Is ADHD a Precursor to Smoking?

According to the Scripps Howard News Service, children who have attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder are more likely to start smoking. On Oct. 3rd they also reported that those with more ADHD symptoms were at an even higher risk then persons that would smoke regularly during adolescence or early adulthood.
Although more research is needed, it is possible that certain ADHD symptoms may encourage smoking. The study, published in the October 2005 issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry, reported that smokers who had the most inattentive or hyperactive-impulsive symptoms as children, started smoking, on average, a year earlier than those who reported the fewest number of symptoms.

Stress During Pregnancy Causes High Cortisol Levels in Their Kids

Research done at Bristol University in the UK has found that women who have high levels of anxiety during the late stages of pregnancy, had children who had higher cortisol levels when they reached 10 years. Researchers say many of these children may be more susceptible to anxiety.
This study of 74 children can be read in the journal of Biological Psychiatry. Saliva samples were taken from 10 year olds and tested four times a day for three school days. The mothers were questioned about their anxiety levels during pregnancy. Researchers found that there was a clear correlation between the two. They also pointed out that factors such as the child's personality, environment, lifestyle, and upbringing need to be taken into account when trying to predict susceptibility to depression or anxiety later in life. Researchers also point out that cortisol levels can work both ways. Low levels are linked to some mental health problems.

Treating Childhood Depression

The latest research reported in the Lancet suggests that childhood depression is often difficult to treat. With little in the way of scientific evidence to guide the use of antidepressants, treating children can be problematic. And although depression is common among children and adolescents, recent data pertaining to the increaded risk of suicidal behavior among children taking antidepressants such as Paxil, Prozac and Zoloft have called their use into question.
The latest research reported in September shows that major depressive disorders affect nearly 1-2 percent of children 6-12 years, and 2-5 percent of teenagers. In addition, it shows that 14-25 percent of children and adolescents have at least one major depressive episode before they reach adulthood.
Depression in children is not a short or transient phenomena. It is relatively common, with impairment that can last awhile, deserving treatment. Given the recent problems of antidepressants causing suicidal thoughts, many experts believe that medication should be used in conjunction with psychotherapy. Psychotherapy is a very valuable and effective means of treating depression. Children shouldn't be limited to medication.

Treating ADHD Through Diet

Traditionally, doctors have been treating children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder with medication. But now more and more health care providers are having success controlling symptoms by simply changing their diets. Some say that children are now thriving due to a special nutrition program.
All foods cause chemical reactions in the body. Therefore, eating the wrong foods may cause a brain chemistry and nervous system imbalance. Experts say that the top five foods that can cause sensitivity and aggravate ADHD symptoms include eggs, corn, citrus products, and wheat and dairy products. They also say that adding a daily supplement to your child's diet may help. Missing essential nutrients may also cause ADHD symptoms.
Although there is no scientific evidence to back this up,parents say it's worth a try. They're looking for ways to help their kids without the use of prescriptions.

What's The Best Meds For ADHD?

If you're a parent seeking comparisons of ADHD drugs, you won't find any. According to a new review from the Oregon Evidence-based Practice Center at the Oregon Health and Science University, there are few clinical comparisons of ADHD medications despite the large variety and the prevalence of the condition among children and adults.The majority of head-to-head trials compared the widely prescribed drug Ritalin with other drugs. Most trials were also short in duration, included a small number of patients and did not measure the long-term effects of the drugs. Researchers also found that as for safety, the short-term, randomized controlled trials did not provide evidence that any one stimulant was any more tolerable than another or that nonstimulants were more tolerable than stimulants. Researchers also found that none of the trials compared how well the drugs improved academic performance, quality of life, or social skills. Few studies compare one stimulant to another and those that do show no clear advantages. Dr. John Santa, assistant direcotr for health projects at the center for Evidence-based policy says they reviewed 146 studies including a combination of randomized controlled trials and observational studies to ensure the largest possible amount of data on the medicines' side effects. Only half had any data on race or ethnicity, and only one quarter of school age children reported the type of ADHD treated. Very few studies compared the effectiveness of different drugs in treating adults with ADHD.

