Aplication Discussion ADHD

Application Discussion (ADHD)
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Application Discussion (ADHD)
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neuro-developmental disorder associated with symptoms such as hyperactivity, impulsivity, and inattention. About 5% of the children worldwide suffer from ADHD which is the most prevalent mental health problems in children (Thomas, Sanders, Doust, Beller, & Glasziou, 2015). ADHD was once a western condition encouraged by the western cultures. However, the current study shows that ADHD is a compound, multi-factorial disorder with numerous living etiologies, such as genetics (Lecendreux, Lavault, Lopez, Inocente, Konofal, Cortese, & Dauvilliers, 2015). In this case, I focus my study on the human dopamine receptor DRD4 gene. The gene is located near the telomere of chromosome 11p where the amount of expressed polymorphism is exhibited. DRD4 contains a 48-bp Variable Number Tandem Repeat (VNTR) polymorphism in exon 3 consisting of a 48-base-pair repeat unit with 2R, 4R, and 7R repeats as the common versions.
According to studies, the 7R allele encodes a receptor with lower similarity for dopamine (Hockley, 2017). It is linked with diverse psychiatric disorders including ADHD. Genes like DRD4 has received more attention in many disorders compared to other genotypes, describing it in connection with precise behavioral problems such as personality trait of novelty seeking, short temper, anger, and aggressive behavior. DRD4 variants are essential in pharmacogenetics, however, the roles of all the distinct variants have not been definite and the effects of the variants on the transporter level can’t be comprehensive to neuropsychiatric disorder.

Studies show an estimation of 2-5% of adults’ worldwide occurrence of ADHD. It is thought that more than 20% of ADHD patients are formally diagnosed, however; a few of them receive pharmacological treatment for their condition. Several studies on ADHD show that in 41% of ADHD, the 7-repeat allele was found. However, it was found in only 21% of the control group. Though 21 studies show results of significant association, negative results were also shown. According to… the association of DRD4 and ADHD is minimal. The studies also show the association of 7-repeat allele and personality traits related to impulsivity in ADHD.
Researchers have studied the examination of DRD4 in relation to ADHD as a quantitative trait. Currn was the first person to report an association between the DRD4 7R allele and ADHD trait scores (Benyakorn, Riley, Calub, & Schweitzer, 2016). The study found evidence for an association between two single nucleotide polymorphisms in the promoter region of DRD4 and the quantitative phenotype generated from the ADHD symptoms. However, other studies were unsuccessful to find evidence for an association between DRD4 and ADHD trait symptoms in the overall population. The negative result could be due to the studies not using a measure of the full range of attention abilities in the population.
Mesolimbic reward circuitry hypo-functioning is proposed to contribute to the developing of ADHD symptoms and alteration of reinforcement mechanisms. Some researchers have found that an abnormality relating to the reward process is the main problems with children with ADHD. The ADHD nature of deficiency processing is unclear this is because; there are different aspects to reward such as immediacy, probability, and magnitude yet their contribution to ADHD haven’t been studied. Only a few researchers have focused on the basis of reward processing in ADHD. It has been demonstrated that ADHD children have a greater preference for small immediate compared to larger delayed rewards.
Although many writers recently have said that technology is one of the causes of ADHD diagnosis in children and may lead to adult-onset ADHD, the studies show otherwise (Zhong, Wang, Feng, Zhang, Mai, & Fan, 2015). ADHD rates are increasing due to over diagnosis. However, technology plays a positive role for people with ADHD. Technology enables them to efficiently focus, multi-task, and organize. A lot of information from apps and screens can improve performance a stimulation that an ADHD person’s brain may need.
References
Benyakorn, S., Riley, S. J., Calub, C. A., & Schweitzer, J. B. (2016). Current state and model for
Development of technology-based Care for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.
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Hockley, P. (2017). U.S. Patent No. 9,632,488. Washington, DC: U.S. Patent and Trademark
Office.
Lecendreux, M., Lavault, S., Lopez, R., Inocente, C. O., Konofal, E., Cortese, S., … &
Dauvilliers, Y. (2015). Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms in
pediatric narcolepsy: a cross-sectional study. Sleep, 38(8), 1285-1295.
Thomas, R., Sanders, S., Doust, J., Beller, E., & Glasziou, P. (2015). Prevalence of attention
deficit/hyperactivity disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Pediatrics, 135(4),
e994-e1001.
Zhong, T., Wang, K., Feng, M., Zhang, B., Mai, J., & Fan, X. (2015). Acupuncture and
Psychological Treatment vs Drug Therapy in Treatment of Children with Attention
Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). International Journal of Clinical Acupuncture,
24(4).