Attention Deficit Disorder: The Unfocused Mind in Children and Adults (Hardcover)

by Dr. Thomas Brown Ph.D. (Author) "MYTH: ADD is just a lack of willpower..." (more)
Key Phrases: regulating alertness, support executive functions, utilizing working memory, Russell Barkley, United States, Civil War (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"A highly readable text about an often misunderstood disorder... Irrespective of which side of the debate the reader champions, there's little doubt that Brown makes a compelling case." Dennis Palumbo, The Lancet "Thorough and compassionate. Consider it essential reading if you are concerned about a child or an adult who may be struggling with this syndrome." Mary Beth Regan, Baltimore Sun "This intelligent book does a better job of explaining AD/HD than any book in recent memory. It's a must-read for anyone with an interest in AD/HD, whether of a personal or professional nature." Kathleen Nadeau, ADDitude Magazine" --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Review
"While rooted in science, this book goes far beyond the typical clinical explanations to get to the heart of the matter: living with AD/HD. Real people living with AD/HD will understand and embrace Dr. Brown's "AD/HD Syndrome" and identify themselves and their loved ones on every page."-Evelyn Polk Green, Attention Deficit Disorder Association (Evelyn Polk Green )

"A timely, practical and much-needed text on a medical problem of enormous importance heretofore clouded by public misconception, scientific uncertainty and uninformed political debate. Brown provides us with a welcome entry into a lucid empirical discussion of the subject. His clinical rationale is exquisitely attuned to both the critical assessment of statistical fact and the unique human situation of each patient."-Joaqu���n M. Fuster, University of California, Los Angeles (Joaqu���n M. Fuster )

"Tom Brown has lived and breathed-and researched and pondered-ADD for years, so it comes as no surprise that his new book is both reliable and innovative; tested and testing; authoritative and ground-breaking. This is a superb book. I recommend it highly!"-Edward Hallowell, M.D., author of Delivered from Distraction: Getting the Most Out of Life with ADD "Authoritative and ground-breaking. This is a superb book. I recommend it highly!"-Edward Hallowell, M.D., author of Delivered from Distraction: Getting the Most Out of Life with ADD (approved edit) (Edward Hallowell, M.D. )

"This book provides a vivid and lucid description of the many and varied signs and symptoms of ADHD across the lifespan; as a clinical resource, it will be useful to mental health professionals and lay readers."-Martha Bridge Denckla, The Kennedy Krieger Institute, Johns Hopkins University (Martha Bridge Denckla )

"Attention Deficit Disorders documents Tom Brown''s thirty years of listening to patients of all ages who tried, but could not `pay attention.' Patients will recognize the quality of the deficits that have hampered them, and meet others with similar difficulties. Tom Brown''s approach is not that of the DSM-IV and he does not shy away from controversy. This is the first book to take `focus' itself as its primary focus, both clinically and in its summary of current science. This is in itself an important beginning."-Margaret Weiss, author of ADHD in Adulthood (Margaret Weiss )

"Dr. Brown has combined contemporary neuroscience with very good clinical examples. He brings together the essentials of what is currently known about ADD/ADHD in a way that will be very useful for patients, for students and clinicians."-Joseph Sergeant, Free University, Amsterdam (Joseph Sergeant )

"Dr. Brown has written an attractive and accessible account of the way that some findings from psychological science can be applied to understanding ADHD and its impact. People struggling with problems of organising themselves and concentrating will find much here to help them know and overcome their difficulties."-Professor Eric Taylor, Institute of Psychiatry, King''s College London (Eric Taylor )

"Dr. Brown gives us valuable glimpses into the lives of people suffering from ADHD and explains the theory and science behind this complex disorder and the impact it can have on the lives of children, adolescents and adults. Readers will come away with new insights and a treasure trove of essential strategies to effectively manage ADHD and related conditions."-Harvey C. Parker, Ph.D., Co-founder of CHADD and author of Problem Solver Guide for Students with ADHD (Harvey C. Parker )

"In this book, Dr. Brown provides a compassionate understanding and rich clinical description of individuals who experience persistent and impairing problems with inattention and self-regulation in their daily lives-individuals who manifest Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). In so doing, he casts a fresh perspective on the symptoms of ADHD provided by the medical system (DSM-IV), by highlighting the marked cognitive dysfunctions and revealing how both the behavioral and cognitive manifestations of ADHD impact on daily life and change across childhood, adolescence and adulthood. In essence, this book advises clinicians to pay attention to inattention."-Rosemary Tannock, PhD, The Hospital for Sick Children & University of Toronto, Canada (Rosemary Tannock )