Pharmaceutical Companies Are Pushing Pills

"Selling Sickness: How the World's Biggest Pharmaceutical Companies Are Turning Us All Into Patients" is a new book coauthored by University of Victoria, Canada drug researcher Alan Cassels. He argues that people should be skepticle before taking pills for so-called illnesses, noting that pharmaceutical companies offer drugs to essentially healthy people. Cassels and coauthor Ray Moynihan, health policy researcher, closely examines the multibillion dollar pharmaceutical industry and checks for misinformation and profit-driven behaviour. They argue that pharmaceuticals have exaggerated drug effectiveness and the number of sufferers for a host of conditions including depression, ADD, PMS, and social anxiety disorder just to name a few. One example, high cholesterol, is now being considered a disease, rather than a simple risk factor. Exposing the sometimes questionable practices of North America's drug manufacturers is not something new. However, this book shows that there's not only problems in Oklahoma and New Jersey, but in Vancouver and Edmonton as well. And although direct-to-comsumer drug advertising is technically illegal in Canada, the drug commercials mentioned in the book will be familiar to Canadians.

Children and Prescription Drug Abuse

A new report shows that prescription drug abuse among teenagers is on the rise. According to a study done by the National Center on Addiction and Substanse Abuse at Columbia University, one in ten teenagers has tried prescription stimulants without a doctor's order.

The most common abused stimulant was methylphenidate (Ritalin). Many factors contribute to the escalating abuse of such prescription drugs. Some of these are lack of adequate information to youth, parents and schools regarding the abuse of potential these drugs. Parents and teenagers need to understand that the consequences of using these stimulants without a doctors orders are very serious and may include irregular heartbeat, dangerously high body temperature, and/or the potential for cardiovascular failure. All in all, the abuse of methylphenidate has increased significantly since 1990 and parents and school officials need to be on the lookout.

ADD Drug Cylert Too Dangerous

According to the Food and Drug Administration, liver problems with Abbott Laboratories Inc’s discontinued ADHD drug Cylert and other generic versions, are too dangerous for the U.S. market. This means that drug manufacturers can no longer produce generic versions of pemoline. Abbott Laboratories discontinued the drug earlier this year, but generic versions have remained available. The FDA said it is not recalling the drug. This will allow pharmacies to sell their remaining stock as doctors switch patients to alternative treatments. The lack of a recall caused concern from consumer advocacy group Public Citizen. Drs. Sidney Wolfe and Peter Lurie, who lead the organization’s Health Research Group, called the FDA and the involved companies reckless and insensitive to the health and lives of children and adults using this drug. The FDA made the statement that during the thirty years the drug has been available, it has thirteen reports of liver failure resulting in transplant or death among those who too it. According to them, the number is well above what the normal rate is such problems are among the general population. They conclude that the risk of liver failure outweighs the potential benefits, noting that other stimulants have been produced and don’t cause the problems pemoline does.

Don't Let Your Child Be A Bully

Research conducted at the University of Washington has shown that a lack of social interaction can cause aggressive behavior in 4 year olds. Most of that lack is from parents letting their children watch too much TV. Whether it's educational or not, TV cannot replace the importance of playing and interacting with family and friends. So please don't let your child become a bully. Participate in his\her life instead of using the electronic babysitter.

New ADD Medicine

The Food and Drug Administration has given approval to Cephalon Inc. to market Sparlon as a treatment for attention-defict/hyperactivity disorder in children ages 6-17. Subject to FDA final approval, Sparlon is expected to be on the market by early next year. Final approval is contingent upon discussions between Cephalon and the FDA regarding the product's labeling.

