View Full Version : Impulsivity as cause of much displayed ADHD behaviour


scuro
06-24-06, 09:06 AM
From the Impulsivity section of the powerpoint presentation of Karen J. Kraus, M.D. I thought that this was an excellent summary.
http://72.14.203.104/search?q=cache:zqGDm-FFqS8J:www.fresno.ucsf.edu/newsroom/public_education/borders_adhd_kraus%2520.ppt+adhd+%22motor+activity %22+excess&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=7

Difficulty inhibiting responses (“Ready, fire, aim!), manifested by:
o intrusiveness
o impatience, manifested by:
* difficulty with turn taking in games
* similarly manifest in conversation, with interruption and comments out of turn
o inappropriate behavior


Impulsivity

Risk taking/Novelty-seeking behavior
o engagement in physically dangerous activities without
consideration of potential consequences
o often described as “ accident prone”, with a history of injuries
o tendency to become easily bored and seek external stimulation


Impulsivity

Altered responsiveness to behavioral rewards, consequences and contingencies
o resistance to conditioning effects of reward or punishment
o failure to apply past experiences to current situations, resulting in repetitive mistakes
o neurophysiological basis


Associated Features

Altered response to social reinforcement
o Because of inattentiveness, negativism, or resistance to the conditioning effects of reward or punishment, many ADHD children are difficult to socialize. They are described as obstinate, impervious, stubborn or negativistic, although they are not necessarily “conduct disordered”


Associated Features

Altered emotional responsiveness
o Children with ADHD are easily excited and easily upset, and tend to react to situations in an exaggerated, disproportionate way, with dramatic (albeit usually short-lived) shifts in emotions
o They also tend to exhibit poor frustration tolerance (a “short fuse”), particularly with delay/denial of gratification, developmental challenges or interpersonal conflicts


Associated Features

Differences in interpersonal relationships
o Children with ADHD tend to be intense, controlling, socially imperceptive and intolerant.
o They are often described as immature and in fact, often exhibit delayed social development.
o Chronically antagonistic interpersonal interactions can lead to social isolation, and later on, to depression and angry defiance.


Associated Features

Behavioral dyscontrol
o Problematic behavior may signal the presence of a co-morbid psychiatric disorder, but may also stem from the core neuropsychiatric deficits seen in ADHD.
o The gap between the normal developmental aspirations of children with ADHD and their maturity and judgement further complicates the picture .


Associated Features

Behavioral dyscontrol
o Examples include:
+ lying and stealing may be indicative underlying impulsivity
+ aggressive behavior may be an expression of poorly regulated physical force
+ temper tantrums are often seen in the context of sensory or affective over-stimulation


Associated Features

Demoralization
o The “curious dissociation between knowing and doing” often frustrates children with ADHD. Despite talent and skills, and often despite prodigious effort, children with ADHD chronically fall short of expectations
o As a result their inefficient cognitive styles, children with ADHD must often work harder and longer than their peers to obtain the same outcome.
o Over time children with ADHD fatigue, and in the context of repeated failures, become demoralized, lose motivation and develop a posture of defensive defiance

dormammau2008
06-25-06, 06:34 AM
thanks scrou very intreting topic iam shore you get a lot feedback on this one thanks dorm

GlenW
06-25-06, 10:59 PM
good article scuro!

That's the big one for ADHDers - the inability to resist urges that leads to premature or inappropriate behavior. Like "don't look under that" or "don't push that button" - then that itching, fire-ant type feeling that rumbles around in our head.

We overthink and loop on things and concepts that get us into trouble.

I find now post-medication that I can mostly resist the urges - that is the key thing that tells me it is working. It clears the fog too so I can think clearly enough to use logic to push down any remaining urges.

This is what gets me for people who don't think ADHD is valid and say "just try harder". If only it was that easy! It ends up being a struggle against yourself. If it were an external force that compels us it would be us vs. them - but if you imagine it as angel on one shoulder and devil on the other for most it is devil on one devil on the other with many of us.

I'm just glad I found what works.

dormammau2008
06-26-06, 02:28 PM
i ages that is one the bigset healdes inabilty ....an inappropriate behavire we just do an think later what happens i think the concepets is alion to us wouders what the big urges that some ofve us have ??? logic is only one way ofve thinking witch carnt solve eveything like it dose in STAR TREK witch would be nice if it could we all try to find a blance in our selfsss as time gose by ... some good topicsss here today dorm