Amie,

Actually, brain injury or trauma can cause Attention Deficit Disorder. If that is the case, then the medication would still be the same as those who have inherited the genetics for ADHD. If you are concerned that it is something other than ADHD, then perhaps a neurologist could answer those questions for you.

There is another disorder that creates a lot of emotional instability and intensity. Some of the risk factors for developing this disorder include abuse, head injury, early parental loss or abandonment (including adoption or time spent away from parents as a young child, such as long term hospitalization) and untreated ADHD. Biology and/or genetic predisposition also plays a part. Frequently, individuals with this disorder have ADHD as well.

My husband has this particular disorder and he had most of the risk factors mentioned except for head injury. He has ADHD as well. Currently, the disorder is referred to as Borderline Personality Disorder but name changes and classification changes have been proposed by many who treat the disorder. One suggested name is "Emotional Dysregulation Disorder" and our doctor's preference is "Dyslimbia" because it involves a malfunctioning in the limbic system of the brain (an area that deals with emotions).

If you think this may be a possiblity you can find more information at www.BPDNEA.org or www.biologicalunhappiness.com There are other websites with information but unfortunately there is a lot of misinformation and misunderstanding about the disorder and proper treatment. The BpdNea site is a nonprofit organization that includes the "official" criteria, understanding and treatment id BPD and is run by many experts in the field. However, the official view of the disorder is primarily psychologically based.

The other website mentioned is run by a doctor who has successfully treated thousands of patients with the borderline disorder (the doctor we see) and sees it primarily as a medical problem of brain functioning, albeit with psychological symptoms as well, which may, in some part, have developed as a result of coping with the emotional pain of the disorder. He has developed a treatment plan, that if followed, is able to eliminate or control the symptoms with amazing results.

I hope I was able to answer some of your questions. I may have provided more information than you needed but just in case, I wanted to make you aware of this other possibility. It is frequently undiagnosed or misdiagnosed and my husband suffered for years before an accurate diagnosis was made.

Elaine

Quote

I was diagnosed approx one and a half years ago by one of my country's leading Neuro Psychiatrists. My official diagnosis is "Residual ADD type symptoms (Inattentive Type) due to prolonged mild head trauma". The reality is though, when I asked him about whether I could actually have ADD, he told me that it is very possible I do, but there really isn't anyway of finding out for sure. I'm not sure what technology may be available in the US to diagnose ADD, but in little ol' New Zealand we only have trial and error. It's a little scarey being told "Here, take this, and we'll see what happens!"

The general feeling I get from research I've done though is that if it looks like a duck, and sounds like a duck, well.... To me, what's important is what I'm living with today, not how I got this way. In the end, the treatment is the same, whether it is actually ADD or not. The symptoms are the same, and I still need to do the same work managing my condition. I think people in my situation can very easily get worked up in a futile search for the what and why of it all.

One last point I would like to add: A few months ago, I found a reference to a recent study that suggests a strong correlation between ADD and the development of PTSD. It suggests that those with an ADD type condition may be more likely to develop PTSD. Just an interesting thought, when you consider that for years many abuse victims were wrongly diagnosed as Borderline Personalities, and that when you put the "official" symptom lists for ADD, Complex or Chronic PTSD, and BPD next to each other there are huge overlaps in symptomology.

If you are concerned, and you have a history of abuse, PTSD may also be something to consider.

Hope that was worth 5 cents.... :^)

Quote