Irvine, CA -- (ReleaseWire) -- 03/25/2013 -- Two scientific studies further highlight the importance of successfully treating ADHD in childhood or adolescence. The Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry reported that children with ADHD are at increased risk for developing secondary psychiatric disorders in adolescence, including substance related disorders, conduct disorder, anxiety, and depression.

Another study in the New England Journal of Medicine reported that ADHD drugs reduced criminal behavior in adults suffering with ADHD by reducing impulsivity. But one's concerns are what if the patient doesn't want to stay on the drugs due to side effects, and at the same time it is being reported that there is a disturbing increase in addictions to ADHD drugs as seen in many rehab centers around the country.

So what does a family do if they have a child with ADHD or ADD who obviously needs help but they do not want to expose their child to the risks of the ADHD drugs? The answer to this question is incorporated in the title of this newsletter. At the Drake Institute our treatment programs and patients have benefited from advances in the neurosciences over the last 20 years, and at an accelerated rate in the past 2 years with regards to advances in brain mapping and neurofeedback.

Brain mapping is noninvasive and is like "an individual fingerprint" of brain functioning of each patient. It helps physicians understand the complexities of brain functioning underlying the patient's symptoms. It identifies the unique, individual abnormal patterns of brain functioning that are linked to the patient's symptoms. This data enables the Drake Institute to develop the most specific neurofeedback treatment protocol to strengthen and improve the area or areas that are functioning sub-optimally. The drugs cannot do that, nor can the drugs produce any chance of long term improvement the way that neurofeedback can.

For neurofeedback to be maximally effective with individually designed treatment protocols, it needs to incorporate the findings from the brain map. "One size does not fit all" just like one antibiotic does not cure every type of bacterial infection.

About The Drake Institute
Drake Institute has evolved into the most experienced treatment facility worldwide, using the medical technology for which we are known. Thirty years and and over 12,000 individuals have been treated whose symptoms were approached by mobilizing resources within the patient to resolve their disorders.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Irvine, CA -- (ReleaseWire) -- 03/25/2013 -- A study in the Journal of Neuroscience, as reported by the Los Angeles Times, raises disturbing unanswered questions about the possible risks of the combination of methylphenidate (Ritalin) and fluoxetine (Prozac) in children. The Los Angeles Times reported that 40% of children who are diagnosed with either ADHD or Depression will eventually be diagnosed with both disorders in childhood/adolescense and many of them will be taking both of these drugs.

There are always uncertainties in applying findings in animal studies directly to humans. However, the findings in this study certainly raise more concern about the potential or possible risks of these combinations of drugs in children whose immature brains are still developing. In this studyb young rats were given the combination of these two drugs and the results suggested that "combining methylphenidate and fluoxetine early in life may lead to lifelong behavioral and chemical abnormalities". The combination of the two drugs in childhood produced the signs of a tendency towards addictions in adulthood, and more frequently symptoms of depression (hopelessness and pessimism).

The child's developing immature brain is much more vulnerable to drugs and we do not know the long term effects. There are ADHD children who may need to be medicated sometimes, but the Drake Institute's view is that in children, whose brains and cardiovascular systems are still developing, the drugs should be the last option and used for the shortest period of time that is absolutely necessary.

At the Drake Institute the initial diagnostic brainmap is done with the child off stimulant medication (other medications such as antidepressants or mood stabilizers should not be discontinued for the brainmap). Once the brainmap is completed , I advise parents to put the child back on stimulant medication if necessary. They remain on their medications to begin treatment with brainmap guided neurofeedback. If medication is discontinued abruptly before their brain has developed more normalized brain functioning from neurofeedback, then their symptoms will resurface. Remember that the medications are only temporarily suppressing their symptoms. The medications are not correcting the dysregulation of brain functioning that is causing the symptoms.

On the positive side most patients can begin having their medications titrated down once they are midway through the treatment program. Throughneurofeedback treatment at the Drake Institute, the brain is able to strengthen the weak areas or functional systems that were causing the symptoms, consequently medications become more and more unnecessary. It takes 10-15 neurofeedback treatments at Drake Institute of the 32 treatment sessions for the brain to improve brain functioning whereby the medications can start being reduced. Most patients will have had their medications significantly reduced or eliminated entirely by the completion of thier treatment. However, it is done gradually, and again beginning midway through treatment. All titrations are conducted by the medical director, David Velkoff, M.D.

