Ask the Expert: Getting Organized with ADHD

Presented by the
National Resource Center on ADHD
Craig Surman, MD
Scientific Coordinator
Adult ADHD Research Program at
Massachusetts General Hospital
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Nov. 7-9, 2013
Hyatt Regency Crystal City
Get more information at www.CHADD.org
Craig Surman, MD
Scientific Coordinator
Adult ADHD Research Program at
Massachusetts General Hospital
Disclaimer: The information provided here is supported by Cooperative Agreement Number CDC-RFA-DD13-1302 from the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The Ask the Expert webinars’ contents are solely the responsibility of the
invited guest Expert and do not necessarily represent the official views of CDC. Neither CHADD, the National Resource Center on
ADHD, nor the CDC endorses, supports, represents or guarantees the accuracy of any material or content presented in the Ask the
Expert webinars, nor endorses any opinions expressed in any material or content of the webinars. CHADD and the National
Resource Center on ADHD offer webinars for educational purposes only; the information presented should not be regarded as
medical advice or treatment information.
To Ask A Question:
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community!
Craig Surman, MD
Scientific Coordinator
Adult ADHD Research Program at
Massachusetts General Hospital
Lifetime Disclosures
Speaking
/ Education
◦ McNeil, Janssen, Janssen-Ortho, Novartis, Shire and
Reed/ MGH Academy (funded by multiple companies)
Consulting
◦ McNeil, Nutricia, Takeda, Shire, Somaxon
Research
Support, MGH Adult ADHD Program
◦ National Institutes of Health, Abbot, Cephalon, Hilda and
Preston Davis Foundation, Eli Lilly, Magceutics,
J & J / McNeil, Merck, Nordic Naturals, Nutricia, Pamlab,
Pfizer, Organon, Shire, and Takeda
Dr. Surman also receives royalties from the following publications:
You may have to educate a provider
on how they can help you
Here are some high-yield tools:
ADHD Medication Helps
Simple ADHD
“I have trouble getting around to,
sticking with and finishing things”
Therapy, medication,
self-help improves
mental health
“My feeling, thinking or behavior
keeps me from thriving”
Strategies/Habits Help
Organizational Skill, Other Skill
Challenges
“I don’t do the right things
at the right time or keep healthy
routines”
Explore these patterns
with a professional
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Did traits start in childhood?
Do traits burden you in multiple rolls?
Are there particular “states” or “situations” where
you have suffered or struggled?
Are there times in life when things went better??
Does that tell you what environments, strategies
help you?
What is the future opportunity cost of your traits?
How have past treatments helped? Hurt?
Use a symptom scale !
Use to:
Determine current
symptoms and
their history
Track past or
current medication
effects
Know if medication is
working as expected
from clinical trials
Eg: ASRS at http://www.hcp.med.harvard.edu/ncs/asrs.php
 You
are uncomfortable
 You are not “yourself” on it
 You can’t be yourself without it (dependence)
 You have side effects part of the day
Your doctor may not know that:
 Other major disorders may need to be treated first
 Side effects differ between medications & release patterns
 Nonstimulants can take several weeks to work, may help other traits
 Methylphenidate is approx. 50% potency of amphetamine
 Taking breaks from medicine can tell you if you still need it
Know what legal reasonable accommodation is
- Copy of class notes, extra time and quiet for tests
- Format, not core responsibilities, of job
Design effective environments
- use what rewards you (group work; mentoring; reward schedules)
- limit distraction
- maximize interest
Outsource to “peripheral brains” - devices + people
-
note taking
reminders
planning, prioritization, decisions
schedule management
capturing information (recording pens; alarms to head for class)
Figure out high-yield habits
and foolproof their practice
Surman, Bilkey & Weintraub: FASTMINDS, 2013
From: “FASTMINDS”, 2013
.
Others with similar challenges may
be your best resource
-CHADD, other ADHD groups
-12 Step programs
-Blogs, chat rooms, meet up
groups
Craig Surman, MD
Scientific Coordinator
Adult ADHD Research Program at
Massachusetts General Hospital
To Ask A Question:
Craig Surman, MD
Scientific Coordinator
Adult ADHD Research Program at
Massachusetts General Hospital
www.Help4ADHD.org
800.233.4050
The information provided in this episode of Ask the Expert is
supported by Cooperative Agreement Number CDC-RFA-DD13-1302
from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The Ask
the Expert webinars’ contents are solely the responsibility of the
invited guest Expert and do not necessarily represent the official
views of CDC. Neither CHADD and the National Resource Center on
ADHD, nor the CDC endorses, supports, represents or guarantees the
accuracy of any material or content presented in the Ask the Expert
webinars, nor endorses any opinions expressed in any material or
content of the webinars.
CHADD and the National Resource Center on ADHD offer webinars for
educational purposes only; the information presented should not be
regarded as medical advice or treatment information.