Current Category is: Depression | Select Another Category
Go Back To Category Homepage | View Category Sitemap
Free Information
Home   |   Search   |   Categories   |   Links   |   About Us   |   Contact Us


Is it ADHD or is it Depression?


During the assessment process it is of great importance for the physician or clinician to consider other possible causes of inattention, impulsivity, or hyperactivity in your child, or teen, or yourself. In fact, this is probably the most important element of a good assessment. There are several possible causes of these behaviors, especially in children, and the clinician must have great certainty that these other possible causes have been ruled out before giving the label of "Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder" to your child.

In this issue we will discuss the possibility that your child has depression rather than an Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, lymbic type.

When one is depressed several of the following symptoms will be noted. Someone with four or five of the following symptoms should probably see a physician or other professional to get a real assessment done.

The common symptoms of depression include:
· Physical Hyperactivity, or Lack of Activity (Hypoactivity)
· Change of Appetite, either Less or More
· Change in Sleeping, either Less or More
· Loss of interest or pleasure in usual activities
· Loss of energy, increased fatigue
· Feelings of worthlessness, or inappropriate guilt
· Difficulty concentrating
· Thoughts of death or dying
· In children and teens, depression is shows itself with increased aggression, irritability, or isolation from the family.

Sometimes really out of control emotional behavior is attributed to ADHD, but might really be the result of depression! Depression in children and teens often looks to a clinician, who barely knows your child, as ADHD.

One main difference is that depression has a "starting date" and ADHD has been present to some degree or another since birth.
· Does your child seems very sad, or very grouchy or irritable?
· Does it seem like nothing is fun for him, even things he used to like doing?
· Does he seem bored most of the time and just sit around?
· Has he gained a lot or weight? Or lost a lot of weight?
· Does he seem to be sleeping a lot more than usual, and have lots of trouble waking up in the morning? Or does he have unusual trouble getting to sleep at night?
· Does he seem unusually restless or agitated?
· Is he having more trouble than usual paying attention to school work?
· Is it harder for him to make decisions than usual?
· Has your child/teen talked about suicide, or even make attempts, recently?

If three or four of these are true of your child/teen over the past six months, expecially the one about suicide, then we'd recommend that you have him checked out by a therapist, psychologist, or physician who specializes in depression. It is very common to mis-diagnose depression for ADHD, especially by inexperienced therapists and physicians. Learn more at the ADHD Information Library at http://www.newideas.net.

Douglas Cowan, Psy.D., is a family therapist who has been working with ADHD children and their families since 1986. He is the clinical director of the ADHD Information Library's family of seven web sites, including http://www.newideas.net, helping over 350,000 parents and teachers learn more about ADHD each year. Dr. Cowan also serves on the Medical Advisory Board of VAXA International of Tampa, FL., is President of the Board of Directors for KAXL 88.3 FM in central California, and is President of NewIdeas.net Incorporated.


MORE RESOURCES:

MiamiHerald.com

Alberto weakens to tropical depression over Atlantic, expected to get weaker
Washington Post
MIAMI — Alberto has weakened to a tropical depression as it spins off the coast of the Carolinas. The US National Hurricane Center in Miami says Alberto's maximum sustained winds are near 35 mph (55 kph) Monday evening. The storm is centered about 245 ...
Alberto weakens to tropical depression in AtlanticMiamiHerald.com
Pacific Depression Strengthens; Atlantic Tropical Storm WeakensBloomberg
Alberto weakens to a tropical depressionNOLA.com

all 1,641 news articles »


Science Codex

NASA sees Tropical Depression 03W's 'hot tower' on approach to Guam
Phys.Org
TRMM also measured rainfall within the tropical depression, and found that isolated areas of heavy rain (falling at a rate of 2 inches/50 mm per hour (appearing in red)) were seen in the western quadrant of the storm. Light to moderate rainfall was ...
NASA sees a 'hot tower' in newborn eastern Pacific Tropical Depression 2EEurekAlert (press release)
Tropical Depression 03W, #1Stars and Stripes (blog)

all 7 news articles »


Embracing Depression Announces Website Redesign
Albany Times Union
Embracing Depression recently announced the launch of its newly redesigned website EmbracingDepression.org. The new and improved website went live on May 15, 2012 and provides over 150 pages of quality information about the mental illness, depression.

and more »


A helping hand is extended online for depression
ABC Online
There are always people willing to lend a hand and a sense of community but the fact that news travels fast can lead people, who suffer from depression or any mental illness, to be reluctant to seek help. A new online counselling service, Headspace, ...

and more »


The Independent (blog)

High internet use linked to depression - research
Herald Sun
HIGH rates of internet use could be a key sign of depression, say researchers after finishing what is believed to be the first study using real usage data. The month-long study tested 216 students for depressive symptoms and then monitored their ...
Is there a correlation between internet usage and depression?The Independent (blog)
Internet surfing patterns 'may indicate depression'Newstrack India
Depressed people spend more time chatting onlinePakistanToday.com.pk
Tech2
all 14 news articles »


Alberto weakens to tropical depression over Atlantic, expected to get weaker
Washington Post
MIAMI — Alberto weakens to tropical depression over Atlantic, expected to get weaker. Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Tropical weather analysis - May 21, 2012Wunderground.com (blog)

all 3 news articles »


Zee News

Stay At Home Moms More Depressed Than Working Moms, Study Finds
KCEN-TV
Is it any wonder that a Gallup survey of 60000 women found that stay-at-home moms are more likely to have felt depression, sadness, anger and worry than working mothers? "I didn't find it shocking at all," says Today.com contributor Robi Ludwig, ...
Stay-at-home mums `suffer more sadness and depression`Zee News
New Gallup Analysis Shows Unemployed Moms More Likely to Experience DepressionJobmouse
Stay-at-home moms more depressedUPI.com
Gallup.com
all 24 news articles »


Tropical Depression 03W passing south of Guam, expected to strengthen within ...
Pacific Daily News
1:40 am – Tropical Depression 03W was located about 120 miles south of Guam. The system is moving west-northwest at 12 miles per hours, according to a 1:30 am advisory from the National Weather Service. Forecasters expect the system to turn northwest ...
NWS: 2am Advisory on Tropical Depression 3WPacific News Center
Tropical Depression Forms S-SE of GuamKUAM.com

all 45 news articles »


A new malady called 'Facebook depression'
Manila Bulletin
Emotions such as envy and depression. “Why am I stuck here at home? At least she can get out, unlike me…” Now there is a term for this: social media depression. The most common among forms of social media depression is said to be Facebook depression, ...



Depressed? 9 mental tricks to turn it around
Fox News
Depression-fighting tips Medication can help depression. But a type of therapy called cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)—which focuses on changing behavior, rather than talking about your childhood, for instance—can be an effective adjuvant to or ...


Google News

Home   |   Sitemap   |   Disclaimer   |   Privacy   |   Contact Us

© COPYRIGHT 2011 BRAINBELLY.COM