Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can directly affect individuals transitioning into adulthood. When it comes to taking on adult responsibilities, like developing or maintaining a stable career path, moving out of the family home, building personal and professional relationships, or adhering to healthy coping skills, ADHD can inhibit the successes of an emerging adult, if left undiagnosed or mistreated.
Often, the signs and symptoms of ADHD may have been present throughout childhood, as ADHD can tend to be a condition spanning from a young age and lasting into adulthood. However, without incorporating early detection and intervention strategies at the onset of ADHD, complications of ADHD build. Parents who have concerns about ADHD should seek psychiatric help for their emerging adults.
Luckily, families seeking psychiatric help for emerging young adults who may be at risk for ADHD may be able to make therapeutic progress more quickly than expected. In an upcoming issue of Psychology Today, Lukasz Konopka, PhD, Chief Neuroscientist at Yellowbrick, describes how the most current research on ADHD is helping clinicians collaborate with families in order to accurately diagnose ADHD. The screening process for ADHD has become more technological, as the FDA recently approved utilizing EEG scans of brain activity as an additional assessment tool to diagnose ADHD. Traditionally, collecting data from family health histories, clinical interviews, and targeted performance tasks rounded out the methods of forming a diagnosis for ADHD. Konopa shares how therapeutic progress may increase as neuroscientists continue to study how the areas of the brain which are affected by ADHD respond to prescription medication. With a better look at how ADHD targets brain activity, families and individuals may have an easier time processing an ADHD diagnosis.
How can parents prepare in seeking psychiatric help for a young adult suspected of having ADHD?
Yellowbrick collaborates with adolescents and emerging adults, ages 16-30's, their families and participating professionals toward the development and implementation of a strategic “Life Plan.” An integrative, multi-specialty consultation clarifies strengths, limitations, and risks, and defines motivations, goals and choices.
A mental health condition that’s characterized by intense shifts in mood including both manic and depressive episodes.
People living with Major Depressive Disorder, or MDD, experience episodes of depression and sadness that are debilitating to daily life.
Those living with anxiety disorders experience high levels of anxiety and stress that interfere negatively with daily life.
A mental health issue in which a person’s cognitive function is impaired, resulting in symptoms like experiencing challenges with conducting speech, reading and writing, and behavior.
Mental health disorders that negatively affect a person’s behaviors, thought patterns, and function. People diagnosed with these disorders experience challenges with managing relationships and understanding various situations.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is a mental health condition that people can develop as a result of experiencing traumatic situations, characterized by symptoms including flashbacks, avoidance behaviors, and more.
A mental health condition that is characterized by specific symptoms of forgetfulness and lack of concentration, which makes it challenging to complete necessary tasks.
Mental health conditions that interfere with a person’s eating habits, thought patterns, and behaviors in negative ways.
A mental health disorder diagnosable with the DSM-5 that is characterized by both obsessions and compulsive behaviors.