NRNP-6665-Week 8: Neurodevelopmental Assignment on ADHD Combined Type Study Guide-Nursing Paper Examples

Signs and symptoms according to the DSM-5-TR (Neurodevelopmental on ADHD-Nursing Paper Examples)

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurological disorder that affects children’s ability to control their emotions and impulsive behaviors. Gomez et al. (2023) illustrate that the DSM-5-TR indicates that children below 17 years diagnosed with the combined form of the disorder must exhibit at least six symptoms of hyperactivity and inattention. Those above 17 years must exhibit at least five symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity.

The symptoms of inattention include making careless mistakes, trouble attention when performing tasks, challenges organizing activities, being forgetful, losing items like books easily. and easily getting distracted. (Gomez et al., 2023) Consequently, the symptoms of hyperactivity include excessive talking, interrupting others, engagement in inappropriate situations, challenges engaging in leisure activities, squirming in their seat, abandoning seats when required to remain seated, restlessness, blurts out answers to questions.

Figure 1: Inattention and Hyperactivity Symptoms of ADHD

Differential diagnoses

Emotional disorders like anxiety, mood, and conduct disorders produce similar symptoms to those of ADHD. In this case, a broadband behavior scale is recommended for filtering out the disorders (Drake et al., 2019). Psychiatrists should also be involved in the differential diagnosis process to ascertain that the symptoms are for ADHD (Neurodevelopmental on ADHD-Nursing Paper Examples).

Incidence

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that ADHD affected 6 million children between 2016 and 2019, with 13% boys and 6% girls aged between 3 and 17. The children exhibited comorbid disorders, with 30% having anxiety and 50% having behavior or conduct problems. According to a meta-analysis by Ayano et al. (2020), combined ADHD prevalence was 2.95% in boys, 2.77% in girls, and 2.44% in adults (Neurodevelopmental on ADHD-Nursing Paper Examples).

Figure 2: ADHD prevalence among children in the USA

Development and course

ADHD symptoms occur before 12 years, with some children displaying mild or moderate symptoms at three years old, eventually becoming severe towards adulthood. The children may experience difficulties paying attention, overactivity, and lack of social skills, eventually exacerbated by the absence of (Neurodevelopmental on ADHD-Nursing Paper Examples).

Prognosis

Ayano et al. (2020) explain that ADHD prognosis depends on whether a child receives treatment, especially at the onset of the symptoms. Children subjected to behavioral and medical therapy exhibit healthy lives in the future. However, the absence of treatment contributes to poor long-term health outcomes, such as trouble with attention, managing daily activities, and substance abuse disorders. Approximately 50% of untreated children exhibit ADHD symptoms in adulthood (Neurodevelopmental on ADHD-Nursing Paper Examples).

Figure 3: ADHD Prognosi

Considerations related to culture, gender, age

According to the CDC (2022), boys exhibit a higher incidence of ADHD at 13% compared to girls at 6%. Besides, white, back, and non-Hispanic children are more likely to develop ADHD than Hispanic children. The disorder is more prevalent in children between 12-13 (13%), 6-11 (10%), and 3-5 years (2%) (Neurodevelopmental on ADHD-Nursing Paper Examples).

Figure 4: ADHD considerations based on age

Pharmacological treatments, including any side effects

The pharmacological treatment of combined ADHD includes administering stimulant medications like Ritalin and Adderall. The stimulants can effectively reduce the disorder symptoms by 80%. However, the side effects of these Ritalin medications include nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, and irritability. The side effects of Adderall include insomnia, headache, dry mouth, and dizziness (Cregin et al., 2020) (Neurodevelopmental on ADHD-Nursing Paper Examples).

Additionally, Ten et al. (2020) illustrate that non-stimulant medications like Strattera can also be administered to provide long-lasting relief for ADHD. It acts slowly and produces side effects like aggression, suicidal ideations, loss of appetite, headache, and dry mouth (Neurodevelopmental on ADHD-Nursing Paper Examples).

Figure 5: Examples of ADHD Medications

Nonpharmacological treatments

The non-pharmacological treatment of ADHD can include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which is integral in addressing and revising the distorted cognition and habits affecting individuals’ emotions and productivity (Shrestha et al., 2020). It helps in organization and social skills training to impart the patients with effective coping and disorder management strategies (Shrestha et al., 2020). Additionally, Jiang et al. (2022) observe that aerobic exercises like gymnastics and martial arts are also helpful in effectively managing the disorder in children. It induces the release of neurotransmitters from the brain, resulting in focused attention and alertness (Neurodevelopmental on ADHD-Nursing Paper Examples).

Figure 6: Concept map for CBT activity

Diagnostics and labs

Diagnosis of combined ADHD involves psychiatric and physical evaluation, which must comply with the DSM-5-TR criteria. The evaluations occur by interviewing the child’s parents or relatives, watching the patient play, and using ADHD rating scales like the Behavior Assessment System for Children (BASC-3) to determine the disorder symptoms (Tan et al., 2020). The BASC-3 tool is reliable and effective in identifying ADHD symptoms in individuals between 2 and 21 years (Neurodevelopmental on ADHD-Nursing Paper Examples).

Figure 7: Sample of BASC-3 Report for ADHD

Comorbidities

Patients with ADHD usually exhibit other psychiatric disorders like learning disabilities, anxiety, depression, and conduct behaviors. They have an increased risk of conduct disorder and anxiety diagnosis compared to other disorders. 30% of the children with ADHD have anxiety, while 50% exhibit behavior or conduct problems (Neurodevelopmental on ADHD-Nursing Paper Examples).

Figure 8: ADHD comorbidities

Legal and ethical considerations

Tseng (2021) observes that the diagnosis of ADHD is associated with ethical challenges like the need to uphold the ethical principles of beneficence and justice. For example, schools may not permit children diagnosed with the disorder to return until fully treated, leading to conflicts on whether to ensure their basic education rights are respected (justice) or to pursue the patient’s health improvement (beneficence). Additionally, impulsive hyperactivity could contribute to retribution demands, which are likely to be settled in courts, especially when an ADHD patient engages in an activity with adverse consequences to the victim (Neurodevelopmental on ADHD-Nursing Paper Examples)

Pertinent patient education considerations

Chronis-Tuscano et al. (2020) suggest eliminating distractions in the learning environments of children with ADHD to improve their attention. Distractions trigger hyperactivity, hence should be eliminated or managed to improve alertness among the patients (Thapar et al., 2015). They should also be rewarded for good behaviors, such as improved class performance, to enable them to focus energy on their strengths. Additionally, it is important to raise awareness of ADHD among the patient’s family to enable them to reduce hyperactivity and inattention triggers that may affect the patient’s coping strategies (Chronis-Tuscano et al., 2020) (Neurodevelopmental on ADHD-Nursing Paper Examples).