Post by andy12345 on Aug 3, 2009 23:56:20 GMT
EDIT - hmm, I just found this article which was only published on the day I wrote this- how weird is that hahahahhahehheeh gasp.
Chronic depression apparently in kids of 3 yrs old.
www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32271786/ns/health-kids_and_parenting/
End of EDIT
For those- stabilised- for 1 year on more I have a question or 2 (what a surprise)...
.
Have you noticed a progressive increase of your working memory and/or a reduction of absent-mindedness ( I suppose they are related anyway ) Have you noticed that you are getting progressively less panicky since stabilised on meds?
I wish to bring to your attention Dysthymic disorder, a chronic lifelong (until the cause is stopped and treated usually) depression of mild to moderate levels, gradually building to a double depression or well, you don't want to know that.
The article on dysthymic disorder is at the bottom and it is good read in my opinion.
It is based on American studies and I believe it is a good article, but opinions are always welcome.
I am not suggesting for a second that this is a cause of adhd, but it does not help the symptoms as it adds some of its own to the cocktail of destruction.
Obviously, adhd traits/frustrations may help to develop dysthymia further....
So, why am I mentioning this?
Well, apparently chronic depression (usually diagnosed within 20-30 years based on today's data) can shrink the brain, withering and shrinking the hippocampus (the working memory area apparently)the prefrontal cortex (planning and reflection) but increases the size of the amygdala (the panic control centre) a pair of almond sized glands en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amygdala.
The article does not state ADHD at all or whether the cause is the depression itself or the symptoms of depression affecting the individual, ie, lack of exercise, negative feelings, abnormal brain chemistry, lack of proper eating/nutrition, etc..
Now, the article states that with successful anti-dep treatment, it is possible for those affected parts, the hippocampus/prefrontalcortex (and probably other unstudied parts) and amygdala to reverse.
Now, I wish to propose a hypothetical scenario. Note that word-hypothetical..
1) A person is conceived with adhd- for whatever currently accepted reasons, prenatal, drug abuse, alcohol abuse, brain damage, genetics, etc etc
2) From the time the adhd develops (could be 4 months pre birth or earlier.....), they are probably more than likely under stress, even though no one may notice it......probably only a brainwave scan study and subsequent statistical analysis with controls may generate the data to see if a baby/child is under more stress than "average"
3) This could lead to an early onset depression/dysthymia even though it may be unevident and may just be put down to personality..
(read my edit at the top of the post)
4) The depression causes the amygdala panic centre to grow and the hippocampus/prefrontal cortex to shrink at early stages.
5) By the time, the person is 5, 10, they are already considering themselves - different.
6) By 20, when the real strain of life appears, it's a considerable nightmare, the extra strains/stresses cause extra stress hormones to affect the everyday development of the body.
7) If "perceived" stress triggers the stress hormones, the bodily system will be out of whack constantly, leading to who-knows-what ailments, not to mention failure of the body to develop correctly.
Now, we arrive at the question....
Has 1 year or more use of stimulants increased your working memory etc?
I am trying to find a common ground that shows reduction of "perceived stress" puts the body back into a near-optimal, although with stimulants that may not happen.
I am not even sure if stims will allow the affected brain areas to change.
Anyway, I just wanted to write this to get any thoughts/opinions.
I am going to email Dr. Russell Barkley's office to see what they know about this.
DYSTHYMIA AKA DYSTHYMIC DISORDER
www.depressionny.com/q&a-dysthymicdisorder.pdf
Chronic depression apparently in kids of 3 yrs old.
www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32271786/ns/health-kids_and_parenting/
End of EDIT
For those- stabilised- for 1 year on more I have a question or 2 (what a surprise)...
.
Have you noticed a progressive increase of your working memory and/or a reduction of absent-mindedness ( I suppose they are related anyway ) Have you noticed that you are getting progressively less panicky since stabilised on meds?
I wish to bring to your attention Dysthymic disorder, a chronic lifelong (until the cause is stopped and treated usually) depression of mild to moderate levels, gradually building to a double depression or well, you don't want to know that.
The article on dysthymic disorder is at the bottom and it is good read in my opinion.
It is based on American studies and I believe it is a good article, but opinions are always welcome.
I am not suggesting for a second that this is a cause of adhd, but it does not help the symptoms as it adds some of its own to the cocktail of destruction.
Obviously, adhd traits/frustrations may help to develop dysthymia further....
So, why am I mentioning this?
Well, apparently chronic depression (usually diagnosed within 20-30 years based on today's data) can shrink the brain, withering and shrinking the hippocampus (the working memory area apparently)the prefrontal cortex (planning and reflection) but increases the size of the amygdala (the panic control centre) a pair of almond sized glands en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amygdala.
The article does not state ADHD at all or whether the cause is the depression itself or the symptoms of depression affecting the individual, ie, lack of exercise, negative feelings, abnormal brain chemistry, lack of proper eating/nutrition, etc..
Now, the article states that with successful anti-dep treatment, it is possible for those affected parts, the hippocampus/prefrontalcortex (and probably other unstudied parts) and amygdala to reverse.
Now, I wish to propose a hypothetical scenario. Note that word-hypothetical..
1) A person is conceived with adhd- for whatever currently accepted reasons, prenatal, drug abuse, alcohol abuse, brain damage, genetics, etc etc
2) From the time the adhd develops (could be 4 months pre birth or earlier.....), they are probably more than likely under stress, even though no one may notice it......probably only a brainwave scan study and subsequent statistical analysis with controls may generate the data to see if a baby/child is under more stress than "average"
3) This could lead to an early onset depression/dysthymia even though it may be unevident and may just be put down to personality..
(read my edit at the top of the post)
4) The depression causes the amygdala panic centre to grow and the hippocampus/prefrontal cortex to shrink at early stages.
5) By the time, the person is 5, 10, they are already considering themselves - different.
6) By 20, when the real strain of life appears, it's a considerable nightmare, the extra strains/stresses cause extra stress hormones to affect the everyday development of the body.
7) If "perceived" stress triggers the stress hormones, the bodily system will be out of whack constantly, leading to who-knows-what ailments, not to mention failure of the body to develop correctly.
Now, we arrive at the question....
Has 1 year or more use of stimulants increased your working memory etc?
I am trying to find a common ground that shows reduction of "perceived stress" puts the body back into a near-optimal, although with stimulants that may not happen.
I am not even sure if stims will allow the affected brain areas to change.
Anyway, I just wanted to write this to get any thoughts/opinions.
I am going to email Dr. Russell Barkley's office to see what they know about this.
DYSTHYMIA AKA DYSTHYMIC DISORDER
www.depressionny.com/q&a-dysthymicdisorder.pdf