Skip to main content Accessibility help
×
Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-rdxmf Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-25T14:07:17.088Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

11 - Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Its Treatment

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 October 2021

Stephen M. Stahl
Affiliation:
University of California, San Diego
Get access

Summary

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is not just a disorder of “attention,” nor does it have to include “hyperactivity.” Paradigm shifts are altering the landscape for treatment options across the full range of ADHD symptoms, from inattention to impulsivity to hyperactivity, as well as across all the waking hours and across the whole lifespan, from young children through adulthood. This chapter will provide an overview of the psychopharmacology of ADHD, including only short discussions of the symptoms of ADHD. The mechanism of action of treatments classically called stimulants and nonstimulants for ADHD will be emphasized. Information on the full clinical descriptions and formal criteria for how to diagnose and rate ADHD and its symptoms should be obtained by consulting standard reference sources. The discussion here will emphasize the links between various brain circuits and their neurotransmitters with the various symptoms and comorbidities of ADHD and how these are linked to effective psychopharmacological treatments. The goal of this chapter is to acquaint the reader with ideas about the clinical and biological aspects of attention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. For details of doses, side effects, drug interactions, and other issues relevant to the prescribing of drugs for ADHD in clinical practice, the reader should consult standard drug handbooks (such as Stahl’s Essential Psychopharmacology: the Prescriber’s Guide).

Type
Chapter
Information
Stahl's Essential Psychopharmacology
Neuroscientific Basis and Practical Applications
, pp. 449 - 485
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2021

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Save book to Kindle

To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure [email protected] is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.

Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.

Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.

Available formats
×

Save book to Dropbox

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.

Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

Available formats
×