Monitor on Psychology - March 2012 - (Page 72)

non-ADHD spouse doesn’t adopt the attitude of pointing the finger at the person with ADHD and saying this is your problem,” says Murphy. “There needs to be a shared responsibility and an understanding that this is a family issue, not just the patient’s issue.” Most patients see significant benefits from drug therapy as well. Drugs are effective in 70 percent to 80 percent of adult ADHD patients (Journal of Clinical Psychiatry), and often lead to significant improvements. “When medication works, it’s as dramatic and as effective as eyeglasses,” Hallowell says. Elizabeth Stevenson began taking medication about a year ago, she says, and she and Max both noticed substantial improvement right away. “On medication, I can function in a more organized, linear way. It’s like the swirling in my brain stops,” she says. The Stevensons have been working with Orlov for the last year. Though they consider themselves a work in progress, they say their relationship has gotten much stronger after finally finding someone to treat the underlying issues surrounding Elizabeth’s ADHD. “We got lucky,” Max says. With a tailored combination of drug treatment and counseling, most people with ADHD can overcome the condition. “By every metric, this disorder is more treatable than anxiety, depression or other outpatient disorders. The problem isn’t that we don’t have good treatments, it’s that most people don’t know they have the disorder,” Barkley says. “It is the most treatable disorder in psychiatry, bar none.” Hallowell urges mental health professionals to learn more about the condition so that affected individuals can get the help they need to put their lives on track. To that end, he, Murphy and Orlov have developed a continuingeducation seminar for counselors called “The ADHD Effect on Couples.” Barkley agrees that mental health specialists need to better understand adult ADHD. “It’s a valid disorder that arises from neurological and genetic factors,” he stresses. And because it’s highly treatable, he adds, it’s an incredibly satisfying specialty. “If you want to specialize in any disorder, pick this one,” he says. “It will be one of the most rewarding careers you can have.” n Kirsten Weir is a writer in Minneapolis. *Names have been changed CE CREDITS NOW ONLINE More than 100 hours of CE Sessions were videotaped at the APA Convention and are now online. These digital video recordings include • synchronized, downloadable PowerPoint slides • a wide range of professional and scientific topics • CE credits using a new digital monitoring system; no CE tests required! Individual programs $25 (APA Members) • $35 (Nonmembers) Bundle package of 10 CE Session Recordings $200 (APA Members) • $250 (Nonmembers) To see the full range of CE sessions available and to purchase programs, visit http://apa.bizvision.com Questions? Call 800-374-2721, ext. 5991 (option 3), or e-mail cpe@apa.org. EXTEND YOUR CONVENTION EXPERIENCE! 72 M o n i to r o n p s yc h o l o g y • M a rc h 2 0 1 2 http://apa.bizvision.com http://apa.bizvision.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Monitor on Psychology - March 2012

Monitor on Psychology - March 2012
Letters
President’s column
Contents
From the CEO
Supreme Court rejects eyewitness protections
New member benefit: prevention screenings
A psychodynamic treatment for PTSD shows promise for soldiers
Was ‘Little Albert’ ill during the famed conditioning study?
New research identifies ways to improve eyewitness identifications
In Brief
‘Our health at risk’
Perspective on Practice
APA endorses higher education guidelines
TIME CAPSULE
QUESTIONNAIRE
Random Sample
Judicial Notebook
Help for struggling veterans
Driving out cancer disparities
In the Public Interest
SCIENCE WATCH
Practice, virtually
The legal and ethical issues of virtual therapy
Psychologist PROFILE
EARLY CAREER PSYCHOLOGY
Bringing life into focus
Pay attention to me
AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL FOUNDATION
Division Spotlight
Personalities

Monitor on Psychology - March 2012

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