About The Drake Institute
Drake Institute has evolved into the most experienced treatment facility worldwide, using the medical technology for which we are known. Thirty years and and over 12,000 individuals have been treated whose symptoms were approached by mobilizing resources within the patient to resolve their disorders.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Irvine, CA -- (ReleaseWire) -- 03/25/2013 -- The most damaging aspect for a child with ADHD or ADD can be low self esteem. Even though the drugs for ADHD can have harmful side effects, it is often the low self esteem from the childhood ADHDfrustrations that ultimately can cause the most damage in their life. The low self esteem increases the risk in their adult lives for anxiety, depression, substance abuse, impaired relationships, and lack of motivation for successful careers.

Children with ADHD or ADD may frequently express how they feel that they are not smart enough, that they feel they will always be behind in school, academics don't come easy for them like it does for their friends, and they do not know if things are ever going to get easier for them. They may be teased or mocked by other kids for struggling academically. If they are impulsive or have difficulty with social skills, they may lose friends or become ostracized.

A recent study in the scientific Journal of Attention Disorders report that ADHD Children have significant impairment in health-related quality of life with regard to social and emotional well being, as compared to healthy children. The ADHD causes conflict between family members, much longer time to complete homework with additional time and support required from the parents, and less time for recreation and other family activities.

Neurologically, they lack the concentration skills to be successful with their academic challenges. Even bright children can have concentration problems. It is not about willpower. Even taking medication forADHD to concentrate will not allow the child to attribute their success fully to themselves.

The quantitative EEG brainmapping identifies which neurophysical system of the child's attention system is dysregulated or underfunctioning that is causing the ADHD or ADD symtoms. Concentration skills are critical for success and developing healthy self esteem. Based on brainmapping findings, the quicker the child can develop the concentration skills to be successful in school, the sooner their self esteem will begin to turn around.

About The Drake Institute
Drake Institute has evolved into the most experienced treatment facility worldwide, using the medical technology for which we are known. Thirty years and and over 12,000 individuals have been treated whose symptoms were approached by mobilizing resources within the patient to resolve their disorders.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Irvine, CA -- (ReleaseWire) -- 03/25/2013 -- During the past 33 years of the Drake Institute, periodically there have been landmark breakthroughs in technology that significantly advanced clinical outcome for our patients.

For the past 18 months the Drake Institute has been integrating new breakthrough neurofeedback technology whereby as many as all 19 areas of the brain can be trained simultaneously in improving brain functioning. Previously, only 1 or 2 areas of the brain could be trained simultaneously to improve brain functioning, though patients still experienced noticeable improvements.

But by treating as many as all 19 regions simultaneously, the patient is benefiting from processing more global information so more rapid and comprehensive improvement is seen. In ADHD we see greater improvements in inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity in patients with the most severe symptoms. In Autism Spectrum Disorders, there can be greater improvements in social communication, language, and emotional stability. Clinically, this more powerful technology has enabled us to help even the most severe patients who previously may have been treatment resistant.

Individualized neurofeedback protocols are developed from an analysis of the patient's brainmap as it links to the patients' specific symptoms. For example, in ADHD or ADD, if the frontal regions are generating abnormal brainwave patterns or functional disconnections, then the child can have difficulty sustaining concentration on no preferred, mundane activities such as homework.

The neurofeedback protocols only treat the abnormal brainwave patterns linked to the symptoms, leaving the remainder of the brain, that is functioning within normal range, alone. Unlike brainmap guided neurofeedback, drugs cannot do that nor can drugs produce long lasting improvement. No two patients have the same neurofeedback treatment protocols.

Whether it is ADHD or Autism Spectrum Disorders, there can be multiple areas or functional networks of the brain that have abnormal levels of brain activity and functional disconnections between the different regions of the brain. Either scenario can result in symptoms. By treating all the abnormal regions simultaneously with the new technology, it only follows that there can be faster, more comprehensive improvement as more functional connections are developed. The need for drugs is reduced or eliminated.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Irvine, CA -- (ReleaseWire) -- 03/25/2013 -- Two recent studies have further confirmed that ADHD in both boys and girls increases the risk of substance abuse. UPI reported on the study that was published this month in the Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. The first study from Harvard Medical School showed that the increased risk for cigarette smoking and substance abuse cannot be explained by a family history of substance abuse. The researchers did find though that if the ADHD child also had a diagnosis of "Conduct Disorder", then the risk for substance abuse was tripled.