"Dr. Brown''s book clearly describes Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and its treatment. Through many stories, it clarifies what is known and what are myths and misinformation."-Mark Wolraich, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (Mark Wolraich )

"Dr. Brown has written a fine book, rich with clinical anecdotes that provide great insight into the manner in which ADD/ADHD can disrupt cognitive, behavioral, social, educational, and occupational domains of daily life activities. His explanations of the executive system of the brain and how ADHD may interfere with this crucial aspect of human self-regulation nicely demonstrates why ADHD is a far more profound disorder of cognitive development than many people believe. Dispelling many myths about the disorder and its treatment, this book provides scientifically based recommendations for the management of the disorder and its associated impairments. Well done and well worth reading."-Russell A. Barkley, SUNY Upstate Medical School (Russell A. Barkley )

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: Yale University Press; 1 edition (September 22, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0300106416
• ISBN-13: 978-0300106411
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.1 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #215,228 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An excellent introduction to the neurobiology of ADD, February 26, 2006

By	J. Crowley "mmcjprof" (NM USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Over the last two years, I have been immersed both professionally and personally in exploring the relationship between executive functioning in the brain and personal functioning out in the world. This book is one of the most accessible volumes I have found on the neurobiological aspects of ADD. I especially appreciated the chapter on co-occuring conditions. There are many related neurological conditions such as such as depression, anxiety, and autistic spectrum disorders, that combine with ADD to make an individual's situation more complicated than is usually presented in books. My only quarrel with Brown is in his enthusiasm for stimulant medication to the virtual exclusion of other treatments. Stimulant medications can be wonderful when they work. Even when they work however, the person with ADD can benefit from his one designed counseling, training, and treatment. With that caveat, I highly recommend this book.

28 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Accessible Brilliance, December 23, 2005

By	Michael M. - See all my reviews

As a college student who suffers from ADD, I have heard just about every myth you could imagine related to ADD in our popular culture. Professionals and authors I've come across often provide tedious, contradictory opinions, which is why I was so happy to find a book that offers real clarity.

With a combination of rock-solid scientific research and accessible anecdotes, Dr. Brown removes the clutter from understanding the cluttered ADD mind. He debunks myths systematically, and more importantly offers enlightening explanations that can provide real help.

Serious professionals will identify Dr. Brown as an accomplished expert who clearly speaks their language, while those seeking guidance for their own ADD, or for a loved one, will be able to learn a great deal. I am not someone who is majoring in psychology and have only a limited background with the terminology, and I found the book to be written at a level someone of my experience could understand. I would advise those interested in learning about ADD to pick it up and give it careful consideration.

50 of 58 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A clinical sobering view--somewhat helpful, at times misleading, December 2, 2005

By	JackOfMostTrades "Jack" (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews

Brown eschews the spate of ADD books that champion the idea 'How wonderful that I have ADD. I'm unique, creative and all I have to do is learn to adapt myself to the world and I will have a great life' hype that sells copies for people with ADD seeking a cure-all. Brown is an empiricist and does not subscribe to anecdotal evidence such as prominent people who have ADD to suggest everyone can. In fact, his sobering view is that the executive functions of the brain are compromised in the ADD mind, and therefore, 'training' is of little use nor are the newer strategies of neurofeedback or exercises that purport to 'balance the cerebellum,' which he likens to trying to treat autism by providing courses in communication skills. Rather, his emphasis is that ADD is a serious disorder, or rather a syndrome since there are many parameters to it, or in other words, many roads that lead to it. On the positive side he denounces the deniers of ADD like scientologists and 'common sense' observations that you just need to give a child some motivation and will power. He believes thus far medication is about the only good treatment, and wryly states stimulants and other medical treatments are fine for 8 out of 10 people with ADD, fine that is, if you happen to be one of the eight. He presents advice to families that has been covered already in much of the literature. While his views are conservative--and he does not discuss various severities of ADD--this is a helpful book if you need a good outline of the available evidence on the subject, and will be a welcome ADDition to your library, particularly if you have been frustrated by the upbeat hype, and begin blaming yourself for not 'getting with the program.' At times, however, he overreaches his thesis, making suggesting that the 'executive functions' in people with ADD are so compromised they are practically hopeless. He does not mention degrees of ADD although he mentions types of ADD. He also does a bit of contradicting by first stating that it is a syndrome with multiple causes but then treats it as though all the variables result in basically the same condition. He also fails to address sufficiently the cultural variable of a world saturated with information that can exacerbate the condition, nor does he mention the idea that ADD may evolve during the lifespan, regardless of medication or behavioral training.