ADD and Treatment

ADD and treatment is often associated with problems at home, school or at work. The psychiatric disorder is difficult for doctors to diagnose and treat.

The psychiatric disorder is often referred to as attention hyperactivity disorder or ADHD. adhd adults treatment use brain imaging using SPECT to diagnose ADHD.

Symptoms of typical ADD include being easily distracted, forgetful, and disorganized. Medications like stimulants and antidepressants can help.

Limbic ADD

The most common form of ADD, also known as classic ADD or hyperactive-impulsive ADD, is characterized by inattention, a lack of organizational skills, difficulty staying on task, and trouble with memory. The scans of the brain reveal that people with this type are able to maintain normal levels of activity during concentration and rest in the prefrontal cortex, however, they have less activity in their cerebellum and the basal ganglia. These areas help produce dopamine, which is a neurotransmitter that is responsible for motivation, tranquility, and focus. People with this type have a difficult in shifting their focus and are easily distracted by distractions and noises, and have short attention spans. They also have difficulty falling asleep and often wake up during the night with nightmares or anxiety. They often feel overwhelmed by emotions and possess a short fuse, becoming easily frustrated and easily angry.

People with Ring of Fire ADD have all the symptoms of the classic ADD However, they also struggle to shift their attention from one thought to another thought and from task to task. They have a sensitivity to light, noise, and touch; they talk too quickly and are impulsive, and easily provoked into mean behaviour. They have periods of moodiness and low energy levels, are quick to anger, and get stuck on negative thoughts and guilt.

Limbic ADD can be mistaken for depression, however it is distinct from depression because it has increased activity in the limbic portion of the brain (the part that determines our mood and determines how happy or sad we feel) and reduces activity in the prefrontal cortex both at rest and during concentration. It can be treated by supplements like L tryptophan (5-HTP) as well as saffron, inositol, which improve alertness, mood and mental clarity. Amino acid GABA is also helpful to calm neural activity, inhibiting nerve cells from firing erratically or too frequently.

It is important to distinguish between ADD and mood disorders such as Bipolar Disorder, which can trigger irritability, anger and low self-esteem. The main difference between ADD with Limbic Symptoms and Bipolar Disorder is that ADD has a more constant level of irritability that lasts over time. Bipolar Disorder tends to have symptoms that come in waves.

Overfocused ADD

Over-focused ADD sufferers tend to get stuck in negative thought patterns and behaviors that trigger excessive worrying. They exhibit rigid behaviors similar to those of people with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and that is why it's often incorrectly diagnosed. They are often frightened emotionally when required to shift their focus from one activity to another and respond with an argumentative or hostile behavior.

They are prone to having a short fuse, with their irritability coming from a persistent depression or low-grade sadness "glass half-empty syndrome" and frequently feeling hopeless and worthlessness. They may also be afflicted by memory problems, experience severe anger, and have a short fuse.

People with hyperfocused ADD may be rigid when it comes to changing tasks and may become absorbed in their job or pastime. They are more likely to miss deadlines at work and forgetting appointments at home, and may not complete chores or school assignments. They can also be very stubborn and resentful when they are disciplined or punished by their teachers or parents.

Children with overfocused ADD have a high degree of irritability and stubbornness, and are susceptible to throwing a rage when their interests are trampled on. They can be obsessive about specific activities, toys, and video games. They are also unable to express their emotions and may be extremely sensitive to rejection or criticism.

This type of ADD can be difficult to identify, particularly in children. Children often don't realize that their problem is caused by their inability switch their attention between different things. It is important to speak with a professional as these children are more likely to have their ADD misdiagnosed. This kind of ADD is typically treated with diet changes, supplements, and cognitive-behavioral therapy. Some medications are prescribed, but this kind of ADD can be difficult to treat using stimulant drugs, since they can boost a person's level of hyperactivity. Functional neuroimaging can be used to differentiate the seven distinct kinds of ADD, and is particularly useful for diagnosing hyperfocused ADD.

Anxious ADD

Many people who suffer from ADD have a high degree of anxiety. Comorbidity, also known as having multiple disorders at the same time is a common problem and affects up to 50% of people suffering from ADD/ADHD. Stress and anxiety may mimic the symptoms of ADD/ADHD. A misdiagnosis can lead to inappropriate treatment and anger.

Anxious ADD can lead to problems at work, school and social situations. This kind of ADD can cause underperformance and feelings of being unsatisfactory. People with anxious ADD are hesitant to take on difficult tasks or events because they fear that they won't be successful.

They also fear being criticized or considered a victim. This is why they often hide their problems from their peers. They can become so stressed and anxious that they suffer from panic attacks. These panic attacks can be extremely severe and life-threatening. They cause heart pounding sweating, difficulty breathing and difficulty breathing. Anxious ADD is different from Classic ADD because it has an increased activity in the basal ganglia as well as the amygdala. These areas are instinctive and place a high value on safety. This shuts down the PFC which makes it difficult for people with ADD to concentrate.

If a person suffers from anxiety and ADD/ADHD, the symptoms they experience are more difficult to manage. This is because treatment protocols for ADD/ADHD that are designed to stimulate the brain can actually increase anxiety among people who suffer from anxiety ADD due to a decrease in the activity in their PFC.


The psychiatrists at Amen Clinics employ functional neuroimaging, such as SPECT scanning, to determine which areas of the brain are low and/or high levels of activity. This allows them to distinguish between the seven different types of ADD and determine the best treatment for each individual.

To diagnose ADD/ADHD, a psychiatrist gathers a complete medical history and performs an examination. They might also inquire about mood and behavior to assess the patient's overall functioning. Sometimes, medications are used to treat ADD/ADHD, but in most cases, patients require other therapies too, including cognitive behavioral therapy as well as nutrition and exercise sleep strategies, desensitization and other relaxation techniques. This may increase their ability to manage their moods and overall performance.

Temporal Lobe ADD

This type of ADD affects the temporal lobe within the brain, which is responsible both for mood and memory. This kind of ADD is characterised by a problem learning and keeping information in memory as well as mood instability and extreme anger or aggressive issues. They also suffer from a variety of sensory issues, such as experiencing a sense of déjà vu, seeing shadows or objects change shapes, and hearing sounds others don't. They are often irritable and sensitive and are often overwhelmed by certain things, such as computer screens or crowds.

Symptoms of this type of ADD are similar to those seen in Classic ADD, including short attention spans disorganization, difficulty in following directions or staying on task, and procrastinating. However, this type of ADD doesn't cause impulsivity or hyperactivity. This kind of ADD is more common in women. This type of ADD is characterized by low levels of dopamine in the brain which can result in feelings of low motivation or poor self-regulation. Symptoms include difficulty sleeping, anger and anxiety.

In this instance brain mapping scans using qEEG of the brain show that people with over-focused ADD have normal activity in their anterior cingulate gland which is the brain's "gear shifter," but they are having trouble shifting gears. They are not able to move from one thought or task to another, and get stuck in negative thought patterns and behavior.

This is a type of ADD where people are extremely motivated and hardworking but have a tendency not to focus on important tasks. They may lose focus and become embarrassed or tired because of their behavior. They may have a hard relationship because they are impulsive or reactive, and struggle dealing with multitasking or working with other people. In some instances they may be depressed or anxious. They may be susceptible to panic attacks and susceptible to hallucinations. The use of medications for this kind of ADD are not recommended since they don't address the underlying reason for the symptoms.