looking for medical information.
Most accessed online resources:
53% web M.D.
22% Wikipedia
19% health magazines and websites
16% advocacy group websites
12% YouTube
10% Facebook
10% blocks
9% Pharma company websites
(results from third annual national consumer survey by Makovsky Health and Kelton, 2014)
I would like to take this opportunity to direct your attention to the attitude magazine website that has a large number of webinars from noted academic and professional experts in ADHD. For many with ADHD it’s often easier to watch a video on a specific ADHD topic then to read a book. While many with ADHD can sit and read for extended periods of time, it always struck me as odd that clinicians referred patients to books knowing their ability to sustain attention would be limited, especially in the evening when it medication affect us dwindled.
Explore the webinars on this site as a can be extremely helpful. On this blog site, I will continue to direct my patients in readers to reliable sources of information and clinical insights from my practice not available elsewhere.
Anticipating over 300 attendees, the 13th Annual ADHD Conference for parents, teachers, professionals and adults with ADHD on Saturday, February 22, 2014 from 8:00am to 1:00pm will feature several expert speakers. West Chester University is just outside Philadelphia. Below is the program of speakers and topics.
Marie Paxon, program coordinator, invited me to present on the science of diagnosis and treatment of ADHD in adolescents and adults. If you reside in the area, please consider attending because it is a great way to learn a great deal about ADHD quickly and network with people with ADHD and those who offer guidance and treatment. See you there.
ADHD and the Brain: Knowledge Matters Speakers
Marilyn B. Benoit, M.D. is a child and adolescent psychiatrist. She is senior vice president of Clinical and Professional Affairs and chief clinical officer at Devereux. She is a past president of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Dr. Benoit has served on the faculties of Howard and George Washington Universities and is a clinical associate professor of psychiatry at Georgetown University Medical Center, from which she received the Vicennial Silver Medal of Honor for 20 years of distinguished service.
David W. Goodman, M.D. is assistant professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He is also director of the Adult Attention Deficit Disorder Center of Maryland in Lutherville and medical director of Suburban Psychiatric Associates, LLC. Dr. Goodman is the author of The Black Book of ADHD.
Marjorie Johnson, LCSW, PCC is a licensed clinical social worker and certified coach who provides leadership and career coaching, training, and counseling. She specializes in helping students and professionals with ADHD. Ms. Johnson serves on Chester County/Main Line CHADD’s Professional Advisory Board and is a professional member of ADDA (Attention Deficit Disorder Association.). She is past president of the International Coaching Federation-Philadelphia chapter and was named the 2011 Small Business Person of the Year by the Exton Chamber of Commerce (PA).
Jesse D. Matthews, Psy.D. is a licensed psychologist and has worked with individuals with ADHD for a number of years. He is in private practice at The Center for Psychological Services in Paoli and Ardmore and also works at Holcomb Behavioral Health Systems, a community mental health organization. He evaluates adolescents for substance abuse at the Chester County Youth Center in West Chester and does substance abuse evaluations and treatment in an outpatient program in Kennett Square. Dr. Matthews is an adjunct professor at Immaculata University. Previously, Dr. Matthews worked for six years as a counselor at Hill Top Preparatory School, and he facilitated the Chester County/Main Line CHADD teen ADHD support group for two years.
Joan M. Polka, Ph.D. is a psychologist in the Counseling Center at West Chester University assigned full time to the Act 101 portion of the Academic Development Program (a developmental education opportunity for underprepared first-time college students). She is also co-chair of Chester County/Main Line CHADD’s Adult Program and was the 2011 CHADD Educator of the Year.
Martin Patwell, Ed.D. is director of the Office of Special Services for Students with Disabilities at West Chester University. He has also been the director of evaluation clinic at Landmark School. He has presented “Trends and Issues in Disabilities in Higher Education” at Jiangxi University, Nanchung, China. He is also a consultant to The College Board, Inc.
Preeti Singh, M.S. is the associate director of the Twardowski Career Development Center at West Chester University.
Sharon Watson, M.S. is assistant director of West Chester University’s Office of Services for Students with Disabilities. She has over 20 years of experience working with students with learning differences, mental health, and physical disabilities.
8:30 a.m. Welcome
Chester County/Main Line CHADD and West Chester University
West Chester University
Earl F. Sykes Student Union
110 West Rosedale Avenue
West Chester, PA 19383
8:45 –9:15 a.m.
ADHD Across the Lifespan
Marilyn Benoit, M.D.
Research has proven that ADHD does not end with childhood. Over the course of a lifetime, the scenarios change, but the struggles might not. What does ADHD look like at each stage of life and what is the impact? This fast-paced-but-thorough presentation will help attendees learn more about this complex disorder and will provide a summary of current treatment and management options. Don’t miss this valuable session to gain a better understanding of childhood, teen, and adult ADHD.
9:15 –10:30 a.m.
ADHD and the Brain – What You Need to Know About Treatment and Management
David W. Goodman, M.D.
