ATTENTION DEFICIT/HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER THROUGHOUT THE LIFESPAN, 2ND EDITION

Course overview

It is more important, now than ever, that healthcare professionals be prepared to treat AD/HD throughout the lifespan. AD/HD is no longer seen as a childhood disorder, and it is likely that many adults affected by the AD/HD are undiagnosed. It is for this reason that this comprehensive course has been developed: to educate healthcare professionals and bring clarity and a deeper understanding to the research, diagnosis, and treatment of AD/HD in individuals of all ages and various life stages. Additionally, the significance of culture and gender-related issues and AD/HD are discussed. Course Objectives ¿Discuss the earliest references to attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD) in medical and scientific literature and how they compare to current knowledge. ¿Discuss several hypotheses about the etiology of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD). ¿Discuss Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved pharmacological agents used to treat AD/HD, as well as common psychotherapies and multimodal strategies to help manage symptoms of AD/HD. ¿Identify common risk factors, prevalence of AD/HD, functional challenges that stem from AD/HD, and the assessment and diagnosis of AD/HD in children. ¿Discuss several aspects of AD/HD in the adolescent population, including its prevalence, common signs and symptoms, risk factors, and the application of DSM-5 diagnostic criteria. ¿Discuss prevalence information relevant to college students with AD/HD, factors that contribute to common challenges encountered in this new environment, and strategies to minimize difficulties through proactive planning during high school. ¿Discuss the assessment and diagnosis of adult AD/HD and the challenges adults with AD/HD encounter related to work, relationships, parenting, and stress. ¿Identify common comorbidities and differential diagnoses associated with AD/HD for individuals across the life course. ¿Describe the broad effects AD/HD can have on career choices and ways in which healthcare professionals may be able to assist the individual with AD/HD in choosing suitable career paths and workplace contexts. ¿Identify common issues that families must confront when a family member has AD/HD. ¿Describe the influence of gender and AD/HD across the lifespan, including referral bias, the impact of gender on clinical features of AD/HD, and gender differences in diagnosis. ¿Describe the DSM-5¿s updated AD/HD criteria, as well as current approaches to care and management of AD/HD that make use of collaborative services offered in the community.