OK! HEALTH ADHD
AS MORE CELEBRITIES OPEN UP ABOUT HAVING THE CONDITION, OK! INVESTIGATES
With ADHD diagnosis rates rising sharply in the UK, one in every 20 people is now said to be affected – and not just children. The condition, which stands for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, causes symptoms including short attention span, impulsivity and hyperactivity. But despite the increasing number of cases, medics believe ADHD is underdiagnosed in children and young people, resulting in greater struggles into adulthood.
Thankfully, the stigma around ADHD is beginning to lift, and TV presenter Ant Mcpartlin recently opened up about his diagnosis following a troubled year. After being involved in a drink-driving incident, the Britain’s Got Talent host, 43, underwent a series of tests, and said: ‘I was so thoroughly examined and diagnosed, I found stuff out about me I hadn’t addressed for years. In my job, having what they call “popcorn thinking” is good because it means you can jump from one thing to another. Professionally, it’s brilliant. Personally, I’m all over the place.’
Other stars affected by ADHD include Love Island star Olivia Attwood, 27, who recently revealed on Instagram: ‘I was diagnosed with ADHD many, many years ago and writing lists is one thing I was taught to do that helps me organise my thoughts.’ And singer Annemarie, 27, has also said: ‘I have anxiety, I have obsessive compulsive disorder, I have attention deficit disorder, I have dyslexia. I have a lot of things going on in my brain.’
Meanwhile, TV presenter Richard Bacon, 43, told of his ADHD diagnosis last year, saying: ‘A lot of people with ADHD forget many day-today things. You lose your credit card, your passport, your keys. I once left a passport on a urinal in Italy. There was this constant sense of chaos.’ Explaining how the disorder also contributed to his behaviour socially, he added: ‘I was drinking too much and going out too much – and this can also be a side effect of ADHD.’
With calls for greater awareness and earlier medical intervention, OK! finds out how to spot the signs of ADHD, and how it can be dealt with most effectively…
WHAT EXACTLY IS ADHD?
Dr Tony Lloyd, CEO of the ADHD Foundation, tells OK!: ‘ADHD is a difference in the way the brain works. It can be mild, moderate or severe, but it’s a big myth that it’s behavioural. Many people think it’s about children misbehaving in class, but that’s nonsense. It’s actually a neurodevelopmental condition.’ In essence, ADHD is characterised by five main elements: ‘Firstly, by poor concentration and memory, and secondly, by impulsivity of thought, emotion and actions.’ The third factor is hyperactivity, but Dr Lloyd adds: ‘This is not evident in everyone, and ADHD often goes unnoticed in girls until adulthood because they are usually less hyperactive.’ In addition, sufferers typically have low emotional resilience, and their minds work in a less structured way. ‘This means it’s hard to plan things logically, which can lead to being disorganised.’ It can cause severe anxiety and impair sleep, too: ‘People with ADHD have poor circadian rhythms – their natural bodyclock doesn’t work as well. So your mind could be racing at night, even if you’re exhausted.’
DOES IT AFFECT ALL AGES AND GENDERS?
Yes, it does. But somewhat surprisingly, ADHD was not medically confirmed in adults until 2008, so only around eight per cent of adult cases have been formally recognised. ‘Think about today’s generation who went to school 20 or 30 years ago – a lot of them would have had ADHD but it was completely missed,’ says Dr Lloyd. ‘Contrary to popular belief, you don’t ever just grow out of it, so plenty of people will still be unaware they have it.’
In terms of gender divide, three males to every one female are diagnosed, while it tends to be more prevalent in artistic types.
Dr Lloyd reveals: ‘Interestingly, undiagnosed or untreated ADHD also increases the risk of addiction – a tendency we often see in artists, musicians or creative people. Because anxiety is very common with ADHD, people are driven to find ways to self-soothe, and that could be through things like excessive drinking or smoking.’
WHAT ACTUALLY CAUSES IT?
While genetics are thought to play a big part, many experts believe it’s also down to chemical reactions in the body. Dr Lloyd reveals: ‘People with ADHD have lower levels of dopamine, a chemical in the brain that helps us concentrate.’ Because fidgeting and movement boost the release of dopamine, the body then craves more, making you move around more. ‘It’s no coincidence that a lot of famous athletes and footballers have ADHD – the constant exercise they do produces more dopamine.’
WHY IS IT STILL UNDERDIAGNOSED?
As well as not being recognised in adults for years, many medics are apparently still slow to spot the signs. ‘GPS are not trained as mental health specialists,’ points out Dr Lloyd. ‘Doctors of a certain generation also think ADHD is just fidgety children, which of course is not true. Others might say: “You can’t have ADHD, you’ve got a degree,” which is ridiculous. You could be a barrister and still have it. We just don’t see those people because they don’t fit that stigmatising stereotype.’
HOW IS ADHD TREATED?
Stimulant medications called methylphenidates are usually prescribed, with the best known being Ritalin. ‘The only way to improve concentration or memory is with medication,’ says Dr Lloyd. ‘It helps the brain work properly and deal with the stresses of school or work, because you can process information better and make more informed decisions.’ Fortunately, side effects from the drugs are rare. ‘Most people don’t notice anything significant, but if you do, it probably means the dosage is wrong.’
Other treatment options include cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). ‘This can really help, because you develop certain strategies to control your thoughts and also plan or organise your life. However, you would struggle to find this available on the NHS.’
CAN OTHER LIFESTYLE FACTORS HELP?
A healthy diet and physical activity are also recommended. ‘People with ADHD should exercise every single day,’ advises Dr Lloyd. ‘That should be combined with stress-reducing activities like deep-breathing, yoga and muscle relaxation.’
While the correct treatments are effective in most people, early detection is still key. ‘Research tells us that if you’re diagnosed early and receive good support, your health outcomes will be significantly better later in life. On the flip side, we know that undiagnosed, untreated ADHD correlates with obesity, anxiety, depression and high blood pressure.’
ARE ATTITUDES TO ADHD CHANGING?
One big positive is that there now appears to be more growing awareness and acceptance of ADHD. ‘So many people in public life are being open about it, which should be applauded. Emma Watson has said she was on Ritalin all through the Harry Potter films, and Daniel Radcliffe has talked about his dyspraxia, too. Then we have had people like Ant Mcpartlin and James Middleton speaking about their ADHD recently. More needs to be done, because undiagnosed and unsupported ADHD is costing the NHS in so many ways. But by having these more honest conversations, people are starting to see how common it really is, and to understand the condition so much better.’ VISIT WWW.ADHDFOUNDATION.ORG.UK FOR MORE INFORMATION, AND FOLLOW @ADHDFOUNDATION ON TWITTER AND INSTAGRAM.