Thesis (M.S.)--Ohio University, March, 2007. / Title from PDF t.p. Includes bibliographical references.

M.A. (Psychology) / Psychotic Disorders, adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (aADHD) and Substance Use Disorder (SUD). Although the different groups were compared the primary aim was to learn more about the cognitive functioning of aADHD. Although there is greater emphasis on aADHD as it may be included in the new diagnostic systems, a clear clinical picture still eludes us. Participants were recruited from different sources, by means of purposive sampling. As a general rule all potential participants with a history of a head injury or any other neurological disorders were excluded. Due to the fact that participants had to comply with strict including criteria, certain screening tests were used. The group were screened by the research team by means of clinical interviews as well as the ASRS and the MCMI. In order to control for the type of substances as well as their history of substance abuse the Mini Plus Questionnaire was used. Furthermore the psychosis group only consisted of individuals with positive Schizophrenia and Schizoaffective Disorders. The research instrument that was used was the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB), of which a number of subtests of the CANTAB were used to assess the cognitive ability of the groups. The included subtests were the Motor Control Task, the Rapid Visual Information Processing, the Spatial Working Memory and finally the Stop Signal Test.The CANTAB revealed similar impairments the aADHD, SUD and psychotic groups, specifically relating to impairments in attention, memory and impulsivity, however the main difference that has been displayed in this research is the degree of impairment in cognitive functioning, the psychotic group functioned the poorest compared to the ADHD group, showing that the psychotic group may have a greater level of dysfunction in executive functioning, attention and memory. In conclusion the results indicated that the aADHD group had a lower level of cognitive functioning when compared to both the non-clinical and SUD groups, but higher than the psychotic group.

No description available.

M.A. (Psychology) / Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), characterised by problems relating to attention, impulsive behaviour and hyperactivity, has become widely accepted to be a neurodevelopmental disorder that persists into adulthood for a large proportion of the ADHD population. ADHD symptoms are reported to undergo developmental transformation from childhood to adulthood, resulting in a significantly different clinical picture of adult ADHD. This signals a need to move away from reliance on childhood models of the disorder. Current conceptions of both childhood and adult ADHD do not discuss the occurrence of hyperfocus (or flow), a symptom which seems to connote an extreme form of sustained attention and which has been noted in clinical work. The possibility that hyperfocus could occur in ADHD is unexpected and poses a challenge to current formulations of inattention in ADHD. Media settings have been identified as providing the conditions needed for one to enter the hyperfocus state. This study set out to explore the possible symptom of hyperfocus in ADHD and to attempt to identify the neural correlates thereof, using electroencephalograph (EEG). A sample of 10 participants (5 ADHD, 5 non-ADHD) was recruited using the Adult ADHD Self Report Scale V-1.1 (ASRS V-1.1) Screener and a biographical questionnaire. A quasi-experimental research design was employed, whereby EEG recordings of frontal, frontal midline and parietal regions were taken for each participant during resting states (Eyes Closed and Eyes Open) and whilst playing a first person shooter game. Post-test survey questionnaires were also administered to examine the participants’ time perception during game play. Between-group and within-group differences in absolute and relative power scores were examined, using non-parametric statistical methods (Mann-Whitney-U test and Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test) to analyse the data. Possible markers for hyperfocus were identified, namely significantly lower alpha and beta levels in the ADHD group, as well as a decrease in slow-wave activity over time, as well as post-test survey data that indicated a greater degree of distorted time perception in the ADHD group during game play. Significant between- and within-group differences found in the parietal region highlight the need for further research into the role of the parietal lobe in attention functions and in ADHD. Further, significant changes in cortical activity in the progression from Eyes Closed to Eyes Open in both groups warrant further investigation.

M.A. (Clinical Psychology) / Although Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) was once thought to occur exclusively in the course of childhood, remitting in adolescence, it is increasingly accepted as a valid diagnosis in adulthood, with DSM-5 providing diagnostic criteria adapted for adults. Symptoms of ADHD in adulthood can lead to impairment in the occupational and tertiary educational environments among others, and additionally can lead to individual differences in ability to perform certain occupational functions, as well as in the occupations to which an individual may be attracted. Adults with ADHD have been shown to differ significantly in personality from non-ADHD adults. The "goodness of fit" between personality and environment underlies much of the predominant understanding of occupational choice. In addition to impairment in the work environment, a lack of fit may exist between adults with ADHD and many features common to organisations. Despite this, along with acknowledgement of the influence of career choice on various factors, including success, emotional welfare and personal productivity, there is a lack of literature dealing specifically with career counselling in ADHD populations. In order to investigate the differences between adults with and without ADHD in a number of areas commonly assessed for career counselling and guidance purposes, an ADHD screening tool, the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS) was administered to a sample (n=60) of adults with and without ADHD. Participants were then assigned to ADHD and non-ADHD groups on the basis of ASRS scores in conjunction with diagnostic history, and assessed by means of the Self-directed Search Questionnaire (SDS), and the Basic Traits Inventory (BTI). Tests for between-group differences revealed significant differences on a small number of variables with the ADHD group scoring significantly higher on only the Enterprising type of the SDS. On the BTI, the ADHD group scored significantly higher on Extraversion, and significantly lower on Conscientiousness. The ADHD group also scored significantly higher on the Actions, Ideas, and Imagination facets of the BTI's Openness to Experience factor.

No description available.

Thesis (Psy. D.)--Indiana University of Pennsylvania. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2000. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 71-78). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Psy. D.)--Wheaton College Graduate School, Wheaton, Ill., 2002. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 48-53).

The psychosocial functioning of the families of clinic-referred adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) was evaluated in two studies. Study 1 examined the psychiatric and psychological difficulties of married adults with ADHD and their spouses, with a focus on the quality of their marital adjustment and family functioning. Study 2 focused on the prevalence of psychiatric disorders, the psychological functioning, and the social functioning of children with ADHD parents. / Results revealed that married adults with ADHD had higher rates of comorbid psychiatric disorders and more psychological distress than non-ADHD control adults. The spouses of adults with ADHD did not differ in rates of psychiatric disorders from the control spouses, however, they reported significantly higher levels of current psychological distress. Greater marital and family dysfunction were reported by adults with ADHD than control adults. The spouses of ADHD adults, however, did not report greater marital and family dysfunction than the spouses of controls. / The children of ADHD adults were found to be at high risk for ADHD. Forty-three percent of the children met DSM-IV criteria for the disorder. The children with ADHD were found to have higher rates of comorbid disorders, more psychological difficulties, and significantly poorer social functioning than the control children. The non-ADHD children of ADHD adults were not found to differ from control children on these measures. Having a parent without a psychiatric disorder in the home was found to have a protective effect on behavior problems in the non-ADHD children. / Together, these studies suggest that evaluating the functioning of family members and the health of the family relationships are important when assessing clinic-referred adults with ADHD. These results suggest that involving family members in the therapeutic process may be beneficial.