ADHD Alternative Causes – 7 Types

To be able to deal effectively with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) and ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) problems we need to look for the actual causes of the difficulties experienced. ADHD is a complex and often misunderstood set of conditions. The present diagnosis is based on an outdated and over simplistic biological hypothetical explanation of ADHD. The 3 type hypothesis diagnosis is a list of behaviors without any consideration to medical or biological causes of these behaviors. Therein lies its problem

The conventional 3 sub-types ADHD model:

ADHD, Predominantly Inattentive Type: Inattention but not hyperactivity-impulsivity symptoms.

ADHD, Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive Type: Hyperactivity-impulsivity but not inattention symptoms.

ADHD,Combined Type: Both inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity symptoms.

One ADHD researcher, Dr Daniel Amen, a pioneer in the application of neuro-imaging to study ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) has used SPECT imaging (Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography) to study attention deficit and has found seven different types of ADHD and ADD patterns. Dr Amen has studied what is actually happening in the brain of children with various forms of ADHD type symptoms. This is a valuable contribution to the understanding of the causes of attention deficit and hyperactivity. His research indicates that there are seven types of ADHD. An ADHD test is on Dr Amen’s site.

The conventional model of attention deficit and hyperactivity has three types based only on behavior patterns and subjective assessments. This conventional model based on the DSM5 symptom criteria (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition) is far from perfect and ignores the underlying cause of the symptoms. The DSM-IV model for ADHD mixes all causes, environmental, medical, physiological and psychological together equally and uses the word “disorder” as a vague, undefined, abstract concept. This results in confusion and prevents a rational debate on ADHD

Even some of the foremost and most vocal ADHD researchers are confused by the complexity of attention deficit and hyperactivity, and appear to misunderstand this condition. This is mainly because they seem so absorbed by their conventional pet hypothesis, while being apparently ignorant of major advances within psychology during the 20th century. One important factor ignored, but very relevant to understanding ADHD is personality types. Some of Dr Amen’s types are not disorders at all, but personality types, having a different thinking process than the average population.

Daniel Amen’s seven types of ADHD make more sense than the conventional model, as his model reflects real life ADHD. Determining the type of ADHD is a great help in finding the best treatment for the individual person with attention deficit and/or hyperactivity problems

Attention deficit is a dimensional or spectrum condition. Symptoms vary both in the combination of symptoms, as well as the severity of a specific symptom. People with these personality types do not necessarily fit neatly into one or other of these seven categories, but can share some characteristics of some of the other types. However they will tend to be mostly one or other of these seven types

Below are links to the seven types of ADD/ADHD according to Dr Amen. and our own ADHD Health comments on the positive aspects as well as suggestions for the most suitable natural remedies:

The 7 Types

There are over 100 different causes of attention deficit and hyperactive like behavior patterns, which conventional ADHD research appears to ignore, or choose to be ignorant of. That is why Dr Amen’s work is so significant. His SPECT scans of seven ADHD types show evidence that the conventional model of ADHD is faulty and needs to be scrapped, like other bad scientific hypotheses before it

More effort should be put into studying the alternative causes for ADHD-like behavior. Unfortunately some of the foremost ADHD researchers, among them Russell Barkley and Joseph Biederman, seem to be arrogantly unaware of the wisdom of 20th century psychology. They apparently did not have subjects such as human personality types in their curriculum at medical school. Or their minds are closed by religious-like fervor to appease the gods of the pharmaceutical industry

These first two types of ADD/ADHD are the true gifted ADHD personalities. These are the Classic ADHD and the Inattentive ADD. These two are not disorders; they are better described as personality types. These people think predominantly intuitively and are boredom intolerant. Here are found the great philosophers, scientists, inventors, writers, composers and artists. Society owes them a debt for humanity’s progress. They have the enthusiasm, creativity and a resilience, not giving up easily. When these people are bored with the projects they have started, then there are others, the neurotypicals, who have the talent to finish the job while the ADHDers are off starting the next project.

There are natural remedies for the attention, focus and hyperactivity in these people. Stimulant medication should not be used to turn enthusiastic and sparkling souls into compliant pupils

The temporal Lobe and Ring of Fire ADD types are more serious conditions. Stimulant medication worsens their condition. These are not the positive ADHD personalities, above, but have aspects of Opposition Defiant Disorder or Conduct Disorder in their behavior. The inattention and hyperactivity are merely shared symptoms. A cough is a symptom shared with a common cold, tuberculosis and lung cancer

The other three types, the Over focused, the Limbic ADD, and the Anxious ADD, are a mixed group. Here there can be either a true ADHD with a disorder, or a disorder with shared attention deficit symptoms.



