Syftet med studien var att undersöka hur personer med ADHD upplever sin psykosociala arbetsmiljö. Förhoppningen var att få ökad kunskap och ökad förståelse för hur dessa upplevelser såg ut. Den tidigare forskningen visade att personer med ADHD i större utsträckning hade fler byten av jobb, mer ofta arbetade deltid, samt hade fler sjukskrivningsdagar. Den tidigare forskningen visade även att kontexten hade stor betydelse för hur de upplevde sina symptom. Rätt sammanhang innebar att personer med ADHD kunde omvandla sina brister till styrkor. Studien genomfördes med kvalitativ metod och semistrukturerade intervjuer. Studiens resultat bygger på intervjuer med nio personer, som bearbetades med hjälp av tematisk analys. Baserat på analysen framkom fem huvudkategorier, vilket var de faktorer som bäst beskrev de medverkandes upplevelse av den psykosociala arbetsmiljön. Dessa var: arbetsuppgifternas utformning, krav, arbetets betydelse, socialt klimat och egenbestämmande. Studiens resultat visade på både likheter och skillnader kopplat till den tidigare forskningen, vilket indikerade att det krävs individanpassade åtgärder för att kunna hjälpa och stötta personer med ADHD i arbetslivet. / The purpose of this study was to find out how people with ADHD experienced their psychosocial work environment. The hope was to gain increased knowledge and understanding of these experiences. Previous research showed that people with ADHD to a greater extent had more job changes, more often worked part-time and had more sick leave days. Previous research also showed that the context was of great importance for how they experienced their symptoms. The suitable contextmeant that people with ADHD could turn their shortcomings into strengths. The study was conducted using a qualitative method and semi-structured interviews. The results of the study are based on interviews with nine people, which were processed using thematic analysis. Based on the analysis, five main categories emerged, which were the factors that best described the participants’ experience of the psychosocial work environment. These were: the design of the tasks, requirements, importance of the work, social climate and self-determination. The results of the study showed both similarities and differences linked to the previous research, which indicated that individualized measures are required to be able to help and support people with ADHD in working life.

Transition into adulthood has been regarded as a priority in health. However, there is scarcity of literature on the transition of adolescents with intellectual disability. The purpose of this study was to develop a strategy for transition of adolescents with intellectual disabilities into adulthood based on the Transition Theory proposed by Meleis, Sawyer, Im, Hilfinger and Schumacher (2000). The research objectives of this study were in three phases: Phase I: Desk review  To explore the known factors about the transition process of adolescents with IDs into adulthood.  To identify gaps in literature on the transition of adolescents with intellectual disabilities’ transition into adulthood. Phase II: Mixed method  To explore and describe the experiences of caregivers and health care professionals on the transition of adolescents with IDs into adulthood.  To investigate challenges that hamper the transition process of adolescents with IDs into adulthood. Phase III: Development of strategy  To develop a strategy for transition of adolescents with IDs into adulthood informed by findings from phases I and II. A sequential exploratory mixed method approach was used. A purposive, snowballing and simple random sampling were used to select participants for this study. The study was conducted in Special schools, Non-Governmental Organisations and Care and Rehabilitation Centres based in Gauteng province of South Africa. Triangulation of data sources and data collection methods was used to sample one hundred and forty nine (149) participants aged 21-60+ years who experienced caring for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Interpretative analysis proposed by Terrablanche. Durrheim and Kelly (2006) was used for qualitative data limited to a sample of n=29 participants. Quantitative data was analysed by use of IBM Statistical Package of Social Sciences (SPSS: 24) with a blend of descriptive and inferential statistics limited to a sample of n=120. Five themes from both qualitative and quantitative results emerged that is, transition possibility; the role of different stakeholders; the provision and development of working skills; caregivers’ knowledge and understanding of guidelines and alterations to adapt to change. The development of the transition strategy bridged a significant gap that informs nurses, teachers, parents, policy-makers and other stakeholders in supporting transition of adolescents with intellectual disabilities into adulthood. / Health Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Health Studies)

D.Ed. / The practice regarding the diagnosing and therapeuterising, with Ritalin, of children with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) is inadequate. There is in general practice little, if any, signs of holistic interactive co-operation amongst practitioners regarding diagnosing and therapeuterising, with Ritalin, exceptions excluded. The practice situation reflects a rather fragmented image, unscientific practises regarding diagnostic and therapeutic instruments and procedures, ignorance and incompleteness. The rational why this study was undertaken is because of the researcher's experience of the overwhelming inadequacy of this practice. The aim of this research was to develop, validate and describe standards for the holistic interactive management of the practice of diagnosing of the child \Vith ADHD and his/her therapy, with Ritalin. These standards can contribute towards improvement of the total practice, that is improvement of aid rendering to this child in order to optimise his/her functioning accordingly. In order to reach this aim, a research method was followed whereby an intensive literature study, multiple case studies and a questionnaire survey regarding a variety of professional practitioners and parents, was introduced in order to obtain data from the practice situation. Data was continuously qualitatively analised within the parameters of a theoretically grounded conceptual framework. These analyses eventually culminated in the description of concept standards and revised concept standards which were submitted to five domain experts for validation. The final standards which were determined through a process of a reasonable high level of consensus amongst these experts, is described in two official languages, namely Afrikaans and English. The final standards reflect the need from practice, namely holistic interactive management of the procedures of diagnosis and therapy, with Ritalin, of the child with ADHD.

