ADHD Case Study

ADHD can also make a person overactive. ADHD affects the way an individual’s brain processes the information it receives thereby influencing their behavior. Besides, children with ADHD may also face challenges with troubled relationships, low-self-esteem, and poor academic performance in school (Brown, 2013).   Despite the fact that causes of ADHD remain unidentified, researchers at Mayo Clinic believe that nutrition, genetics and problems with the central nervous system during the development of an individual may lead to the disease (Mayo Clinic, 2018). ADHD is not curable with treatment but it would be helpful in dealing with the symptoms. These include predominantly inattentive ADHD, predominantly hyperactive-impulsive ADHD and combined ADHD. A child with ADHD will show symptoms for a minimum of 6 months. Most of these negatively affect their home life, school life and other relationships in at least 2 settings such as both schools and at home (Mayo Clinic, 2018).

Causes and Risk Factors There are factors that have been considered to be involved in the development of ADHD. These include environment, genetics and development. In addition, ADHD patients are at higher risk of getting involved in alcohol and drug abuse as well as other delinquent behavior. Children suffering from ADHD also have the potential to have other coexisting conditions that include depression, anxiety, disabilities in learning, conduct disorder, bipolar disorder, disruptive mood deregulation disorder and Tourette syndrome (National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health, 2018). Jacob’s ADHD Case History of the Behavioral Health Problem Including a Diagnosis Jacob is a 9 year old Grade 9 student. He lives in Texas with his parents. There is an extended family history of ADHD and mental health concerns.

It has also been noted that Jacob exhibits restlessness and most of the times need reminders to help him focus on the task at hand. Jacob has been described by his teacher as constantly running around besides having challenges with listening and following instructions. Sometimes Jacobs interrupts his classmates and blurts out answers in class. He is aware of this behavior and he says he is unable to stop despite having the intention to. While at home, he has challenges falling asleep and on some occasions he would find himself awake in the night. Medical interventions Since the diagnosis, Jacob has been on a trial stimulant medication. The types and dosage of the medication have been adjusted on several occasions to help find the best balance.

The medications include Concerta, Strattera, Vyvanse, and Biphentin. Jacob’s Dynamics of Relapse The dynamic model of relapse makes it possible to have several structures of distal and proximal relapse risks. The distal risks are the stable predispositions that increase the likelihood of an individual to lapse (Hildebran, & Pithers, 2013). This will in turn affect his copying. A decline in motivation would be a prediction of a relapse. And in case the relapse happens, it would lead to a further decline in motivation (Brown, 2013).   Also, a cognitive process such as baseline self-efficacy would help to predict lapses. Besides, as self-efficacy varies on a daily basis would help to identify the progress from lapse to relapse.  A new understanding of ADHD in children and adults: Executive function impairments.