YOU ARE NEVER TOO OLD TO OVERCOME ADHD - Case Report

This is an extract of an article, I published with JPN today: DOI: https://doi.org/10.37191/Mapsci-JPN-1(1)-001

Abstract

Case study about a 57-year-old head of publishing house, who suffered from ADHD with much impulsivity and mood changes, depression and eating disorders as well as persisting primitive reflexes, that worked as catalyst to the above-mentioned symptoms. This case report shows, how it was able to overcome all these conditions in 13 months of combined treatment with LDX in decreasing dosage, Neurofeedback (z-score training) and Reflex Integration Program (RIP?), that have been developed and published in 2021. Treatment results have been continually monitored with the OPATUS CPTa, a test measuring attention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. Two q-EEGs have been performed, one at baseline and other after conclusion of NFB and several clinical appointments monitoring neurological improvement and psychiatric evaluations in order to continue the decreasing dosage of medication, which was stopped after 10 months of the initial assessment.

This case report represents uniquity, because such a quick improvement was not expected in this short time, which would be normal, when treating children with equal conditions.

Keywords: ADHD; LDX; NFB; OPATUS CPTa?; PPR; Persisting preborn reflexes; RIP?.

Introduction

A holistic way of assessment has been established, that includes anamnesis, psychiatric, neurologic and general medical examination as well as regular screening for persistence of primitive preborn reflexes. The first assessment includes the OPATUS CPTa as well [2], when the question involves symptoms of ADHD (with or without hyperactivity). A q-EEG may give additional information, if neurofeedback z-score training is an option.

Case report

First assessment: The patient reported “chaos in the head”, disorganization, forgetfulness, unpunctuality, suspected ADHD, complained overweight, eating disorders (bulimia with overweight) and mood swings. / Psychiatric evaluation: Affect sensitive, Contact: according to situation, Mood: unstable, Drive: slightly increased, Consciousness: clear, Orientation: good, Formal thinking: coherent, and Content thinking: accusations of guilt and insufficiency. / Neurologic evaluation: No bradydysdiadochokinesis, no evidence of disturbance in the cranial nerves, and also regarding tone, trophicity and motility in the upper and lower extremities. No sensory disturbances and meningism. Strength was measured-balance in one-legged stance was very unsteady, increased when eyes were closed; extreme unsteadiness in noisy surroundings. Crossed the midline regularly but cognitively controlled. FTO regular, residual reflexes: ATNR 50-75%, STNR 0%, SG 0%, TLR 50%, MORO 50% persisting. / OPATUS CPTa: OPATUS CPTa under 70mg LDX: reaction time 645ms, impulse errors 1.2%, outlet errors 0.4%, total error: 0.8%, motor agitation: 0.8%, assessment: overdosed with LDX 70mg.

Control after 61 Sessions of NFB, RIP Treatment and now without medication:

Neurological control: ATNR 0%, MORO 0%, fully integrated primitive reflexes. / Psychiatric control: The patient was still somewhat erratic, but clearly capable of oscillating, affect-stable, able to cope well even with currently difficult partnership situation and in a phase of professional reorientation. / OPATUS CPTa without medication after 61x NFB and with residual reflex treatment: Reaction time 507ms, pulse error 0.3%, outlet error 0.0%, total error rate 0.2%, assessment: unremarkable, ADHD could not be seen any more.

Discussion

The combined treatment helped to achieve a treatment result in a uniquely short time. So, it is recommended, to screen all patients with a combination of mood and concentration disorders also for persisting primitive reflexes. This could prove to be the “door opener” for better and quicker treatment results.

Of course, this case report represents not the quality of a full study, but these results are consistent with the experience, which has been published in “Live or die” in 2021 [4] and (über)Leben mit Reflexen Band–Reflex Integrations Program RIP? in 2021 (German Edition) [5]. Peter Blythe, et al. [6] first mentioned the effect of integrative therapy for persisting primitive reflexes in the 1970s, which he developed to the INPP? method with Goddard-Blythe, S. RIP? Reflex Integrations Program is a modified approach, which focusses more on body sensitivity and thus may achieve better and faster results.

The z-score training may be an additional therapy to accelerate brain changes, but it is unusual, to have these results in such a short time, usually it will take more than 1.5 years of weekly training with adults.

So, it is hopeful that the future research will show, that a holistic approach will help better and faster than TAU.

Conclusion

ADHD was cured after 14 months, the residual reflexes were extinguished, the patient was stabilized and the treatment could be completed.

References

1. Damatac CG, Soheili-Nezhad S, Blazquez Freches G, Zwiers MP, de Bruijn S, et al. Longitudinal changes of ADHD symptoms in association with white matter microstructure: A tract-specific fixel-based analysis. Neuroimage Clin. 2022;35:103057. PubMed | CrossRef

2. Meyers R. OPATUS CPTa: New ways in precise diagnostics and therapy support for optimized treatment results in ADHD and other neuropsychiatric disorders. 2022.

3. Meyers R. ADHD IS CURABLE: precise diagnosis-optimized outcome (ADS ist heilbar). 2022.

4. Meyers R. Live or die:Persisting Primitive Reflexes Cause Emotional Problems or ADHD ((über)Leben mit Reflexen). 2021.

5. Meyers R, Hohmann R. (über)Leben mit Reflexen-Band 2:Reflexintegrationsprogramm (RIP). 2021.

6. Blythe P, McGlown DJ. An Organic Basis for Neuroses and Educational Difficulties: A New Look at the Old MBD Syndrome. Insight Pub. 1979.