A second study, from the University of Helsinki, showed a difference in vulnerability to substance abuse between boys and girls as reported by medicalxpress.com. Researchers found that ADHD symptoms were a significant predictor of alcohol abuse and other drugs by age 14 in girls, but surprisingly not in boys by age 14.

However, by age 17.5, parents' reports of the inattentive and hyperactivity symptoms of ADHD were significant predictors of alcohol abuse in both boys and girls, but they were still more predictive of alcohol and drug abuse in girls. To highlight this point, one of the physicians (Dr. Elina Shivola) involved in the study stated "Inattentiveness and hyperactivity may be more predictive of alcohol use disorder and maladaptive patterns of alcohol and illicit drug use among girls than boys".

In my clinical experience, where the Drake Institute was involved in treating substance abuse patients at a Rehab Center, a high percent of the adult substance abuse patients had ADHD. If the ADHD was not also treated, then they were more likely to relapse.

I do feel that effective early intervention for ADHD in childhood / adolescence can reduce this risk for substance abuse. Parents of an ADHD child with delinquency problems should be given additional support and help for their child who is at the greatest risk.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Irvine, CA -- (ReleaseWire) -- 03/25/2013 -- A clinical study from Harvard Medical School's Children's Hospital just published in the medical journal BMC Medicine has confirmed what we have been finding in quantitative EEG brainmaps of Autistic children at the Drake Institute for the last 6 years The findings showed abnormal connectivity between the regions of the brain involved in language processing. By recording and measuring the brain's electrical activity, the researchers found abnormal differences in connectivity between the language regions of Autistic children when compared to a more normal control group of children.

These abnormalities were in what is called "Coherence." Coherence is a measure of the strength of connectivity between different regions of the brain, For the brain to function optimally, the different regions or networks of the brain need to be fully differentiated or specialized, and then need to communicate and share information back and forth. This is not happening in brain functioning in Autistic children.

This particular study found the abnormal coherence patterns in the language areas of the brains in Autistic children. Thus, one would expect reduced functioning in language development. With poor Coherence in brain functioning, it would be similar to having a company with 20 managers with some of the managers not talking to each other. So the company would run very inefficiently and underperform. Well, the brain is no different.

On the positive side at Drake Institute, we use the brainmap findings to direct the neurofeedback treatment (EEG biofeedback) to improve the functional connections between these regions, whether it is Autism or ADHD. The brain can learn to develop healthier Coherence patterns in improving brain functioning and reducing symptoms.

At the Drake Institute we have also seen abnormal connectivity or Coherence in the right posterior region of the brains in Autistic children or children with ASPERGER'S DISORDER. This region is involved in understanding nonverbal social cues, other people's feelings or moods. This is a very important area in Autistic or Asperger's children to analyze and then strengthen if imbalances show up on the brainmap.

It is worth mentioning that children with ADHD or ADD frequently show abnormal connectivity or Coherence in the frontal regions of the brain involved in attentional and executive functioning regulation, and impulse control. Similarly to helping Autistic children with brainmap guided neurofeedback, ADD or ADHD children can be helped to improve their symptoms without drugs.

About The Drake Institute
Drake Institute has evolved into the most experienced treatment facility worldwide, using the medical technology for which we are known. Thirty years and and over 12,000 individuals have been treated whose symptoms were approached by mobilizing resources within the patient to resolve their disorders.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Irvine, CA -- (ReleaseWire) -- 03/25/2013 -- A study in the British Medical Journal, Lancet, has reported for the first time, direct evidence of a genetic link with ADHD. Another study published in the medical journal, Pediatrics, has suggested that increased exposure to pesticides may also be linked to ADHD. Other causes may include premature birth, complications during childbirth such as hypoxia (lack of oxygen), and prolonged exposure to anesthesia at early ages.

