Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Introduction
Many types of research concerning the illness that affect the human have been done to help improve the living standard and eliminate worries that may be brought through abnormality in most of the organs of the body. The brain as one of the organs is associated with may illnesses. ADHD is one of the considered as a highly generic and brain-based syndrome, which is linked to the regulation of a particular set of the functions of the brain and related behaviors (Bird, 2017). According to Wolraich (2016), most of the cases of the people diagnosed with the disorder are found within the age bracket of 6 to 12 years. Therefore, the disorder has been linked to children inattentiveness, hyperactivity, and impulsiveness, which make them perform dismally when at school.
Although the research by American Psychiatric Association indicates that many children experience the phases of restlessness or inattentiveness, they should not be linked to having suffered the ADHD (Wolraich, 2016). The teacher’s recommendation on the behavior of the child at school helps in guiding the way forward in seeking the medical attention through testing the behavior of the child. In connection with this disorder, this paper is going to address the case study of a naughty girl who is at the age of 8. It provides the decisions on the treatment process concerning the illness (ADHD, the inattentive type with comorbid ODD) the girl was diagnosed with and aims to help her regain her normal status. Though the study shows a combination of therapy and medication would help treat the illness, this paper is going to focus only on the medication treatment.
Decision Point One
Selection decision
Initial doses of 1 mg of Guanfacine orally (preferably early in the morning before the patient goes to school)
Other than the other drugs used in the treatment of the ADHD, Guanfacine does not have much of the side effects that may require the doctor’s attention (Cortese et al. 2013). For instance, when methylphenidate is used, some of the side effects that the patient reported were insomnia, which is not the case in Guanfacine (Castells et al. 2011).
Expected results
In the next 3 to 4 weeks, the patients should start showing a positive result. Some of the complaints like inattentiveness in the class by the class teacher should have decreased. Other mood changes like excitement changes in the first 3 to 4 weeks.
Expected results versus the Actual results
Contrary to the medication on the use of Methylphenidate, Guanfacine dosage within the first weeks would show some changes. Cases of fatigue, irritability, and headache may be common. Another observable change with the patient is the loss of appetite though cases of arguments may decrease (Bidwell et al. 2011).