Background: The ideal treatment of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder is a highly debated issue. Opposition to pharmacological treatments has resulted in the popular use of non-pharmacological measures which are not necessarily efficacious for the management of ADHD. Objectives: The primary aim was to evaluate the treatment of children and adolescents diagnosed with ADHD in South Africa. Methods: The study consisted of two parts, a drug utilisation review (DUR) and questionnaire-based surveys. The DUR was conducted using a database containing central nervous system (CNS) drug prescriptions which were dispensed during 2008. A total of 21 650 prescriptions dispensed to 7 202 patients constituted the Primary study population which was analysed. The questionnaires were distributed to the parents/caregivers of children diagnosed with ADHD. A response rate of 20.81 percent was obtained. Results: The average age of patients in the DUR was 11.60 ±3.01 years. Male patients represented 74.09 percent (5 336: n = 7 202) of patients. Methylphenidate was the most commonly prescribed of the two drugs indicated for the treatment of ADHD (85.89 percent, 18 956: n = 21 650). A prescribing bias by practitioners in different parts of South Africa was identified. Drug holidays were identified during March and December of 2008. The average age of patients in the questionnaire was 10.67 ±2.83 years, with a male patient majority (86.11 percent, 31: n = 36). Methylphenidate was the most commonly used prescription treatment (93.75 percent, 30: n = 32). Drug holiday use was reported in 56.25 percent (18: n = 32) of patients. Most participants reported supplement use (83.33 percent, 30: n = 36), but 86.67 percent (26: n = 30) of these participants did not find them useful. Conclusion: ADHD is a poorly understood disorder which affects people in all spheres of life. Treatment of the disorder should be individualised and based on scientifically proven effectiveness. Further studies, both in South Africa and worldwide, need to be conducted on the treatment of ADHD

MPM / Oliver Tambo Institute of Governance and Policy Studies

The purpose of the present study was to examine whether differences exist between reports of parental stress in Mexican American and Caucasian mothers of children with ADHD. A second purpose was to examine whether there were child and family characteristics that made unique contributions to levels of parenting stress in Mexican American parents of children with ADHD. A third purpose was to examine the role that level of acculturation plays in the Mexican American mothers' reports of stress. Dependent measures used in this study include the Parenting Stress Index (PSI) and the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL).

Influences between quality of intimate heterosexual relationships, parenting style, and externalizing and internalizing behavior problems of children with Attention-deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) were examined in a sample of intact and single parent families. The perspective on marital quality was expanded to include an examination of intimate adult relationships within single parent households. Associations between the quality of custodial parents' serious dating and/or cohabiting relationships, parenting style and the behavior problems of children with ADHD were studied. Results from this study found tentative support for previous findings that family functioning may mediate the development of conduct disorders among children with ADHD.

Text in Afrikaans / In this study quantitative research is employed to determine if cognitive control therapy can successfully be utilized in a group situation to alleviate cognitive deficiency in learners with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Learners with ADHD often do not gain from traditional play- and psychotherapy due to the fact that they do not possess the required cognitive structure necessary to support successful learning. Many of these learners do not receive sufficient assistance and support due to a shortage of government supported educational psychological aid. An empirical investigation of limited scope was performed to establish whether cognitive deficiencies can be alleviated by means of applying cognitive control therapy in a group situation. A one-group pretest-posttest design was utilized where the same group of subjects was studies before and after the experimental treatment. The results indicate that the cognitive control therapy program resulted in a considerable change. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Voorligting)

This study was undertaken to analyse and evaluate the nature and quality of emotional intelligence in learners with Attention Deficit Disorder, and to investigate whether their emotional intelligence was enhanced, and whether the symptoms and behaviour of these learners improved, after exposure to a program on emotional intelligence. At the beginning of the study, the learners displayed an inaccurate appraisal of their emotional intelligence as being at a higher level than that of their peer group. After exposure to a program on emotional intelligence, these learners were able to accurately appraise their emotional intelligence. The results of this study indicate that the symptoms and behaviour of learners with Attention Deficit Disorder appear to be improved after exposure to a program on emotional intelligence. The enhancement of emotional intelligence therefore appears to be related to the symptoms and behaviour of learners with Attention Deficit Disorder. The researcher recognized the limitations of the research and made recommendations for future research on emotional intelligence in learners with AD/HD. / Educational Studies / D. Ed. (Psychology of Education)

Thesis (M.Tech.: Homoeopathy)-Dept. of Homoeopathy, Durban Institute of Technology, 2006 xxv, 261 leaves / The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of a Nutritional Supplement (Advanced Brain Food®) and a homoeopathic complex (Quietude®) in the management of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). ADHD is primarily a childhood disorder affecting ten to twenty percent of school going children. The three main presenting features of ADHD are inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. This triad often results in numerous adjustment difficulties for the child in the social and academic sectors (NIH Consensus Statement, 1998).