Elsevier

Medical Hypotheses

Volume 76, Issue 4, April 2011, Pages 461-463
Medical Hypotheses

Tea consumption maybe an effective active treatment for adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mehy.2010.08.049Get rights and content

Abstract

Adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is an increasingly recognized Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) psychiatric disorder associated with significant functional impairment in multiple domains. Although stimulant has the most empirical support as treatment for ADHD in adults, because of the poor treatment compliance, many adults with the disorder continue to experience significant residual symptoms. Tea is a kind of stimulant and many adults like to drink it. The caffeine in tea can reduce one’s fatigue, increase people’s self-confidence, motivation, alertness, vigilance, efficiency, concentration, and cognitive performance. This report proposes that tea consumption maybe an effective active treatment for adult ADHD.

Section snippets

Background

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common developmental disorders. The disorder is characterized by inattention, hyperactivity and/or impulsivity [1], [2], [3]. In childhood, the most problematic symptoms are hyperactivity, impulsivity and inattention. In adulthood the hyperactivity decreases but inattention, disorganization and impulsivity result in difficulty functioning both at home and at work. The predominant complaints seen in adult patients are trouble

Treatment for adult ADHD

Treatment of adults with ADHD consists of medication and psychosocial treatment. ADHD medications are roughly divided into stimulants and non-stimulant medication. Stimulants are the most effective medications for the treatment of ADHD, with responsiveness rates in the 70%–80% range.

Stimulants effectively alleviate the symptoms of ADHD, including poor attention span, distractibility, impulsive behavior, hyperactivity and restlessness. Stimulants also improve vigilance, cognition, reaction time,

Action of caffeine metabolites in ADHD

In accordance with the established idea that caffeine is a psychostimulant [17], [18]. Caffeine, probably the most widely consumed psychoactive substance, produces complex pharmacological actions. Habitual human consumption of caffeine containing foods and beverages is estimated in a range. This human caffeine consumption is estimated to reach peak plasma concentration of 0.25–2 mg/L (or approximately 1–10 μM) and produces overall psychostimulant effects, reducing fatigue and enhancing

Tea

Tea, unless it is decaffeinated, also contains caffeine. In tea, the content of caffeine is 32–42 mg/150 ml. While coffee and tea are both sources of caffeine, normal tea itself may contain more caffeine than coffee when measured in its dry form. Teas contain two caffeine metabolites (caffeine-like substances): theophylline, which is a stronger stimulant than caffeine, and theobromine, which is slightly weaker than caffeine. Tea is a kind of stimulant and many adults in the worldwide like to

Hypothesis

Although stimulant has the most empirical support as treatment for ADHD in adults, because of the dose-dependent side effects and the poor treatment compliance, many adults with the disorder continue to experience significant residual symptoms. Tea is a kind of stimulant and many adults like to drink it. As showed above, the caffeine in tea can reduce one’s fatigue and enhance performance, increase people’s self-confidence, motivation, alertness, vigilance, efficiency, concentration, and

Discussion

Clinician awareness of the presence and burden of ADHD has increased in the United States and internationally [45], [46], [47], [48]. In parallel, prescribing of medication for ADHD has increased over the past several years, particularly for adults [49], [50]. Although stimulant has the most empirical support as treatment for ADHD in adults, because of the dose-dependent side effects and the poor treatment compliance, many adults with the disorder continue to experience significant residual

Conflicts of interest

None Declared.

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