If a person with any these types tries to fit in to the normal (neurotypical) lifestyle, then s/he will struggle in life and probably feel frustrated and a failure. If on the other hand an honest assessment is made of strengths and weaknesses, and a life is directed to take advantage of the strengths and learn coping strategies for the weaknesses, then there is a good chance of living a happy and fulfilled drug-free life

Please remember that ADD/ADHD is dimensional and not categorical. There are overlaps between the different types as well as variations as to which symptoms a person has and the severity of the specific symptoms.

Type 1: Classic ADHD

Symptoms:

Inattentive.

Easily distracted.

disorganized.

Procrastinates.

hyperactive.

full of energy, on-the-go.

restless, cannot sit still, fidgety.

Impatient, has difficulty waiting in turn.

Impulsive, lacking awareness of consequences.

Lack of self control.

SPECT Pattern: Usually low activity in the prefrontal cortex (the front part of the brain) while concentrating.

Prefrontal Cortex

Control Center

Executive Functions

Impulse Control

Attention Focus

Self-regulating Behavior

Natural Treatment:

Diet (ADHD people have a different metabolism).

cognitive brain and/or biofeedback training.

supplement formulations, specially formulated for the ADHD metabolism. This is ADHD food: Attend for the inattention and focus. Extress for the hyperactivity. Memorin for memory/forgetfulness problems.



Return to list of the 7 types.

Inattentive ADD – The Daydreamer

Symptoms:

Inattentive.

Short attention spans to unstimulating tasks or when needing to think cognitively.

Easily distracted.

Disorganized loses or misplaces things.

No sense of time, often late.

Procrastinates.

Quiet and contemplating, often labelled lazy, unmotivated.

Spacey, and daydreaming.

SPECT Pattern: Usually activity in the prefrontal cortex slows down while concentrating and low brain wave (Alpha and Theta waves) activity.



Natural Treatment:

Diet (ADD people have a different metabolism compared to average people).

Cognitive brain and/or biofeedback training.

Supplement formulations specially formulated for the ADD metabolism. This is ADD food: Attend for the inattention and focus. Memorin for memory/forgetfulness problems.



Return to list of the 7 types

Overfocused ADD

Symptoms:

Inattentive.

Short attention span.

Easily distracted.

Disorganized loses or misplaces things.

Hyperactive.

Stuck in negative thoughts or behavior.

Worries excessively even over things that are not important.

Holds grudges.

Inflexible cognitive thinking.

Obsessively compulsive about the way things ought to be done.

Argumentative and oppositional towards parents. May even seem to enjoy arguing.

has to have his/her own way.

Task oriented, has trouble shifting attention or from one activity to another.

Needs things to remain the same.

Often is in families with addiction problems or obsessive-compulsive tendencies.

Anterior Cingulate Gyrus

Cyngulate Gyrus

SPECT Pattern: Usually high anterior cingulate activity plus low prefrontal cortex with concentration.



Natural Treatment:

Stimulant medication and L-Tyrosine supplements are likely to make a person with this type of ADD worse .

. Supplement formulations that help the over focused type are: Deprex , for the worry and depression. Extress , for anxiety, irritability and restlessness. Attend , for attention deficit symptoms, inattention and distractibility.

A helpful resources for you to get over anxiety is the EasyCalm Video Coaching Series . This is the leading anxiety and panic attack coaching series in downloadable video.

. This is the leading anxiety and panic attack coaching series in downloadable video. Behavior programs for oppositional behavior. There are different strategies for the two age groups: in 2 to 12 year olds

or oppositional behavior in teens .



Temporal Lobe ADD

Symptoms:

Inattentive and irritable

Very impulsive.

Aggressive, fights with a quick temper.

Anger outbursts for little or no apparent reason.

Often misinterpret comments.

Experience periods of anxiety.

Have headaches or abdominal pain.

Have a history of head injury.

Family history of rages.

Defiant towards parents and toward authority.

Dark thoughts and mood instability.

Memory difficulties.

Reading difficulty and poor handwriting.

SPECT Pattern: usually low temporal lobe activity plus low prefrontal cortex activity while concentrating. Low activity in the left temporal lobes leads to aggressive, violent behavior and serious temper outbursts.

ADDDr. Amen has an online ADD/ADHD questionnaire.

