Understanding ADHD

Understanding ADHD (recorded webinar) – Online CE Course

Understanding ADHD Course Description, Objectives, and Outline:

Course Description:

Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is an ever growing field of study. Important updates because of the latest research requires a change in the tools for the management of symptoms that professionals use. This comprehensive course will review the evidence and breakthroughs provided by research as well as undoing past misconceptions and errors in past research.

Areas of focus for the course will include the neurological impacts of ADHD, including development into adulthood. Practice on using behavior charts as well as reviewing the complications that can arise will be completed. Identifying common problems with misdiagnosis as well as issues related to co-morbidity will be completed through the use of case vignettes. Steps for treatment/symptom management will be broken down into obtainable steps with time to discuss complications and considerations of using accommodations in school settings.

This course will complete an overview of the most common questions caregivers and educators have about ADHD to provide the learners with prepared responses to the questions in digestible and simple terms. The seminar will be presented through zoom and will include time for questions, practicing skills, and interacting with others in the course.

Course Objectives:

1. Identify and address at least one of the common misconceptions of ADHD.
2. Explain the importance of standardization of ADHD criteria.
3. Describe at least five diagnostic criteria and one common impact of symptoms.
4. Identify steps to differentiate attentional or hyperactive problems due to other disorders or due to ADHD.
5. Explain one reason for the use of a clinical scale and the steps for diagnosis of ADHD.
6. Describe the psychoeducation to others about the impacts of ADHD within the brain.
7. Utilize behavior charts in the management of ADHD symptoms effectively and list the six steps for treatment management.
8. Identify some of the known contributors to the symptoms of ADHD as well as be able to identify how to manage complexities of ADHD symptom management.

Course Outline:

1. (Objective 1 and 2) History and Misconceptions
   1. Early 20^th century
      1. Nomenclature
      2. Treatment
      3. Correlations
   2. Mid 20^th century
      1. Developmental evidence
      2. Social/environmental evidence
      3. Treatment
   3. Late 20^th century
      1. Testing
      2. Adult ADHD
      3. Criteria Standardization
2. (Objective 3) DSM diagnosis (don’t call it ADD)
   1. DSM introduction
      1. What is a ‘diagnosed’
      2. Nomenclature
      3. Clinical cutoffs
   2. Symptoms vs. syndrome in DSM
   3. Where in the DSM it is identified: (neurological)
   4. Hyperactivity/Impulsivity symptoms
      1. Sleep and regulation
      2. Emotional regulation
      3. “Distance” between impulse and thinking of consequence
   5. Inattention symptoms
      1. Malfunction of attention systems
      2. “But they can play video games for hours”
      3. Mind Wandering
   6. Combined symptoms
   7. Gender and diagnosis
   8. Prevalence rates 2.5-5% or up to 7.3%
   9. Discussion #1
3. (Objective 4) Co-morbidity and Differential Diagnosis
   1. Nomenclature
   2. For children
      1. Trauma
      2. Oppositional defiant disorder
      3. Autism Spectrum Disorders
   3. Brain injuries- severe and mild concussions
   4. For adults
      1. Major Depressive Disorder
      2. Generalized anxiety disorder
      3. Bipolar I and Bipolar II
      4. Substance use disorders
   5. Addiction
   6. Intermittent explosive disorder
   7. Reactive attachment disorder
   8. Discussion #2
4. (Objective 5) Assessment and Diagnosis
   1. Steps to diagnose
   2. Scales/screeners
      1. Vanderbilt
      2. Adult scales
   3. Interviews
   4. Show items used for research
      1. N-back
      2. go-no-go
      3. Stroop test and button pushing task)
   5. Behavioral observations
   6. Heritability
   7. Mis-diagnosis and misinformation
   8. Discussion #3
5. (Objective 6) Neurobiology
   1. Attention (suppression) and direction (work horses).
   2. Age (every 3 year old has ADHD?)
   3. Sleep and resting state data
   4. Memory issues (encoding vs retrieval)
   5. Emotional lability and development
   6. Brain development and neuroplasticity
   7. Discussion #4
6. (Objective 7) Treatment and Symptom Management
   1. Treatment considerations
   2. Typical steps for treatment
      1. Psychoeducation
      2. Coping skills
      3. Behavioral management
      4. Pharmacotherapy
      5. Co-occurring symptoms treatment
      6. Evaluation for (other) accommodations
   3. Measurements, clinical scales, and psychometrics.
   4. Therapy
      1. Techniques and interventions
      2. Symptom management
      3. Drop out
   5. Medications
      1. Stimulants
      2. Non-stimulants
   6. Schooling or work accommodations
   7. Electronic use
   8. Management techniques and “alternatives”
   9. Discussion #5
7. (Objective 8) Latest research in genetics and developments
   1. Genetics overview
   2. Sleep regulation and ADHD genetic research overlap
   3. Addiction and gene phenotypes
   4. Treatment “cures”
   5. Future research directions
   6. Discussion #6

Instructors: Leo DeBroeck, MS, LMHC, CMHS, MHP

Author: Leo DeBroeck, MS, LMHC, CMHS, MHP

Leo DeBroeck is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Child Mental Health Specialist in Washington State. Leo DeBroeck is CBT Plus certified through the University of Washington and Harborview Sexual Assault and Traumatic Stress Center. He has completed his Master’s of Science in Clinical Psychology. In addition, he has worked in several different levels of care for mental health treatment including long-term inpatient care, wraparound intensive services (WISe), school-based therapy services, and outpatient clinical settings.

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