Those with ADHD express frustration with the disorder’s symptoms: trouble focusing, procrastination, forgetfulness, and difficulty filtering out distractions. Some people have a slower processing speed and others struggle with impulsivity. To make things even more complex, many people with ADHD will have a co-occurring condition like learning disabilities, anxiety, depression, or autism. The good news is that treatment is available, and there are strategies to counteract these challenges. Dr. Goodman will provide an overview of medications and pro-social treatments for ADHD and discuss common co-occurring conditions in this valuable presentation. Children and adults report that they receive unhelpful advice like “try harder,” “start applying yourself,” and “pull yourself up by your bootstraps.” Attend this session to learn about evidence-based treatments for ADHD and how they make a difference.
10:45 –11:30 a.m.
ADHD and Social Interactions
Jesse Matthews, Psy.D.
Social interactions can consist of anything from a casual conversation with an acquaintance to daily communication with loved ones. This can present challenges for both children and adults with ADHD. Those with ADHD may feel isolated and disconnected from others. They may find that executive function challenges can cause them to misinterpret social cues, which are usually unspoken or vague. The invisible challenges of impulsivity, forgetfulness, and an inability to regulate emotions can have a negative effect on forming and maintaining friendships. Fortunately, new information and strategies are available through the field of social learning and social cognition. Attend this session to learn more about this exciting topic and how to apply it to everyday life.
• Facilitated activity: Mindfulness Meditation and ADHD
Marjorie Johnson, LCSW
Mindfulness meditation is a way to calm the mind and relax the body while increasing the ability to sustain attention and manage distractibility. Hear about compelling research and daily applications of mindfulness meditation. Practice it to experience the deep relaxation it generates.
11:45 a.m. –1:00 p.m.
Becoming Successful in College and Early Career
ADHD and Career Success
Preeti Singh
Career development is a life-long process, involving decision making, self-awareness, exploration, preparation, and experience. What tools are available to help students successfully navigate this territory? This brief presentation will provide an overview of resources and strategies.
WCU Student Panel
Sharon Watson, facilitator
Current students at West Chester University who have “been there, done that” tell it like it is. Their transitions, challenges, and routes to where they are today provide a look at what real students face in college.
• Facilitated activity: ADD and Loving It?!
This video blends humor, hope, and science to dispel the myths about adult ADHD. Comedian Patrick McKenna seeks a diagnosis for adult ADHD and learns the facts from an impressive array of experts. Funny, moving, and transformative, this fascinating documentary will hold you spellbound!
My discussion with Dale Archer, M.D. (psychiatrist, best-selling author) on WYPR September 27, 2014 about ADHD, over- diagnosis, and over-prescribed medications was lively. While Dr. Archer advocates “medication as a last resort” and “the goal of treatment is to get off medication” after learning new skills, I offered the research on medication benefit and a quality of life measure to evaluate medication utility. Certainly, treatment of ADHD at all ages incorporates behavioral therapy, organization skills, couple/family/individual therapies, and academic/occupational accommodations, in addition to medication, when indicated.
For those of you interested, the radio broadcast is available and runs 35 minutes. I invite you to listen and decide for yourself the merits of each position. Ultimately, this information best serves those who have ADHD and their families.
The American Professional Society of ADHD and Related Disorders is an organization of national and international researchers and clinicians. I was honored to be invited to present “Adult ADHD and Medication Treatment Options” at the annual conference held in Washington, DC in September 2013. During the conference, I was nominated and elected to the Board of Directors consisting of 15 experts from around the world. This is an opportunity for me to directly participate with the international community of experts and assist in disseminating the state-of-the-art research and clinical treatments. In addition, I will provide assistance in the pre-publication peer review process for the Journal of Attention Disorders.
I look forward to making my contributions on behalf of all the people with ADHD and their families. Thank you for your interest.
The Washington Post took the initiative to write an article in today’s (December 17) paper on ADHD in adults ages sixty and older. This article is also accompanied by a sidebar article discussing adult ADHD Older adults with ADHD are a group that has not been specifically researched and about whom very little is written. The Washington Post article includes two or three people with ADHD who were diagnosed much later in life. They speak about their lifetime experiences with untreated ADHD and the positive change they and others have noticed with treatment.
Imagine that you spent 60 years of your life distracted, disorganized, forgetful, and chronically tardy. Imagine that you have dropped out of school, lost jobs, or were divorced as a direct consequence of that state of mind. Imagine that you seek help from a professional and you are told that you have a disorder that can be effectively treated. Imagine your reluctance and hopefulness that these experiences can diminish. Imagine that you agree to treatment and discover that all of these experiences were symptoms of the disorder and not you as a person. I know, that’s a lot to imagine. At this age, the goal of treatment is not only to treat ADHD but to help a person understand the difference between what they have (disorder) versus who they are (person). In my experience helping people, this process helps resurrect a person’s self-image.
I invite you to read these two articles and seek professional help if these symptoms resonate with your experience. If you are an older adult with possible ADHD, I recommend that you see an expert in ADHD who will be able to make an accurate diagnosis. Because older adults may have both medical and psychiatric disorders in addition to taking medications, it’s critical that an expert be able to distinguish multiple disorders and evaluate the presence of ADHD accurately. Effective treatment is completely dependent on the accuracy of the diagnosis.
Thank you for your interest.
David W. Goodman, M.D.
Don’t miss this extra-ordinary conference on ADHD. CHADD has an annual conference open to patients and family, the general public, and professionals. The conference is held in a different location around the country. This year it is in our backyard in Washington, DC.
I’m honored to be invited to present a 3 hour lecture on “Treatment Options for Treating ADHD in Adults” with my colleague and friend, Dr. Anthony Rostain from the University of Pennsylvania.
This conference gives attendees the opportunity to speak with national and international experts, authors, researchers, and educators in the ADHD field. There is an enormous amount of information and resources available thereby making it a cost and time-effective way to gather “all you need to know about ADHD but were afraid to ask”. LOL
Also, for people who are new to ADHD, you’ll be assured that you are not alone. Imagine hundreds of people with ADHD that you can share experiences and helpful approaches.
I’m encouraging my interested patients and families to attend. I know that successful treatment progresses faster with educated patients and families. Hope to see you there.
psychiatrists at the University Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand for the purpose of exchanging perspectives on diagnosis and treatment of ADHD across the life span. Many of the physicians had been to U.S. conferences that covered this topic so they were familiar with U.S. perspective.
Although we all agree on the validity of ADHD as a psychiatric disorder, there were some clear differences in approach. First, it is important to know that the only stimulant medications available in New Zealand are methylphenidate compounds (Ritalin, Ritalin LA, Concerta). They do not have any amphetamine preparations (Dexedrine, Adderall, Adderall XR, Vyvanse). Without clinical experience with amphetamines, there were a bias against them believing that they represented a “stronger and potentially more addictive”.
Although 50-60% of ADHD patients will respond to either stimulant compound (methylphenidate or amphetamine), about 25% of patients will respond better to one vs the other. Without amphetamine, there are a group of patients that won’t be optimally treated.
When physicians lack experience in using some medications, there is a bias that develops against the medication. This phenomenon develops beyond just ADHD into the rest of medical treatments.
Another issue in New Zealand is the rare physician who will treat ADHD in adults. Not only are adults unlikely to get newly diagnosed as adults, but children diagnosed with ADHD who grow to adulthood will find it difficult to obtain ongoing medication treatment. Apparently there is a special license needed to prescribe stimulant medications and very few adult physicians have such a license. Physician pursuit of such a license is not high. The perception is that adults with ADHD are quite rare. This belief is in contrast to numerous studies showing world-wide prevalence rates between 2-6% in adults.
What will usually drive an increase in treatment of medical disorders is the increasing number of effective treatments. One can see this in the history of depression treatment. As more antidepressants came on the market after Prozac, the rate of depression treatment increased over time. Now most depression is treated, not by psychiatrists, but by primary care providers. In fact, 80% of all psychotropic medications in the U.S. are prescribed by primary care providers
So, for my patients treated with amphetamine preparations that may be traveling in New Zealand for periods of time (eg student study abroad), we advise that a family member in the U.S. obtain an adequate supply of medication (usually 90 days though insurance plans) and ship the medication to the individual. If treatment is needed by a psychiatrist in New Zealand, there are several excellent and experienced doctors in Auckland and Christchurch.
When looking for expert physicians for adult ADHD, see my blog that offers instructions on locating such doctors around the world.
Because my patients travel from the U.S. or come to consult me from other countries, the question of locating experts in ADHD, especially for adults, comes up often. Here is my suggestion to locate such an expert.
Go to www.pubmed.com. This is the National Institute of Health website on medical publications.
In the search box, enter “ADHD” and the city and/or country in which you seek an expert.
Several publications will come up with authors in your designated location. Find one that is relevant, Open the link and you will see a summary of the publication.
The first author will often have an academic affiliation whose geography you can check. The first author often has his/her email address listed. You can email the author and ask if he/she sees patients or to whom he/she would refer someone for evaluation and treatment of ADHD.
You may have to go through emailing a few people to get to someone with the expertise you seek and is currently seeing patients.
Simple and effective. Hope this helps those who stumble across this blog.
For those with ADHD as an adult, it doesn’t go away. According to the National Comorbidity Survey Replication study published 2006, of those with adult ADHD, 75% were not diagnosed as children.
In my practice it is not uncommon for patients over age 50 to be newly diagnosed. I provided my expertise in this area to the author of an article for WebMD published live this week. The “moral of the story” is it is never too late to get evaluated and seek treatment. Daily functioning can improve at any age.
With the increasing shortage of ADHD stimulant medications, Maryland Public Television invited me to a live interview by Jeff Salkin on Direct Connection with Jeff Salkin on January 30, 2012 Monday at 7:30 pm. I had been invited on his show a few years ago about adults with ADHD.
I will discuss the possible explanations for these shortages in addition to the large picture of drug shortages across all medication categories. As is frequently the case, there is no one cause. I hope to lay out the explanations. More importantly, I’ll offer suggestions to work around these shortages for you and your family members.
Join us this Monday night. I want to thank my patients who have offered their stories about the impact of the shortages.