Sparlon is a new formulation and dosage strength of modafinil, which is the active ingredient in Provigil. Provigil is Cephalon's product approved for the treatment of adults that struggle with excessive sleepiness associated with narcolepsy, obstructive sleep apnea/ hypopnea syndrome and shift-work sleep disorder. It was going to originally be marketed under the name Attenace, but the FDA expressed concerns about the name prompting the change.

Patch or Pill for ADHD?

Those suffering from ADHD may soon have a choice of taking pills of using a patch. The patch will deliver methylphenidate, the same ingredient that’s found in Ritalin, Concerta, and Methylin, throughout the day. Pending FDA approval, it will be the first ADHD medicine that doesn’t have to be taken orally. The company plans to call it Daytrana.
This transdermal delivery system is designed to provide a continuous release of medicine throughout the day. It will pass through the skin and go directly into the blood stream, and it will be water-resistant. Studies reported at the American and Canadian Academies of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry find it’s effectiveness as well as the once a day drug. Of 80 ADHD kids, aged 6-12, studied, those receiving the real patch, not a placebo, did much better. Their behavior and attention, tested throughout the day, had improved. They also achieved better results on age-adjusted math tests. Side effects were similar to other stimulant drugs, nausea, vomiting, decreased appetite, and those with sensitive skin experienced irritation.
Another study on the patch compared it with a placebo and methylphenidate pills. Both the patch and pills improved ADHD symptoms in 6-12 year olds. Scores improved slightly more with the patch compared to the pills, but the difference wasn’t significant enough to claim scientific proof of superiority.
The patch would be ideal for children who can’t swallow pills. This is especially important for those taing the extended release pills because they cant’ be broken up or the release mechanisms will be destroyed. Another important factor is that the patch offers parents control over how long they want the medication to last. Once a child swallows a pill, you can’t do anything about it. The patch may release methylphenidate for up to 16 hours. And it must be removed for three hours before its effects wear off. But parents can decide to remove it earlier or leave it on beyond the school day. Knowing there was continuing efficacy beyond that 12 hour time point may give them more options.

Pessimism Can Lead to Dementia

Here’s another reason to stay positive; a new study by researchers at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. Found that pessimists are more likely than optimists to develop dementia later in life.
Studied were people ages 20-69 who had taken memory impairment tests in the 1960’s and then developed dementia 20-30 years later. Those without a history of psychiatric problems, but scored high on the pessimism scale were 30 percent more likely to develop dementia. People who scored high on the depression scale increased their risk by 40 percent. This either causes stress hormones to be released or their might be a group of genes linked for dementia and pessimism. Whatever the cause, the results are pretty clear-you need to rev up your optimism. Here are four simple tips that can help change your gloomy outlook.
1. Applaud Yourself-Rather than thinking how much time it will take to accomplish a large goal, accomplish small goals and give yourself a pat on the back.
2. Don’t Let Fear Lead To Pessimism-Don’t avoid activities because you’re afraid of triggering a flare. You now you deserve to have some fun, just be sensible about when, and how long you do it.
3. Don’t Beat Yourself Up When Things Go Wrong-If your arthritis is acting up, find a way to enjoy the day anyway. If you had to cancel lunch with a friend, why not invite her over and order takeout instead.
4. Love Yourself-If you’re starring in the mirror wishing you looked younger, give yourself some positive affirmation. Say something like, “These laugh lines make me who I am,”

Will School Standards Boost ADHD Diagnosis Odds?

Factors such as a child's social and school environment may play a role in whether or not ADHD is diagnosed.
In the April issue of Pediatrics, it reports that one factor is whether your school has strict accountability standards designed to improve your child's academic performance. They say that the stricter the accountability laws are, the higher the odds were that your child will be diagnosed with ADHD. Researchers also say that it is difficult to say whether there's a positive or negative relationship between the two. And that school standards may have unintended consequences.
They say that schools with strict standards might encourage parents or teachers to treat children with medication rather than address other behavioral aspects.

