Winner of a 2013 Nautilus Gold Award, this book introduces safe and effective complementary treatments for managing ADD/ADHD. The prolific use of drugs to treat ADHD stirs heated debate in therapy and parenting circles today. Is this medication really going to improve my son’s symptoms? How best can I help my patient and her parents manage this difficult disorder? Will the side effects of this drug outweigh the benefits? What are my other options? Because ADHD affects every facet of life, from psychosocial development and peer relationships to family dynamics and academic and job performance, the need for better—that is, safer and more effective—treatments is urgent. Here, seasoned clinicians Pat Gerbarg and Richard Brown, known for providing the latest breakthroughs in integrative mental health treatments, draw on over 30 years’ clinical experience to offer a range of scientifically-grounded complementary and alternative treatments for parents and professionals alike. Studies show that children with untreated ADHD are at greater risk for substance abuse, unemployment, accidents, and criminal behavior, in addition to learning disabilities, anxiety disorders, social phobia, depression, and bipolar disorder. And yet, individuals with ADHD often bring a great deal of energy, enthusiasm, and creativity to the tasks they undertake. Gerbarg and Brown focus on these intrinsic strengths, encouraging parents and professionals to help children with ADHD fulfill their potential by overcoming distraction, restlessness, and impulsivity in order to focus on learning, task completion, and understanding social cues. To accomplish this, they argue, we need to implement a variety of alternative approaches. Drawing on stories and anecdotes from their own clinical practice, Gerbarg and Brown address the questions that are particularly important to those dealing with ADHD. Early chapters provide information about diagnostic issues and the scientific foundation for understanding the known causes of ADHD, as well as how different treatments may work and why. Multiple contributing causes of ADHD exist—genetic, nutritional, chemical, psychological, trauma-based, and environmental—and the authors explain how treatments need to be strategically combined and tailored to patients’ unique needs and sensitivities. Later chapters present integrative strategies that combine the best practices of psychological treatments with herbs, nutrients, cognitive enhancers, mind–body practices, and brain stimulation. Throughout, the authors draw on the work and methods of many talented clinicians, yoga therapists, and teachers who have found creative, effective approaches to helping their own clients who struggle with attentional problems. A comprehensive resources section at the end of the book features a compilation of need-to-know websites, journals, books, and supplement brands with dosing recommendations. Psychiatrists, psychologists, and other therapists are equipped with access to the very latest research in both conventional and complementary and alternative approaches. With this book, the authors of How to Use Herbs, Nutrients & Yoga in Mental Health have taken their extraordinary scholarly and healing talents to a new level, helping parents and therapists alike to better understand and manage a complicated and multifaceted disorder.

All you need to know about herbs, nutrients, and yoga for enhancing mental health. Many physicians and therapists agree that herbs and mind-body practices enhance health, but many more are reluctant to integrate them into their clinical work because of a lack of training or, given how long it takes to master the use of hundreds of different herbs, a lack of time. But the trend is clear: clients and consumers alike want control over their health care choices, making the time ripe for a practical resource that guides both the clinician and the consumer on complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). This book answers that call. Three noted experts in integrative medicine, Drs. Brown, Gerbarg, and Muskin, demystify the complexities of alternative mental health care, giving readers a comprehensive yet accessible guidebook to the best treatment options out there. From mood, memory, and anxiety disorders to ADD, sexual enhancement issues, psychotic disorders, and substance abuse, every chapter covers a major diagnostic category. The authors then present a range of complementary and alternative treatments-including the use of herbs, nutrients, vitamins, nootropics, hormones, and mind-body practices- that they have found to be beneficial for various conditions within each category. For example, B complex vitamins and folate have been shown to help with depression; omega-3 fatty acids can offer relief for bipolar sufferers; coherent and resonant breathing techniques-used by Buddhist monks-induce healthy alpha rhythms in the brain to relieve anxiety; the elderly can boost their memory by taking the ancient medicinal herb Rhodiola rosea; and those with chronic fatigue syndrome can find comfort in acupuncture and yoga. Focusing on evidence-based approaches, the research, the authors' clinical experience, and the potential risks and benefits of each treatment are carefully examined. Brown, Gerbarg, and Muskin have distilled an otherwise daunting field of treatment down to its basics: their overriding approach is to present the CAM methods that are most practical in a clinical setting, easy to administer, and low in side effects. With helpful summary tables at the end of each chapter, clinical pearls, and case vignettes interspersed throughout, this is a must-have resource for all clinicians and consumers who want the best that alternative medicine has to offer.

