Commonly perceived as a flavor-of-the-month diagnosis, ADD is, in fact, an enormous health problem that will only continue to grow. It affects six percent of the population, yet less than one third are taking medication. Why? According to Dr. Amen, attention deficit disorder is underdiagnosed, often incorrectly treated, and poorly understood.
Dr. Amen, board-certified in child, adolescent, and adult psychiatry and licensed in nuclear brain imaging, has discovered that there are six types of ADD- not just the commonly known two. Moreover, the most frequently prescribed treatment- Ritalin- makes four of these types worse. Dr. Amen's discovery results from an intensive, years-long study of brain imaging that has identified the distinctive brain dysfunctions characterizing each type of ADD.
Dr. Amen's arresting brain images found throughout these pages leave no doubt that ADD is a real, biological, and ultimately treatable disorder. These dramatic images help sufferers and their families realize this is a medical problem that can be helped with proper intervention.
Until now the psychiatric community has not done enough for people with ADD. The disorder does not disappear after adolescence, and it is much more complex than we have been led to believe. With Dr. Amen's revolutionary approach, readers will learn the full scope of the disease and its management. Finally, in this book, he identifies six types of ADD:
* Type 1 - Classic ADD
* Type 2 - Inattentive ADD
* Type 3 - Overfocused ADD
* Type 4 - Temporal Lobe ADD
* Type 5 - Limbic ADD
* Type 6 - Ring of Fire ADD
Complete with recommendations for prescription drugs, nutraceutical therapy, cognitive reprogramming, parenting and educational strategies, biofeedback, self-hypnosis, and more, Healing ADD provides readers with a comprehensive treatment program that can lead to a normal, peaceful and fully functional life. This proven program greatly enhances brain function for each of the six types of ADD and presents the state-of-the-art treatment for adults and children alike.
ADD sufferers often say, "The harder I try, the worse it gets". Dr. Amen tells them, for the first time, how to get well.
Hard, visual data make a compelling case for the existence of attention deficit disorder (ADD) in this pioneering work by Daniel G. Amen, M.D. Using a nuclear medicine technique called "single photon emission computed tomography" (SPECT)--a controversial step, according to some of his peers--Dr. Amen scans patients' brains to identify various abnormalities. From more than 8,000 such studies and more than 12,000 patient evaluations, Dr. Amen concludes that six--not the formerly presumed two--different types of ADD exist. This book encompasses the full spectrum of Dr. Amen's work: from symptom identification to clinical evaluation, to diet and medication recommendations, to everyday strategies for living with ADD (whether the reader is a parent of an ADD child, or has been diagnosed with the disease.)
No stranger to the skepticism surrounding this topic, Dr. Amen begins with a list of dead-on myths (including "ADD is overdiagnosed") and surprising facts ("Many people with ADD are never hyperactive"). From this intriguing beginning flows a highly readable chapter on the signs and manifestations of ADD in all ages. Dr. Amen's full description of SPECT imaging includes multiple brain scan photos that nicely support his theories. But the most satisfying element of this well-researched presentation occurs in the final half of the book; here, Amen thoroughly explores the biological (diet, exercise, medication), psychological (from personal coaching to psychotherapy), and social support (parenting and school strategies) needed to heal each type of ADD. This book will prove a valuable tool for parents, adult sufferers, and medical professionals seeking practical support for managing this increasingly recognized condition. --Liane Thomas