The study on the genetic link with ADHD, even more so, makes it increasingly clear that ADHD is not caused by bad parenting or high sugar diets. There has been too much misunderstanding about the causes of ADHD with the child and the parents being unfairly stigmatised. Misconceptions such as if the parents did a better job of parenting or if the child tried harded and wasn't lazy, then the child would not have ADHD. These are all misconceptions that only do harm to the child's self esteem as well as the parents' self esteem.

It needs to be understood that ADHD or ADD is a neurophysiologic disorder, not a result of parenting. Neuroimaging tests such as quantitative EEG brain mapping have shown that children with ADHD or ADD have abnormal brain wave patterns in the areas of the brain that control concentration, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. When the brain wave patterns are improved through brain map guided neurofeedback treatment, so are the symptoms.

The most important point is that early intervention for the child's ADHD or ADD is likely to produce the best clinical outcome. Parenting a child with ADD or ADHD is a much more challenging child rearing experience than parenting a child without ADHD or ADD. Normal parenting methods frequently are not adequate as the parents are likely to experience increased frustrations with normal parenting methods not having the impact that they desire.

The child is more vulnerable to developing low self esteem as they feel they are not as smart as their peers, or that it will never get better for them academically,or why try hard if it doesn't make a difference. If they are impulsive, then they will trigger a lot of disapproval from adults and may get rejected by peers.

Neurologically, the ADHD or ADD child's concentration or attentional system is underfunctioning so they are unable to successfully meet their academic and even sometimes day to day challenges. When their self esteem suffers, the parent's self esteem may also suffer. Again, the earliest intervention can produce the best clinical outcome and prevent psychological problems as they get older.

About The Drake Institute
Drake Institute has evolved into the most experienced treatment facility worldwide, using the medical technology for which we are known. Thirty years and and over 12,000 individuals have been treated whose symptoms were approached by mobilizing resources within the patient to resolve their disorders.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Irvine, CA -- (ReleaseWire) -- 03/25/2013 -- As a physician, who can prescribe drugs, I, Dr. David Velkoff, always have to weigh the risks versus benefits of a clinical treatment. The Drake Institute has always chosen neurofeedback; more recently brain map-guided neurofeedback, as the preferred treatment of ADHD or ADD as opposed to drugs. This is because of brain map guided neurofeedback's safety, clinical improvements, and long term improvements that the ADHD drugs cannot match.

In 2007 a report in the United States revealed that ADHD drugs slowed children's growth rate. Now, in 2013 the Medical Journal of Australia reports on a recent study that adolescent boys with ADHD, who were taking stimulant drugs for 3 years or more, had a slower rate of physical development during puberty. The drugs did not seem to affect the onset of puberty, but the study suggested the drugs affected the rate of physical maturation during puberty.

The ADHD boys on stimulant drugs, 14 to 16 years old, had lower height and weight compared to the boys without ADHD. The teenage boys who were on ADHD stimulant drugs for 3 years were 3 cm shorter than expected. The larger the dose, the slower the growth rate.

Over the years in clinical practice at the Drake Institute, I have often seen our children and adolescent patients, whose growth was suppressed by the ADHD drugs, experience a rebound growth when I have been able to significantly titrate down or eliminate the ADHD drugs. An x-ray of the hand can determine bone age of the child or adolescent to see if the drugs have merely slowed down their growth rate as opposed to stunting their growth.

One of the superior aspects of brain map guided neurofeedback over drugs is that the brain map can pinpoint the regions or networks in the brain that are deregulated or weak, so we can then treat or train only the specific weak areas to strengthen or normalize them. The rest of the brain that is functioning normally you leave alone. Unfortunately, the drugs affect the brain globally, including areas that are functioning normally, so you may get side effects.

In contrast to more evidence that ADHD drugs can be associated with negative outcomes as discussed in the study above, there are over 400 published scientific studies confirming the clinical effectiveness of neurofeedback for ADHD. In addition brain map guided neurofeedback maximizes the clinical improvements and can shorten the number of treatments needed.

About The Drake Institute
Drake Institute has evolved into the most experienced treatment facility worldwide, using the medical technology for which we are known. Thirty years and and over 12,000 individuals have been treated whose symptoms were approached by mobilizing resources within the patient to resolve their disorders.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm