I received a request from CHADD (Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) asking for people to fill out a questionnaire related to an ADHD stimulant drug shortage. If you are having trouble getting stimulant medication, you can help by filling out the survey so that CHADD can better understand the extent of the shortage and relay that information to the appropriate government agencies.Information about the questionnaire can be found here. Or you can go directly to the questionnaire here. Note that the survey is only until June 12.
Can depression cause inability to focus?
Can depression cause inability to focus?CNN HealthDr. Charles Raison, an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Emory University, answers a question about ADHD, depression, and how antidepressants may affect your concentration.
Attention Management – Distractions, A Three Part Series
Attention Management – Distractions, A Three Part SeriesCareer Tools PodcastWhile not targeted specifically towards adults with ADHD, these podcasts give sound advice and strategies for managing distractions in the workplace. They do a great job of making recommendations that are specific and broken down step-by-step when needed. You can play them in a pop-up window on their website (see links below) or search for “Attention Management Career Tools” in iTunes and look for the podcasts on April 3, 10, and 17 in 2009.Attention Management Part 1Attention Management Part 2Attention Management Part 3
"Freedom" application blocks internet access to help you avoid temptation
"Freedom" application blocks internet access to help you avoid temptationThis posting isn't an article, rather it's a potential resource for those of us who find we spend more time surfing the web than doing our work. It blocks the Internet for up to 8 hours at a time and cannot be disabled unless you reboot your computer. One shortcoming however is that you're not able to selectively block websites. For example, if your biggest time waster is Facebook but you still need internet access to do your real work, it would be nice to have the option to block just Facebook. If you have any recommendations for other products similar to this, feel free to post them below.
Losing focus? 9 ways to concentrate at work
Losing focus? 9 ways to concentrate at workBy Amy Levin-Epstein, January 26, 2012"Here are some tips, from Nadeau and her co-author, professional organizer Judith Kolberg, for anyone who feels his or her attention isn't where it needs to be. While Nadeau and Kolberg are focused on helping people who have an actual diagnosis of ADD, their advice can help all of us navigate the onslaught of distractions at the office."
Untangling the Myths About Attention Disorder
Untangling the Myths About Attention DisorderNew York TimesBy Perri Klass, M.D."In recent years, it has been rarer to hear serious doubt that the disorder really exists, and the evidence explaining its neurocircuitry and genetics has become more convincing and more complex. Even so, I’ve lately read a number of articles and essays that use attention (or its lack) as a marker and a metaphor for something larger in society — for the multitasking, the electronic distractions, the sense that the nature of concentration may be changing, that people feel nibbled at, overscheduled, distracted, irritable.But A.D.H.D. is not a metaphor."
Study Finds ADD Medication Improves Memory & Attention in Menopausal Women
Study Finds ADD Medication Improves Memory & Attention in Menopausal WomenPR Newswire, 2/17/12"A recent report offers hope for women suffering with these symptoms. In a study published in Menopause, Feb. 2011, researchers at University of Pennsylvania found that atomoxetine (brand name Strattera), a medication for attention deficit disorder, may restore organizational skills and reduce memory difficulties in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women."
Cognitive-behavioral therapy helps reverse the negativity that torments adults with ADD — and prevents them from reaching goals.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy helps reverse the negativity that torments adults with ADD — and prevents them from reaching goals.by Carl Sherman, Ph.D. on ADDitudemag.comThis article describes how CBT can help treat adult ADHD, however it leaves out a crucial piece of the therapy. CBT for ADHD includes the standard skills they described but it is also teaches skills specific to ADHD symptoms. Tools for time management, organization, and reducing distractibility to name a few. This is why it is important to work with a therapist who has experience with these ADHD specific tools.
The Neuroscience of Mindfulness
The Neuroscience of Mindfulnessby Dr. David RockWhile not an article about ADHD, mindfulness meditation can be very helpful with ADHD symptoms. The practice involves noticing and letting go of distractions and refocusing on present moment experience in a nonjudgmental way. This article describes this practice from a neuropsychological perspective.
Shared Genes May Link ADHD, Autism and Depression
"'This study, for the first time, shows that there are specific genetic variants that influence a range of childhood and adult-onset psychiatric disorders that we think of as clinically different,' said lead researcher Dr. Jordan Smoller, a professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School in Boston.'We also found that there was significant overlap in the genetic components of several disorders, especially schizophrenia with bipolar disorder and depression, and to a lesser extent autism with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder,' he said."Source: US New and World Report, February 28, 2013, "Shared Genes May Link ADHD, Autism and Depression. Largest study of its kind also found ties to schizophrenia, bipolar disorders"http://health.usnews.com/health-news/news/articles/2013/02/28/shared-genes-may-link-adhd-autism-and-depression