A New Way To Treat Depression

After almost fifteen years of development by Somerset Pharmaceuticals, Inc., the first skin patch to treat depression will be on shelves soon.
On Feb. 28, the FDA approved the patch called Emsam. Of the 14 million U.S. adults with major depression, it’s expected to add another option for them, including some who don’t respond to other treatments.
Selegiline, the active ingredient found in Emsam, is the same chemical that makes up the base for another of Somerset’s products called Eldepryl, which is a capsule used to treat Parkinson’s disease.
The patch will be advantages in that it will bypass the liver by delivering the rug through the skin and going directly to the brain. This is also beneficial because Selegiline is an MAOI, which can interact with foods such as cheese, meats, and alcohol, causing high blood pressure.

New CDC Stats-Very Interesting

A new Center for Disease Control report shows some very interesting information about Attention Deficit Disorder. Here goes;

_ About 4.4 million kids have been diagnosed with ADHD. More than half of those kids (56 percent, or 2.5 million kids) were taking medication for ADHD when the survey was done.

_ ADHD was diagnosed more often in boys than in girls. For boys, ADHD diagnosis was more common in families living below the poverty level. ADHD diagnosis history was most common among 16-year-old boys, with about 15 percent having been diagnosed with ADHD.

_ ADHD was diagnosed less often in minority children and those without health insurance.

The number of kids with reported ADHD diagnosis varied greatly from state to state - from 5 percent in Colorado to 11 percent in Alabama. Medication practices also varied. California had the lowest percentage of kids taking medication for ADHD (more than 40 percent) and Nebraska had the highest percentage (almost 58 percent).

U.S. Doctors Looking For Alternative Treatments

Across the U.S., many doctors are now studying a variety of non-medical treatments for ADHD and similar disorders. Although no definitive studies have been done about exercise and ADHD, it makes sense that exercise would help people cope with the condition. This is due in part because exercise increases the levels of dopamine and norepinephrine, which helps people focus. Cognitive function is also better for one to three hours after exercise. Some researchers believe that if kids would exercise strenuously tree to five ties a day, there may be no need for medication at all. Involving kids in team sports can help in several ways. Kids will benefit from following a regular schedule and coaches who lead them through structured exercises also might help build concentration and organizational sills. Yet studies show that today's children are more sedentary than they were a generation or tow ago, which seems to have contributed to increasing childhood obesity rates. This leads to speculation that one reason for the increasing rate of ADHD is lack of exercise. New research has also shown that meditation, done twice a day for a few minutes, is an effective treatment for ADHD. Improvements include better attention and impulse control, improvement in academic performance, enhanced problem solving sills and the reduction of stress, anxiety and anger. Transcendental meditation, TM, is a specific form that helps the mind settle down to a state of what's called "restful alertness'. It is a mental technique that involves narrowing the focus of the mind in an effortless way that allows it to settle sown. Once settled, the body becomes deeply relaxed allowing you to experience profound levels of relaxation while you're awake. In one study, kids with ADHD who meditated for ten minutes twice a day had significant improvement in several areas. The children were required to simply sit in silence with closed eyes and thin about nothing more than a mantra, which could consist of a single word. There were 45-50 percent reductions in anxiety, stress and depression. They also showed improvement in organizational skills, memory, strategizing, mental flexibility, attention and impulsivity. Other studies involving TM on kids without ADHD have shown to lower blood pressure and raise IQ. For kids with ADHD, the benefits may be much greater. Across the country, some schools have already incorporated meditation into their daily routines. There is also a national TM organization that can have a speaker arranged to come to schools to talk to officials about TM.

Is Anxiety the Cause or Effect?

Experts have been asking for sometime now if the anxiety that is often associated with chronic depression a cause or effect of the illness?

New research performed on mice suggests that chronic stress may be a trigger and not a symptom of depression. These findings are in the April issue of the Journal Behavioral Neuroscience. The research team from Harvard Medical School and McLean Hospital in Boston believes that the findings could also help improve treatments for the disorder.

