Wired and Worn Out

DO you have a friend or colleague whose pace of life makes you seem like a bear in hibernation? Whose conversation touches on work, travel, ...

DO you have a friend or colleague whose pace of life makes you seem like a bear in hibernation? Whose conversation touches on work, travel, movies, friends and sport—all in the space of two minutes? Whose mind-process seems the cogitative equivalent of Jughead’s bedroom? S/he could belong to the 67 per cent of kids diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) who never outgrew the disease.

How does ADHD manifest itself in adults?
The core symptoms of ADHD—inattention, impulsiveness, hyperactivity—appear in childhood, usually by age seven. In adults, the disorder is frequently associated with problematic relationships, disorganisation, mood swings, substance abuse, employment and social difficulties. Often, these are put down to a ‘problem personality’ rather than the disorder they are actually due to. So many more adults than children go undiagnosed and untreated.

‘‘The fast-changing pattern of our social fabric has a lot to do with the incidence of the disease,’’ says Dr Jitendra Nagpal, psychiatric consultant at VIMHANS, New Delhi.

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What are the symptoms/diagnostic criteria of adult ADHD?
The symptoms of adult ADHD are not dissimilar to ADHD in children: the affected are usually fidgety, impatient, easily distracted, careless about details, fail to finish work, have difficulties organising their life or focusing on any one thing, talk excessively, lose things, and are interruptive and intrusive. ‘‘ADHD is ultimately harmful to the self. An ADHD-affected person has a low frustration-tolerance threshold,’’ says Dr Nagpal.

How does it affect adult life?
The impairment can range from mild to severe, and affect all parts of one’s life, academic, social and vocational. Since the symptoms overlap with those of many other behavioural disorders, it is essential that the problem be diagnosed correctly.

‘‘The person becomes restive with any kind of work, could drop out of routine and even feel like a misfit in society. The chances of developing depression and becoming suicidal are high,’’ says Dr Nagpal.

Why is it important to identify ADHD in adults?
It is immensely liberating for any intelligent person to know the reason for many lifelong symptoms. Adults with ADHD often develop negative perceptions of themselves as ‘‘lazy’’, or ‘‘stupid’’ or even ‘‘crazy’’. Proper diagnosis and effective treatment can help improve self-esteem, work performance and social skills.

HELP AT HAND

What the ADHD- affected need

• Counselling and psychotherapy from pros.

• Behavioural modifications that make for a more structured life.

• Time management

• Lots of love

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• Cognitive training to deal with issues of alienation and hyperactivity

How is ADHD treated in adults?
ADHD is best treated before 18. After that, it’s not curable, but is 100 per cent controllable. ‘‘ADHD is a behavioural problem, and it can only be retarded,’’ says Dr Nagpal. ‘‘Mood stabilisers, anti-depressants, anger management therapy, use of methylphenicide, counselling and guidance can be of great help.”

What sort of employment is an ADHD-affected best suited for?
‘‘It is important for them to channelise their mental and physical abilities. They do well in jobs related to social interaction and marketing,’’ says Dr Nagpal. ‘‘Since their brains think of 10 different things at the same time, they should not be involved in monotonous jobs, or anything that requires sitting in front of a computer for long stretches of time.’’