Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Up To 9 Times More Often in Boys than Girls

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Referring to the fact that Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) has a behavior pattern that include problems in paying attention, excessive activity and impulsive behavior, faculty member of department of psychiatry at Mashhad University of Medical Sciences said: “the spread of this disease is 2 to 9 times more often in boys than in girls”.

According to WebDa, Dr. Ebrahim Abdullahian said: “although this disorder is usually widespread until three years of age, it is not diagnosed unless the child enters the organized environment of the school or kindergarten”.

This subspecialist in psychiatry of children and adolescent said about the cause of this disorder: “currently, it is believed that no single factor is responsible for this disorder, although environmental and genetic factors might play some role”.

Dr. Ebrahim Abdullahian noted: “genetic factors, growth factors such as mother’s contact with winter infections within the first three months of pregnancy, possible brain damage, chemical neural and socio-psychological factors are among strong reasons predisposing this disorder”.

Regarding the symptoms of this disorder he said: “this disorder might begin from infancy, though it is hardly diagnosed before toddler time. Infants affected with this disorder are sensitive to stimulants and irritate easily by sound, light, heat and other environmental changes”.

Associate professor of psychiatry at Mashhad University of Medical Sciences added: “at school, children might quickly begin to answer examination questions, but stop that after answering a couple of them. They may not wait for their turn, are often irritable and emotionally unstable and easily laugh or cry”.

“About 75 percent of children relatively constantly express aggressive symptoms and disobedience. Distraction and fluctuating attention in these children cause slow learning, saving and expressing knowledge”, added Dr. Abdullahian.

Regarding treatments for this disorder, this subspecialist of psychiatry of children and adolescents said: “treatment with drugs is the first phase of treating hyperactivity and attention-deficit disorder. Various drugs are used to treat this disorder the most important of which is Methylphenidate (Ritalin)”.

“It should be noted that drugs alone cannot meet the treatment needs of children with this disorder and they are regarded only one aspect of a multi-dimensional treatment program. Social skills, parents’ education and behavioral intervention groups in school and home help treat these children generally”, he added.