It is already a known fact that those with depression tend to have higher levels of the human stress hormone called cortical, but it has never been clear if this was a cause or effect of depression. According to the new mouse study, long term exposure to cortical may actually contribute to depression.

Researchers exposed mice to twenty four hours and seventeen to eighteen doses of the rodent stress hormone corticosterone. This hormone was put in their water so that the stress of having an injection would not interfere with the results. This same method was done to a group of mice with a shorter term of exposure.

Those who had long term exposure took longer time emerging from a small dark compartment into a brightly lit open area, which is a common behavioral test of anxiety in animals. These results suggest that these mice were more fearful and less willing to explore their new environment.

Researchers also found that mice with longer exposure showed dulled reactions to being startled, which is an indication that their nervous system was overwhelmed.

New Device to Treat Depression

Billed as “a pacemaker for the brain”, a pocket watch sized device may be the newest cutting edge treatment for as many as 4 million adults whose severe depression is not relieved by psychotherapy, drugs, or even shock treatments. Since it’s FDA approval eight months ago, more than 550 Americans have had a vagus nerve stimulator (VNS) implanted in their chests to activate parts of their brain. The VNS is a battery operated generator that is attached to an electrode that is then implanted in the vagus nerve in the neck. The generator than emits regular pulses of electricity that is supposed to stimulate serotonin and other brain chemicals that are believed to regulate mood. But does this new device really work? Is VNS a lifesaving treatment for chronic depression or is it an unproven and potentially harmful treatment based on flimsy science, as critics contend? The only clinical trial of this device, which is approved to treat severe epilepsy, failed to demonstrate the effectiveness in relieving depression. Due to the lack of alternatives for the severely depressed, a top DDA official overruled unanimous opposition of 20 staff members and approved this device to treat adults who failed four other alternatives

Why Be a Yogi?

I recently received this from a realtor mailing and thought you might enjoy it.

Why Be a Yogi?

Not only can yoga help you stay fit and improve your posture, but it can also relieve stress and improve your concentration. Thinking about becoming a yogi? Read on and you'll likely be convinced:

-Relieves stress: The breathing techniques, stretches, and poses used in yoga will help you cope with life's challenges both personally and professionally.

-Builds strength: Yoga will tone your body, but you will also be gaining muscle strength, improving your endurance, and sharpening your balance.

-Improves concentration: After participating in yoga for a while, you are likely to find that your attention span will increase significantly.

-Increases self-acceptance: When you pay closer attention to what your body is doing and what it is capable of doing, you will learn to stop judging yourself and you'll respect yourself more.

FDA Troubled By Hallucinations

Experts at the FDA said they are troubled after looking over reports of hallucinations experienced by those using ADHD medications. Many found it striking just how often young children described various bugs, insects, and worms, both visual and tactile, which haven't been seen elsewhere. These hallucinations are extremely rare in young children, occurred in patients taking commonly prescribed doses, and the visions usually went away after stopping the medication. One case involved a 12 year old boy with cerebral palsy who was taking Ritalin. After taking his medication one morning, he hallucinated that roaches were surrounding him. Doctors stopped the medicine and the visions went away. Unfortunately, his ADHD came back strongly. He was put back on Ritalin and the hallucinations returned immediately. Drug treatment had to be halted. The FDA believes that the visions recurrence were drug related. However, some manufacturers believed that the children had underlying psychiatric problems that emerged when their ADHD was brought under control. Other children had reported seeing snakes, spiders, bugs and jellyfish. In some cases, they felt as though the insects were crawling on them. One 7 year old girl acted and felt as if she had hit a wall after taking only her second dose of Strattera. Partly because most serious drug problems are never reported to the government, it is unclear what percentage of ADD patients experience these reactions. Some experts offer estimates of 2-5 percent.