Prefrontal Cortex

Control Center

Executive Functions

Impulse Control

Attention Focus

Self-regulating Behavior

Temporal Lobe:

Language processing and comprehension

Processing non-verbal sounds

Auditory sensation and perception

Laying down memory traces

Emotional/affective behavior

Emotional control

Learning

Affects sexual behavior

Natural Treatment:

This is a serious disorder and trying medication is justified with this type. Your psychiatrist will most likely prescribe a mixture of an anticonvulsive together with a stimulant, such as methylphenidate (Ritalin, Concerta, or Daytrana).

supplement formulations, which can help memory and learning: Attend two capsules per day. Neuran four capsules per day. Memorin two capsules a day.

Behavior programs for oppositional behavior. There are different strategies for the two age groups: in 2 to 12 year olds

or oppositional behavior in teens .



Limbic ADD

Symptoms:

Inattentive.

Have a chronic mild depression with negative thoughts.

Easily give up, opposite of the resilient Inattentive and Hyperactive types

Apathetic with low energy.

Low self-esteem, feelings of worthlessness.

Often feel helpless or hopeless.

Poor sleep patterns.

SPECT Pattern: Usually high deep limbic activity plus low prefrontal cortex at rest and while concentrating.

Limbic System:

Limbic System

Includes the thalamus and hypothalamus

Regulates emotions

Emotional memories

Influences the hormone system

has a relay and gating function for sensory information

Control of motivation and drives





Natural Treatment:

Diet. ADD people have a different metabolism to average people and so do depressed people.

Omega-3 fish oil .

. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and/or biofeedback training.

Aerobic exercise daily for 30-45 minutes, preferably outside.

Supplement formulations specially formulated for the ADD metabolism and depression: Attend , for attention deficit symptoms, inattention and distractibility. Deprex , for the worry and depression. Extress , for restlessness and anxiety.



Ring of Fire ADD

Symptoms:

anger outbursts, oppositional, inflexibility, fast thoughts, excessive talking, and very sensitive to sounds and lights. I named it Ring of Fire after the intense ring of over activity that I saw in the brains of affected people. This type is usually made much worse by stimulants.

Inattentive.

Short attention span.

Easily distracted.

Disorganized loses or misplaces things.

Hyperactive.

Extreme moodiness.

Anger outbursts for little or no apparent reason.

Stuck in negative thoughts or behavior.

Worries excessively even over things that are not important.

Holds grudges.

Inflexible cognitive thinking.

Obsessively compulsive about the way things ought to be done.

Argumentative and oppositional towards parents. May even seem to enjoy arguing.

has to have his/her own way.

Task oriented, has trouble shifting attention or from one activity to another.

Needs things to remain the same.

Often is in families with addiction problems or obsessive-compulsive tendencies.

SPECT Pattern: A marked overall increased activity across the cortex. There may or may not be low prefrontal cortex activity.



Natural Treatment:

Stimulant medication and L-Tyrosine supplements are likely to make a person with this type of ADD worse .

. Supplement formulations that help the over focused type are: Attend , for the ADHD symptoms. Deprex , for the worry and anxiety. Extress , for impulsivity, irritability and restlessness.

Behavior programs for oppositional behavior. There are different strategies for the two age groups: in 2 to 12 year olds

or oppositional behavior in teens .



Anxious ADD

Symptoms:

Inability to sustain focus

Inattentive

Easily distracted

Disorganized

Feelings of anxiousness

Fear of disapproval or Criticism

Gets anxious with timed tests

Social anxiety

Stress related digestive symptoms, headaches, and/or sleeping difficulties

Pessimism

Core symptoms of ADD

Frequently anxious or nervous

Inattentive, easily distracted, disorganized

Physical stress symptoms such as headaches

Tendency to freeze in social situations

Dislikes or gets excessively nervous speaking in public

Predicts the worse

Conflict avoidant

Fear of being judged

SPECT Pattern: Anxious ADD SPECT scan findings show increased activity in the basal ganglia at rest and during concentration. Other ADD types, which have low activity in this part of the brain. Additionally, there is decreased activity in the prefrontal cortex and cerebellum during concentration. People with anxious ADD have high levels of activity in the basal ganglia. This differs from the majority of the other ADD types, which have low activity in this part of the brain.

Natural Treatment:

Diet. ADD people have a different metabolism to average people

Aerobic exercise daily for 30-45 minutes, preferably outside.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Mindfulness meditation

Sleep strategies

Relaxation techniques

Biofeedback training

Supplement formulations that help the Anxious ADD type are: Attend , for the ADHD symptoms Deprex , for the worry and anxiety Extress , for impulsivity, irritability and restlessness



The goal of treatment is to help with relaxation and increase GABA and dopamine levels. Treatment includes: