Comment: Post-truth
Rob Rodrigues Pereira
pp 63-63
Writing in The Guardian earlier this year, Jonathan Freedland highlighted that, ‘In this era of post-truth politics, an unhesitating liar can be king. The more brazen his dishonesty, the less he minds being caught with his pants on fire, the more he can prosper. And those pedants still hung up on facts and evidence and all that boring stuff are left for dust, their boots barely laced while the lie has spread halfway around the world.’
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ADHD in older adults: symptoms don’t retire!
Jack Hollingdale
pp 64-67
Many people look forward to retirement and the possibilities that this time in their lives may bring. For some, however, challenges faced in childhood may have snowballed over their lifespan, and persist into later life. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) was previously considered to be a discrete childhood disorder associated with significant impairments affecting approximately 5% of children. It is now widely accepted that symptoms of ADHD persist into adulthood, with a prevalence rate of 2.5% and accompanied by a continuation of impairments.
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Abstract watch: Neurofeedback morbidity and risk
Nigel Humphrey
pp 68-68
In this edition of Abstract watch, a literature review by Rivka et al on eating disorders emphasises the need to consider this co-morbidity and discusses the concept of disordered eating in ADHD. Neurofeedback continues to feature in a multitude of studies, and we highlight Geladé et al’s study comparing neurofeedback with stimulant medication and exercise. A study by Sari Gokten et al on child abuse and ADHD indicates a significantly high vulnerability to emotional and physical abuse for children with ADHD. Finally, Chen et al explore the concept of antidepressant resistance in people with comorbid depression and ADHD, and highlight the need for ADHD treatment to ameliorate this effect.
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Co-occurrence of adult ADHD with developmental co-ordination disorder, dyslexia and depression
David Grant
pp 69-72
Specific learning difficulties (SpLDs; also termed specific learning disabilities) is an umbrella term for a range of neurodevelopmental conditions, including dyslexia, developmental co- ordination disorder (also known as dyspraxia), dyscalculia and, in some cases, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. In the UK, professionals with appropriate professional training can undertake SpLD diagnostic assessments; if an SpLD is present and is of a severity that places an individual at a substantial disadvantage in comparison to non-affected individuals, educa- tional institutions and employers are legally required to make reasonable adjustments.
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New Directions in ADHD: The ADHD Foundation’s 4th Annual Conference
Rachel Keeton, Tony Lloyd and Colin Foley
pp 73-75
The Rum Warehouse in the renowned Titanic hotel, Liverpool was the stage for the ADHD Foundation’s 4th Annual Conference, entitled ‘New Directions in ADHD’. Over 700 delegates attended this annual event, held this year on 13th–14th October 2016. The conference theme of new directions in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) was designed to explore innovative practice in education, health, and social care nationally, attracting multidisciplinary speakers covering topics as diverse as Dr Peter Mason’s discussion on ADHD in women to Liz Duncan’s exploration of practical strategies for collating evidence for referral to child and adolescent mental health services. This year, the ADHD Foundation collaborated with the UK ADHD Partnership, and several prominent members of UKAP delivered well received presentations at the conference.
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Self-management of adult ADHD: what works?
Jemma Coates
pp 76-79
Self-management is largely written about in the context of physical health, and is a key component in the effective care of those with long-term conditions. While this approach is much less widely used in relation to mental health, self-management techniques can also be used to control conditions such as bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. This article provides an overview of current opinion, research and policy on self-management in the context of mental health, and discusses how self-management may be used in the effective treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
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