|
 Coexisting
Conditions
According to Dendy (2000) 67% of all students with
ADHD have at least one other
coexisting condition that complicates treatment.
The coexisting conditions are broken
down into sub-groups.
While the descriptions are succinct for the purposes of brevity,
they are
by no means exclusive.
Summarized Review of Coexisting
Conditions Related to Adolescent ADHD
Anxiety
Disorders: As many as 25% ADHD adolescents have an anxiety
disorder that
leaves them feeling anxious despite their oftentimes “cool”
outside exterior.
*
edginess
* muscle tension *
sleep disturbance
* mind going blank
* irritability
* fatigue
* pounding heart
* shortness of breath
*
dizziness
* chest discomfort
* tingling sensations
*
nausea
* trembling
* out of body feelings
-
OBSESSIVE
COMPULSIVE DISORDER (OCD) is associated with two factors:
obsessions and
compulsions; the need to keep checking, going over, rewriting. This
disorder
has very serious effects on school success.
Tourette
Syndrome (TS): 50-70% of students with TS have ADHD. TS is six
times more prevalent in males than in females. The average age of onset for TS
is 6.5
years (Dendy, 2000). TS is marked by the following characteristics:
*
involuntary vocal sounds i.e.) vocal tics: grunting, humming, spitting, coughing, etc.
*
involuntary physical movement i.e.) motor
tics: eye blinking, shoulder shrugs, mouth opening,
grimacing, sticking out the tongue, etc.
Depression:
As many as 25% ADHD adolescents are depressed (Dendy, 2000).
Adolescents who exhibit depression usually show their depressed state
differently from
adults.They may
experience being in a bad mood, inattention, irritability, aggression,
lack of
enjoyment in life, etc.
Dysthymic
Disorder (DD): Is a milder form of
depression. At least two symptoms
must be present for the better part of a year:
* low
self-esteem
* changes in eating habits
* reduced
mental energy
* changes sleep patterns
* decision making problems * reduced
physical energy
Bipolar
Disorder (BD): Approximately 12% ADHD adolescents also have
this disorder
(Dendy, 2000). BD includes alternating periods of extreme high
energy (mania) and low
energy (depression). BD is difficult to diagnose in
adolescents. Symptoms for adolescents
may include:
* irritability
* loud giggling
* destructiveness
* hostility
* day dreaming
* rejection
of others
* aggression
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SUBSTANCE-RELATED
DISORDERS
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SUBSTANCE
USE, SUBSTANCE ABUSE, ADDICTION:
Over 50% of ADHD
adolescents smoke cigarettes, which is double the rate
for non-ADHD adolescents
(Dendy, 2000). Approximately
40% ADHD adolescents drink alcohol, and approximately
17% use marijuana. ADHD adolescents whose coexisting
disorder(s) is linked to conduct
disorder BD have the greatest abuse problems
and least chances of recovery. Failing
school, low grades, and low self-esteem
are predictors of future substance abuse
(Barkley, 1998).
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DISRUPTIVE
BEHAVIOR DISORDERS
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Oppositional
Defiant Disorder (ODD): Approximately 67% of ADHD adolescents
have ODD as a coexisting
disorder (Dendy, 2000). These adolescents are negative, hostile,
and disobedient
toward authority figures such as teachers, parents, and administrators.
ODD is
marked by the following characteristics:
* loses temper
* argues with adults
* easily annoyed
*
blames others
*
deliberately annoys people
*
angry
* vindictive
* refuses to comply with
adult requests
Conduct
Disorder (CD): Approximately 22% of ADHD adolescents have CD.
CD is characterized by behavior that violates the basic rights and freedoms of
others.
15 behaviors are marked for CD. They include four broad categories and
to qualify for CD
adolescents must exhibit three of the 15 behaviors.
*
intimidates others
*
uses a weapon
*
cruel to people
*
forces sex on others
*
steals while confronting the victim *
cruel to animals and other living things
*
fights
*
fire setting
*
destroys property
*
breaking & entering *
steals things
*
lies
*
stays out all night *
truant before age 13 * runs away
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