Mental Illness Paper

Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Axia College of the University of Phoenix

In this paper, I will discuss a mental illness called Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, ADHD. The topics that will be discussed about the illness are; the background of the mental illness along with the myths, misconceptions and treatments of the past, the signs and symptoms of this mental illness. Identify the neurotransmitters that are associated with the illness and how it is associated to the signs and symptoms. How the illness is diagnosed, what tests and professionals are involved, current treatments that are available for the illness, how the patient’s environment promote or detract from successful treatment and how the diagnosis and treatment of the illness today compare with the diagnosis and treatment of the past.

According to Contraction of time in attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (2009), “Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a syndrome that impacts cognitive functions essential to the moment-to-moment apprehension of and response to the environment”. What this means is that this mental illness affects parts of the mind that affect that we use every day to function. This mental illness dates back to the early 1900s when only the signs and symptoms existed. The name ADHD was not given to the multiple disorders that is associated with in until 1980 (History of ADHD, 2007). There are common myths and misconceptions of ADHD. According to ADHDLibrary.com (2009), the following are myths and misconceptions of ADHD; Food additives and diet cause ADHD, ADHD is only a childhood disorder, poor parenting causes ADHD, Too much television or video games cause ADHD and that people with ADHD cannot pay attention. Unfortunately, these myths are baseless because there is not enough evidence to support such myths. Other myths about ADHD include; children given special accommodations because of their ADHD are getting an unfair advantage, children with...