Edition: U.S. / Global

Attention Disorder Is Found In Growing Number of Adults

Published: September 2, 1997
(Page 3 of 3)

When Tyler Bunch went on Ritalin, his grade point average at Radford University in Virginia had fallen to 1.8. Within a year and a half, it rose to 3.3, tempting Mr. Bunch to stop taking his medicine. After a few months, he stopped going to classes, putting his grade point average in the cellar. He then dropped out.

While most experts accept the number of Ritalin prescriptions as a rough indicator for the growing number of A.D.D. cases, the true sales volume for A.D.D. may be distorted. Not only is Ritalin used to treat a number of conditions -- like narcolepsy -- it is fast becoming a popular substitute for methamphetamine, which is better known as speed.

While virtually all psychiatrists frown on recreational use of Ritalin, many point out that it is preferable to speed or cocaine. Because Ritalin stays in the body only four hours, overdosing is difficult, they say.

''Years ago, few people were aware of what A.D.D. was when it came to adults,'' said Dr. Charles W. Popper, a Harvard psychiatrist and editor of the Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology. ''Now there should be more understanding. Society may look at people with A.D.D. as being from another planet. We shouldn't forget that they think normal people are boring.''


The Conditions for Making a Diagnosis of Attention Deficit Disorder

What is attention deficit disorder?

The fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, published by the American Psychiatric Association, says these conditions must be met:

1. Six or more of the following symptoms of inattention have persisted for at least six months:

*The patient often fails to give close attention to details or makes careless mistakes in schoolwork, work or other activities.

*The patient often has difficulty sustaining attention in tasks or play activities.

*The patient often does not seem to listen when spoken to directly.

*The patient often does not follow through on instructions and fails to finish schoolwork, chores or duties in the workplace.

*The patient often has difficulty organizing tasks and activities.

*The patient often avoids, dislikes or is reluctant to engage in tasks that require sustained mental effort.

*The patient often loses things necessary for tasks or activities.

*The patient is easily distracted by extraneous stimuli.

*The patient is often forgetful in daily activities.

Alternatively, six or more of the following symptoms of hyperactivity have persisted for at least six months:

*The patient often fidgets with hands or feet or squirms in a seat.

*The patient often leaves a seat early in a classroom or in other situations.

*The patient often runs about or climbs excessively at inappropriate times.

*The patient often has difficulty playing or engaging in leisure activities quietly.

*The patient is often ''on the go'' or acts as if ''driven by a motor.''

*The patient often talks excessively.

*The patient often blurts out answers before questions have been completed.

*The patient often has difficulty awaiting a turn.

*The patient often interrupts or intrudes on others.

2. Some hyperactive-impulsive or inattentive symptoms were present before the age of 7.

3. Some impairment is present in two or more settings.

4. There must be clear evidence of clinically significant impairment in social, academic or occupational functioning.

5. The symptoms do not occur exclusively during the course of a pervasive developmental disorder, schizophrenia or other psychotic disorder and are not better accounted for by another mental disorder.

Photos: Sally Furbish, a special-education teacher in Gainesville, Ga., has been struggling with an attention deficit disorder since she was a child. ''Being diagnosed with A.D.D. gave me my life back,'' she said. (Alan S. Weiner for The New York Times); Andre Fulton lost his job as a police officer in Dekalb County, Ga., because of symptoms related to his attention deficit disorder. He now works as a route driver for SmithKline Beecham in Atlanta. (Alan S. Weiner for The New York Times)(pg. D4) Graph: The frequency with which doctors suggest Ritalin for adult patients is rising even more rapidly than for teen-agers or children, though adults remain a small minority of all Ritalin users. Graph shows change since 1992 in the number of doctor office visits each year in which Ritalin was administered, prescribed or recommended, broken down by the age of the patient $(Adults 19 and older; Teen-agers 13-18; Children 6-12$) (Source: IMS America)(pg. D4)