NEW ENGLAND CENTER FOR PSYCHIATRIC TREATMENT AND EDUCATION

SIMON EPSTEIN, M.D.
91 STRAWBERRY HILL AVE. #140
STAMFORD, CT 06902
203-348-8579

Monthly NewsNotes

Monthly NewsNote

July 2003

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The ADD Family

When ADD is diagnosed in a child or adult, time and energy is spent finding treatments for the patient involved. But what’s often overlooked is that the family is also very often a patient. This is because the ADDer’s condition impacts on everyone around him, whether it be parents, siblings or spouse. Therefore, we have to go beyond treating the identified patient and help with the problems faced by ADD families.

A few of these potential problems are these: Sometimes a sibling is ignored and suffers because of all the attention required by the ADD child. An ADD adult with a short attention span may never listen to his or her spouse, creating great upset. Or parents can argue about how their hyperactive child should be treated, creating tension at home.

So where do we start? How can these problems be reduced? A good place to begin is by asking few key questions, and then developing a plan of action. Three of these questions should be: 1. What are the ADD symptoms in my child? 2. How do these symptoms impact on the child and family and 3.What are we doing to reduce or remove the problems?

As you formulate your answers, remember that ADD goes beyond distractibility and restlessness. Other important symptoms include a low frustration tolerance, impulsive behavior, and poor organizational skills. Each of these problem areas complicate the management of ADD. The more ADD symptoms, therefore, the harder it is to work out the best management of the condition.

For example, is homework an issue? If so, does it make mom a nervous wreck and lead to a constant conflict with the child? Are books forgotten or homework completed but never handed in? As you break it down and address the concerns that are specific to your family, you will see that there are many aspects to a problem and each needs to be solved.

The best results in the treatment of ADD involve not only the patient, but also the entire family. Look carefully at the whole family and understand ADD in some depth. This takes time and effort. I recommend reading several books on the subject. For available books check the CACLD website at www.cacld.org. It is also important to attend meetings on the subject, and it is always helpful to talk with an expert in the field.

Of course, tell your prescribing doctor and therapist about your difficulties so they can help in improving the overall situation within your particular family.

The outcome of this effort will be very valuable for all family members.

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