Discover the ADHD solution for your child with this holistic, evidence-based, and customizable approach to alleviating unwanted symptoms without relying on medication. “A clear, effective, and science-based program that gives you all the building blocks to treat ADHD naturally and effectively.”—Daniel G. Amen, M.D., founder of Amen Clinics and New York Times bestselling author of Change Your Brain, Change Your Life ADHD is not a discipline problem. It is a medical condition with a range of possible underlying causes unique to each person. Dr. James Greenblatt has seen thousands of children and adults struggling with the symptoms of ADHD—hyperactivity, inattentiveness, impulsiveness, and often irritability and combativeness. To really heal, the ADHD child needs personalized treatment to correct the biologic imbalances that affect the brain and trigger symptoms. Rather than simply prescribing medication, Dr. Greenblatt tailors remedies to his ADHD patients’ individual needs, detecting and treating the underlying causes of the disorder. Finally Focused provides a comprehensive solution to the ADHD patient’s unique biochemical imbalances using proven natural and medical methods to easily treat problems such as nutritional deficiencies or excesses, dysbiosis (a microbial imbalance inside the body), sleeping difficulties, and food allergies—all of which surprisingly can cause or worsen the symptoms of ADHD. Dr. Greenblatt’s effective Plus-Minus Healing Plan allows parents to understand the reasons behind their child’s symptoms and provides customizable tools to eliminate them. Adults with ADHD can do the same. And if conventional medication is still necessary, this integrative approach will minimize or even eliminate troublesome side effects. With Dr. Greenblatt’s expert advice, millions of children and adults with ADHD will finally get the help they need to achieve true wellness.

The most comprehensive ADHD resource available! This practical workbook gives you the most effective, and proven, non-medication treatment approaches and skills. Step-by-step instructions on tailoring psychotherapy to ADHD ADHD-friendly parenting skills Techniques for emotional and behavioral regulation Skills for organizing time, space and activity Mindfulness skills Downloadable handouts, exercises, activities and resources

More than 1 in 7 American children get diagnosed with ADHD - three times what experts have said is appropriate - meaning that millions of kids are misdiagnosed and taking medications such as Adderall or Concerta for a psychiatric condition they probably do not have. The numbers rise every year. And still, many experts and drug companies deny any cause for concern. In fact, they say that adults and the rest of the world should embrace ADHD and that its medications will transform their lives. -- Provided by publisher.

Providing a new perspective on ADHD in adults, this compelling book analyzes findings from two major studies directed by leading authority Russell A. Barkley. Groundbreaking information is presented on the significant impairments produced by the disorder across major functional domains and life activities, including educational outcomes, work, relationships, health behaviors, and mental health. Thoughtfully considering the treatment implications of these findings, the book also demonstrates that existing diagnostic criteria do not accurately reflect the way ADHD is experienced by adults, and points the way toward developing better criteria that center on executive function deficits. Accessible tables, figures, and sidebars encapsulate the study results and methods.

Aggressive behavior among children and adolescents has confounded parents and perplexed professionals—especially those tasked with its treatment and prevention—for countless years. As baffling as these behaviors are, however, recent advances in neuroscience focusing on brain development have helped to make increasing sense of their complexity. Focusing on their most prevalent forms, Oppositional Defiant Disorder and Conduct Disorder, Disruptive Behavior Disorders advances the understanding of DBD on a number of significant fronts. Its neurodevelopmental emphasis within an ecological approach offers links between brain structure and function and critical environmental influences and the development of these specific disorders. The book's findings and theories help to differentiate DBD within the contexts of normal development, non-pathological misbehavior and non-DBD forms of pathology. Throughout these chapters are myriad implications for accurate identification, effective intervention and future cross-disciplinary study. Key issues covered include: Gene-environment interaction models. Neurobiological processes and brain functions. Callous-unemotional traits and developmental pathways. Relationships between gender and DBD. Multiple pathways of familial transmission. Disruptive Behavior Disorders is a groundbreaking resource for researchers, scientist-practitioners and graduate students in clinical child and school psychology, psychiatry, educational psychology, prevention science, child mental health care, developmental psychology and social work.