ADD and ADHD refer to the same condition of attention deficit disorder or attention deficit hyperactive disorder. This condition affects 3-7% of children worldwide and is characterized by low attention, high activity levels, distractibility and impulsivity. The main differences between ADD and ADHD are that ADD is an older term while ADHD specifies three subtypes. Research has implicated four brain regions in the condition - the prefrontal cortex, basal ganglia, cerebellum and corpus callosum. Stimulant medications such as amphetamines and methylphenidate are primarily used to treat the condition by increasing dopamine and norepinephrine levels in the brain. Omega-3 fatty acids have also shown some benefits when coupled

1. ADD and ADHD
BY CHELSEA JOHNSTON

2. What is ADD and ADHD?
 Attention deficit disorder or attention deficit
hyperactive disorder is a common childhood
disorder that can continue on through adolescences
and adulthood.
 This condition effects 3%-7% of children worldwide.
 Symptoms of this condition are low attention and
concentration levels, high levels of
activity, distractibility, impulsivity and the inability
to inhibit actions.
(Loitti, 936)

3. Is there a difference between ADD and ADHD?
 ADD used to be the only term for this condition, but
in 1987 the term ADD was revised to ADHD in the
Diagnostic Statistic Manual III.
 Along with the revision ADHD was broken into three
categories.
 Predominantly Inattentive Type
 Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive Type
 Combined Type: Symptoms of the above types are equally
evident.
 So basically ADD and ADHD are just different names
for the same condition.
(Chambers, np)

4. The four brain regions implicated in ADD/ADHD
 The prefrontal cortices (especially the right
prefrontal cortex)
 The basal ganglia (especially the caudate)
 The cerebellum (especially the cerebellar
vermis)
 The corpus callosum (especially the genu)
(Nigg, 54)

5. Prefrontal cortex
 Researchers have found that structure
and activity in this area of the brain of
children with ADHD/ADD relates to
problems with working
memory, response
suppression, alerting and motivation.
 Abnormalities in this area of the brain
that effect ADD/ADHD are primarily
in the right side. (Niggs, 55)
 In one research ADHD and healthy
participants were asked to participate
in a stop signal task. They found that
the ADHD group showed reduces
N200 wave amplitudes in primarily
the right inferior frontal scalp.
(Liotti, 936)

6. Basal Ganglia
 The caudate and putamen are the
parts of the Basal Ganglia that are
most related to ADD/ADHD. They
work closely with the prefrontal
cortex. These structures involve
motor control with motivation and
emotion (responding to rewards
or danger) and with executive and
cognitive functions (attention and
suppression of motor response.)
 Several studies indicate
abnormalities in the caudate of
children with ADD/ADHD, but it
is still unclear whether it is the
right or left side. (Nigg, 56)

7. Cerebellum
 Several studies have shown
that the cerebellar vermis is
smaller in children with
ADHD/ADD than in
children without the
condition.
 This is thought to effect
disturbances of motor timing
and temporal information
processing in general.
(Niggs, 56,57)

8. Corpus Callosum
 This area helps with
transferring information in the
brain which is necessary for
complex cognitive and motor
functions.
 Little research has been
done, but imaging evidence
shows that areas of the Corpus
Callosum may be smaller in
children with ADD/ADHD that
children without.
(Niggs, 57)

9. What kind of medication is used to treat this
condition?
 Adderall: amphetamine
 Adderall XR: amphetamine (extended release)
 Concerta: methylphenidate (long acting)
 Daytrana: methylphenidate patch
 Desoxyn: methamphetamine hydrochloride
 Dexedrine: dextroamphetamine
 Dextrostat: dextroamphetamine
 Focalin: dexmethylphenidate
 Focalin XR: dexmethylphenidate (extended release)
 Metadate ER: methylphenidate (extended release)
 Metadate CD: methylphenidate (extended release)
 Methylin: methylphenidate (oral solution and chewable tablets)
 Ritalin: methylphenidate
 Ritalin SR: methylphenidate (extended release)
 Ritalin LA: methylphenidate (long acting)
 Strattera: atomoxetine
 Vyvanselis: lisdexamfetamine dimesylate
(Attention deficit…. N.p.)

10. How does ADHD Medication effect the brain?
 It has been found that people with ADD/ADHD
contain a lower amount of dopamine and
norepinephrine neurotransmitters in their brain.
 Stimulant medications that include amphetamines
and methylphenidate affect the chemical signals in
the central nervous system increasing the levels of
dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain.
(Kingsley, np)

11. Omega-3 fatty acids
 Aside from traditional medicines, Omega-3 fatty
acids have been found to slightly improve
ADHD/ADD symptoms.
 This supplement can be coupled with ADHD
medication to augment it’s effects or is even a good
solution for people with ADHD who do not choose to
use medications.
 Although it slightly improves symptoms, it is not
thought of as an adequate treatment option.
(Leonard, 1-3)

12. What causes ADD/ADHD?
• The causes of ADD/ADHD are not known for sure
but researchers have a few good ideas.
1. Many studies have shown that genetics play a role
in the condition.
2. Some studies suggest a like between smoking and
alcohol consumption during pregnancy and
ADD/ADHD.
3. People with brain injuries to the right prefrontal
lobe sometimes show symptoms of ADD/ADHD,
but most children with the condition have not had
a brain injury.
(Attention deficit..Np)

13. Bibliography
 “Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder ADHD.” National institute of mental health. NIMH.
Web. 6 Aug 2012. This website was very informative in providing the different types of
medications used for ADHD. It also listed what chemical was used in each medication.
 Chambers, TJ. ADHD Awareness.Web. 6 Aug 2012. This website was very informative and
contributed noticeably to my research. It helped to describe the different types of ADHD and
the changes to the name of the condition.
 Kingsley, Richard. “Managing ADHD with medication” kids health. Web. 6 Aug 2012. This
website gave me clear information about how ADHD medication stimulants effect the brain.
This website described how these medications worked very well.
 *Leonard, Henrietta. “Omega-3 fatty acids may be benificial as augmentation to ADHD
medications.” The Brown University child and adolescent psychopharmacology update. 13
(2011): 1-3, Web. October. 6 Aug. 2012. This source had information of ADHD treatment
beyond just medication. It explains the study that lead to the thought that Omega-3 could help
with ADHD.
 * Liotti, Mario, et al. “Electrophysiological correlates of response inhibition in children and
adolescents with ADHD: Influence of gender, age, and previous treatment history.”
Psychophysiology, 44 (2007) : 936-948, Web. 8 Feb. 6 Aug. 2012. This source provided very
solid information regarding the effects of the prefrontal cortex in people with ADHD. The study
was explained in depth with information applying to What ADHD is and how the condition
relates to the prefrontal cortex.
 *Nigg, Joel. What Causes ADHD? : Understanding What Goes Wrong and Why. New
York, NY, USA: Guilford Press, 2006. Print. This book provided me with so much information
about ADHD as a serious condition. The information that was especially helpful to me was that
about the brain regions implicated in the mind of a child with ADHD.