An Interview with Dr. Julie Schweitzer – Part II

By Rheba Estante

Dr. Julie Schweitzer is an Associate Professor of Clinical Psychiatry at the UC Davis MIND Institute in Sacramento, California and conducts brain scan research in ADD/ADHD in children and adults using behavioral/neurological and functional neuroimaging (fMRI) in her research. She also studies the correlation between reinforcement in learning strategies for ADD/ADHD patients in the improvement of their cognitive function. Dr. Schweitzer received her Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst in 1990.

In this follow-up to Part I of our interview with Dr. Schweitzer we explore ADHD and its impact beyond the laboratory.

Do you see a gap in the advocacy efforts for ADHD compared to other learning disabilities?

I don’t know as well about the gap in advocacy efforts compared to other learning disabilities per se, but I can say that when it comes to other neurodevelopmental disorders, I think there is much more awareness in the public for the need to try to prevent and treat other disorders in comparison to ADHD. For instance, I have not seen fundraisers for ADHD research nor do I know of any foundations, beyond the Klingenstein Third Generation Foundation, that are primarily devoted to trying to address and prevent ADHD.

What types of advocacy efforts would you like to see evolve for people with ADHD?

I would like to see greater advocacy efforts to try to increase public awareness to address the following issues regarding ADHD:

1. The false perception that ADHD is not a “real” disorder;
2. Increasing public understanding that the consequences of not treating ADHD can be severe for the individual with the disorder, as well as his/her family and society;
3.  Reducing stigma around the disorder addressed so that those experiencing the disorder feel comfortable enough to get help for it;
4. Increasing public awareness that we need better treatments for the disorder, better methods to prevent it and reduce the negative consequences of it.

I would also very much like to see stronger advocacy to support research such as the funding of pilot grants by private donors to support innovative research in ADHD.

How would you explain to the public that ADHD is just as serious a neurobiological impairment as dyslexia?

The statistics are very clear from several of the longitudinal studies including those of Drs. Lilian Hechtman, Manuzza, Barkley, Hinshaw and the overall MTA study (e.g., Molina et al), that children with ADHD can have severe negative outcomes as adolescents and adults including lower educational achievement (much higher high school dropout rates), lower occupational success, increased substance abuse disorders, increased risky sexual behavior, higher automobile accident rates, increased suicidal ideation in girls with ADHD, worse physical health outcomes and many other negative effects. ADHD is a disorder that can have a negative impact across many areas of functioning and as mentioned above, it also affects society, as well as the individual with the disorder. ADHD is also a very prevalent disorder in children and adults and efforts at addressing its negative impact has the potential to better the lives of millions of people suffering from the disorder.

In terms of societal costs, what are the consequences to the general public when ADHD is not treated or under-treated?

There are many societal costs and I have outlined several above, such as lower educational attainment, lower occupational success, higher automobile accidents, substance abuse, worse physical health and others. All of these issues affect society and not just the individual. If we were able to increase the educational attainment and occupational success of these individuals they would also be more likely to generate income that they could put back into the economy.

What do you think may influence the slow development of advocacy for ADHD research?

I think the public and some professionals feel the currently available treatments (i.e., medication) are sufficient and do not recognize that the current treatments have severe limitations in that they do not improve the long-term outcomes for people with ADHD and/or that not everyone can use the current treatments.

Is ADHD primarily an American diagnosis? Or are other countries on par with the U.S in identifying and treating the disorder?

ADHD is found throughout the world and is not primarily an American diagnosis. Dr. Erik Willcutt (Neurotherapeutics (2012) 9:490–499) just published a wonderful article on prevalence rates of the disorder and demonstrated that the diagnosis is found throughout the world with equivalent prevalence rates. I think there are some differences in regard to allowable treatment modalities between different countries.

Is effective advocacy a matter of public awareness and raising money towards research or more the later since there is no cure for ADHD?

I think it is partly due to insufficient public awareness and stigma that then limits advocacy for research funds to address ADHD. There may not be a cure now, but there might be ways to prevent ADHD, change its course or cure it in the future. Also, the problems with attention and executive function that are characteristic of ADHD are also seen in most other neurodevelopmental disorders and some other psychiatric disorders and a better understanding of how to prevent and treat those impairments in ADHD could likely be relevant to improving outcomes for individuals with other disorders. For example, children with autism are known to have frequent, significant problems with attention and other ADHD-like deficits. Research on how to improve attentional functioning in ADHD may also be applicable to the autism spectrum population.

Rheba Estante is a San Francisco writer working in higher education and pursuing her Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology at Golden Gate University. Known for her compelling articles featuring women’s lifestyle and health issues, she interviews industry leaders ADDA’s E-News, the Potrero View newspaper, and for the SF Women’s Health Examiner for Examiner.com. Learn more about her work on LinkedIn.